The number of cyber crime in India can touch a figure of 3,00,000 this year, says a recent study. Growing Internet penetration and the rising popularity of online banking have made India a favourite among criminals
From television serials to mini series and films, there has been a flood of content related to cyber security in the last few years. The aim has been to create awareness, specially among the youth, through such content. But in case you have not been taking that seriously, then it is high time you pay heed to it.
As per the recent ASSOCHAM-Mahindra SSG study on ‘Cyber and Network Security Framework’, the number of cyber crime in India may touch a humongous figure of 3,00,000 in 2015, almost double the level of last year. It will cause havoc in the financial space, security establishment and social fabric. “What is causing even more concern is that the origin of these crimes are countries including China, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Algeria among others,” said DS Rawat, secretary general ASSOCHAM.
As per the study findings, during 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014, the total number of cyber crime registered were 13,301; 22,060; 71,780 and 62,189 (till May). Currently, cyber crime in India is nearly around 1,49,254 and is likely to cross 3,00,000 by 2015 growing at compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of about 107 per cent. As per the findings, every month nearly 12,456 cases are registered in India.
Phishing attacks of online banking accounts or cloning of ATM/Debit cards are common occurrences. The increasing use of mobile/smartphones/tablets for online banking/financial transactions has also increased the vulnerabilities to a great extent. The maximum offenders came from the 18-30 age group, adds the report.
These attacks have been observed to be originating from the cyber space of a number of countries including the US, Europe, Brazil, Turkey, china, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Algeria and the UAE.
With increasing use of information technology (IT) enabled services such as e-governance, online business and electronic transactions, protection of personal and sensitive data is of paramount importance. “The economic growth of any nation and its security — whether it is internal or external — depends on how well its cyberspace is secured and protected”, said Rawat.
The report further stated that mobile frauds are an area of concern for companies as 35-40 per cent of financial transactions are done through mobile devices and this is expected to grow by 55-60 per cent in 2015.
Growing Internet penetration and rising popularity of online banking have made India a favourite among cyber criminals, who target online financial transactions using malware. India ranked third after Japan and US in the tally of countries most affected by online banking malware during the year 2014.
With an increase in smartphone sales and usage in India, the number of people falling victim to such crimes is also on the rise. The number of cyber crime victims in India (2012) was 46 million against the global average of 560 million.
Credit and debit card fraud cases top the chart. There has been a six-fold increase in such cases over the past three years. According to the data, around 2,277 complaints of online banking/credit/debit card fraud have been reported this year, followed by 191 Facebook-related complaints (morphed pictures/cyber stalking/cyber bullying). Other major cyber complaints were cheating through mobile (61), hacking of e-mail ID (59), abusive/offensive/obscene calls and SMS (55) and many more.
There are many ways to hack sensitive information through cell phones. The most common are due to installation of uncertified applications. Smartphone users rarely check for security certificates and download apps (games, music and other software) from a third party or from unsecured sites. Mobile banking apps store data such as PIN and account number on the phone. So, there is a risk that if the phone is hacked or stolen, then the information can be used.
As per the study, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra have occupied the top three positions when it comes to cyber crime registered under the new IT Act in India. Interestingly, these three states together contribute more than 70 per cent to India’s total revenue from IT and IT related industries. According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), in 2013, 681 cyber crime related cases have been registered in Maharashtra, which has seen a 44.6 per cent rise in cyber crime, as compared to 2012. Andhra Pradesh with 635 cases registered in 2013 has also seen a 48 per cent rise when compared to 2012. Karnataka with 513 cases registered in 2013 has seen a 24.5 per cent rise when compared to 2012.
Uttar Pradesh with 372 cases registered in 2013 takes the fourth place. It has seen a huge rise of 81.5 per cent in just one year. Among the bigger states, Tamil Nadu and Bihar have very few cyber crime cases. Just 54 cases have been registered in Tamil Nadu and 23 cases have been registered in Bihar in 2013. Gujarat and Odisha have also registered just 61 and 63 cases respectively in 2013.
Among the Union Territories, the national capital Delhi has registered 131 cyber crime cases. It has seen a rise of 72.4 per cent as compared to 2012.
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