'Need for National Cyber Security Advisory Board'

BANGALORE, INDIA: Do you know that over 80 Indian banks do not have adequate security protection to their online account users? Do you know a terrorist might be constantly behind you to mine your vital data? Do you know why the country's first Cyber police station of Karnataka cannot nab even though they trace them?

All these are due to the complexity of cyber crimes and non-cooperation from Netizens, according to the panellists speaking on the topic "ICT and National Security- with special focus on Cyber Security" at one of the sessions on the first day of India's premier ICT event BangaloreIT.biz. Panellists felt that there is a need to set up a ‘National Cyber Security Advisory Board’ to tackle the constantly increasing cyber crimes.

Naavi Vijayashankar, Director, Cyber Law College, while moderating the panel discussion said, “Without the cooperation of Netizens, a Cyber crime free surfing experience cannot be achieved; A totally bug-free software will never be a reality as IT softwares always evolve." "A supportive law; security practices at user and intermediary level; and through hi-tech policing can contain cyber crimes upto some extent, " he added. He said the ITA 2000 is not a weak law, and it cannot serve any purpose as long as there is user negligence.

B.A. Mahesh, Superintendent of Police, Cyber Crimes,Bangalore said, “There are so many issues that come in the way to nab a culprit even after identifying. He narrated how a novice named M.Joseph duped several accountholders and swindled money from their accounts. If this is the case with a novice then he wondered how to contain IT pros and experts who make use of several hacking and privacy invading softwares that are available in the market.”

“Karnataka is the first state to have a full-fledged cyber police station, whose jurisdiction is entire state, and succeeded in taking action against those using cyber cafes to carry out unlawful activities. Cases of phissing reported to Karnataka police are on rise from only 6 in 2006 to 7 in 2007 and 24 in 2008. Lack of cooperation and inability to understand the urgency to respond quickly are the problems from user's end that are making cyber police helpless” added Mahesh.

Gulshan Rai, Director, Indian Computer Emergency Response Team, said, “Monitoring cyber space has been becoming more and more complex as there are new technologies and usage patterns emerge every day. More smart devices, application simplicity and flexible infrastructures are some of the hurdles that come in the way to stop cyber crimes. More complex and target oriented softwares are available for cyber criminals to carry on operations across the globe.”

Gulshan Rai suggested all Netizens to visit either UN site www.intgovforum.org or Indian site www.cert-in.org.in to freely download patches or malicious programs elimination softwares free of cost. “Being a government organization working closely with IT majors for safe surfing experience to Netizens, this site provides upto date data and ways of securing your computers.”