Saving Cyber Network from Criminal Threat

[Hindustani78]

Ministry of Home Affairs
07-March, 2018 16:42 IST
Saving Cyber Network from Criminal Threat

As per the data maintained by National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), a total of 9622, 11592 and 12,317 cyber-crime cases were registered during the years 2014, 2015 and 2016 respectively. Government has taken various measures for preventing cyber crime in the country which inter-alia includes:

1. The Ministry of Home Affairs has recently set up a Cyber & Information Security Division to look into relevant matters relating to cyber-crime & information security.
2. Ministry of Home Affairs is implementing a scheme ‘Cyber Crime Prevention against Women and Children’ (CCPWC) from NIRBHAYA funds in the period 2017-2020, under which Rs 82.8 crore as Grants-in-Aid have been disbursed to the States/UTs for setting up of one cyber forensic training laboratory in each State/UT.
3. Various steps are taken by MHA as well as States to modernize the preventive setup and equip police personnel with knowledge and skills for prevention and control of crime through various national and state police academies/institutes. CCPWC scheme of Ministry of Home Affairs aims to train 27,500 police personnel across the country in the field of cyber domain.
4. Information Technology Act, 2000 has adequate deterrent provisions for cyber threats and cyber attacks.
5. All the new government websites and applications are to be audited with respect to cyber security prior to their hosting. The auditing of the websites and applications is to be conducted on a regular basis after hosting.
6. The Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) is regularly tracking the hacking of websites and alerts the website owners concerned to take actions to secure the websites to prevent recurrence.
7. Government has formulated Cyber Crisis Management Plan for countering cyber attacks and cyber terrorism.
8. CERT-In issues alerts and advisories regarding latest cyber threats/vulnerabilities and countermeasures to protect computers/servers on regular basis.
9. Cyber security mock drills are being conducted regularly to enable assessment of cyber security posture and preparedness of organizations in Government and critical sectors.
10. CERT-In conducts regular training programmes for key stakeholders.
11. Government has initiated setting up of National Cyber Coordination Centre (NCCC).
12. Government has launched the Cyber Swachhta Kendra (Botnet Cleaning and Malware Analysis Centre).
13. NIC which provides IT/E-Governance related services to Government Departments protects the cyber resources from possible compromises through a layered security approach in the form of practices, procedures and technologies.

This was stated by the Minister of State for Home Affairs, Shri Hansraj Gangaram Ahir in written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha today.





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[Hindustani78]

http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/na...enges-india-faces-today-home-secy/598016.html
Posted at: May 31, 2018, 5:36 PM;
last updated: May 31, 2018, 5:36 PM (IST)
Cyber attacks one among major security challenges India faces today: Home Secy


Tribune News Service
New Delhi, May 31

Noting that cyber attack is one among the several major security challenges that India is currently facing, Union Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba on Thursday contended that it has potential to pose wide-ranging threats to key installations and also cripple financial institutions.

Gauba, while speaking at a seminar organised by industry body FICCI on homeland security, stressed on the need for security agencies to stay ahead of the attackers/hackers and enhance their capabilities in tandem with technology.

“Cyber attack is one of the important security challenges that the country is facing today or the world is facing. The cyber attacks can pose wide-ranging threats to power grids, they can impact and cripple financial institutions, that can result in leakage of sensitive information and so on,” the home secretary said, while adding that there was “a need for regular threat assessment and enhancing of ability to respond”.

In his address, Gauba said: “Generally we do good in assessment but the same cannot be said for readiness, as it entails investment and expertise. We need to have sound legal assessment and state of the art technical capabilities. That is where the private sector and government agencies have to work together”.

The home secretary said that for countering the threat of cyber attacks, “one has to have speed and agility and to stay ahead of the attackers and one has to adjust and improve”. He also highlighted the phenomenon of increase in cyber espionage by corporate, by hostile governments to steal trade secrets and information to gain economic advantage or military advantage.

“Cyber attacks have become more organised with significant funding, passion, they are sophisticated, they often gain access and they wait for the right time, for the moment of their choice for their attacks,” said, also adding that the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) conducts regular security assessment and vulnerability assessment.

In the last few years, the awareness and capability of the government agencies have vastly increased and many states have increased their capability.