In today’s Internet era, India has been recognized as one of the fastest growing Internet and mobile market globally. With over millions of Internet users in India, every 7 out of 10 users access Internet through their mobile phones. At the same time, all the apps that we download in our mobile phone instigate us to give full access of mobile phones including Gallery, Contacts, Camera, making calls, sending messages, etc. which could be misused later by any Cyber Criminal. During this pandemic time, we all are dependent upon Internet like never before and due to tremendous use of Internet and technology, Cyber Crimes have also been increased expeditiously.
Internet is big data dragon and whatever information we put online, it remain for years, so it is always advisable to be due diligent while posting any content online. Internet has given us the luxury of doing everything sitting at one place, like social networking, e-banking, e-trading, e-commerce, communication, online jobs, studies, gaming, etc. or anything that anyone can think of. Internet is used in every sphere of life, as we all have shifted from the physical interactions to virtual or e-interactions.
Cyber-Criminals on the other hand are also changing their policies persistently to target these fast-growing technologies, where users are less aware of security risks. This fast paced technological change has impacted individuals, Corporates and even Governments with loss of data, information, identities and financial losses to name a few. It is also reported that most of the financial frauds have been increased during this pandemic time, as users are doing all of their financial transactions online. It is well said that “where there's money, there are Criminals to steal it” who keep following the users online to rip off. Cyber Criminals generally spread malware socially, that takes over the user's account, re-sets passwords and uses the stored credit or debit card information to make real world purchases for the crooks. Cyber Criminals sell financial and non-financial information as well, to combine with the information they already have, which help them to create a fake profile to gain access to your accounts.
Today, every Internet user is vulnerable to one or the other Cyber Crimes. Cyber Criminals now a days are well equipped with their tools and techniques and keep lurking the potential victims online. In the era of Cyber Crimes, the position of India is not behind as compared to developed countries. More than 70% Internet users especially women have faced the menace of the Cyber Crimes due to which they have to either delete their accounts or are facing sleepless nights due to one or the other Cyber Crimes. If we talk about the percentage of internet users making Cyber Complaints especially the women, it is even lesser than 30%. There are lot of reasons why the Cyber Crimes goes unreported especially by the women victims which could be coz of the fear of defamation and the stigma that is attached to them that they themselves are somehow accountable for using the technology. Reporting a Cyber Crime may affect their family life and are also in dilemma whether they get support from their family members or not. However, my advise is that all the women and children who are facing any Cyber threats like Cyber Bullying, Cyber Trolling, Cyber Stalking, Cyber frauds, etc. in India, can report or file a complaint online at National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal, at https://cybercrime.gov.in
The concept of Cyber Security is very important at the individual, corporate, govt. level, and the challenges we all are facing are supposed to be addressed with due diligence. However, the question is that how we should protect our privacy online in these times when dependency of the technology has been increased drastically and considered necessary. We need not only to safegaurd ourselves but there is a need to empower ourselves so as to counter any Cyber attack so that we would not be trapped as a victim by any Cyber Criminal.
To report, consult or to take any legal advice related to Cyber Crime or Cyber Security, you may email me personally at advmukulgirdhar@gmail.com or call +91-9811572430.
Always be Cyber Secure….