Cybercrime

Cybercrime

Part of: Prelims and GS-III – Cybersecurity 

Context The Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS), General Bipin Rawat, has stressed the need for a national framework to thwart cyberattacks that have been on the rise in India.

Key takeaways 

• While a national cybersecurity strategy is being planned, the country is also in urgent need of a data protection law, with cybercriminals increasingly weaponising data as a tool against national security in the post-pandemic era.
• Increased cybercrimes: Cyber crimes have gone up by almost 500% in India during the global pandemic. 
• New threats: India needs to consider the emerging threats from new technologies such as drones, ransomware, Internet of Things (IoT) devices and also the role of nation states in such cyber attacks.
• Technology dependency: The lockdown, which witnessed a deeper adoption of interconnected devices and hybrid work environment, has increased our dependence on technology. This renders us digitally more vulnerable than ever before.
• Besides, Information Technology Act, 2000, that dealt with cybersecurity and cybercrimes is not equipped to consider new-age changes in the mode of functioning of businesses and modus operandi of crimes in cyberspace.