Cyber Safety
From Cyber.edu.in
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Computers and the Internet are being extensively used in every walk of life. Following are a few examples:
• Almost all transactions in shares are in dematerialized form.
• Almost all companies extensively depend upon their computer networks and keep their valuable data in electronic form.
• Government forms including income tax returns, company law forms etc are now filled in electronic form.
• Consumers are increasingly using credit cards for online and offline shopping.
• Most people are using email, cell phones and SMS messages for communication.
This had led to a spate of new crimes like Identity theft, source code theft, credit card fraud, virus attacks, cyber sabotage, phishing attacks, email hijacking, hacking, etc.
At the same criminals are extensively using computers as tools to efficiently coordinate and execute traditional crimes like murder, kidnapping, harassment, terrorist operations, publishing of false or pornographic or defamatory material, tax evasions, etc.
The vast majority of people are victims because they are ignorant about simple practices which can make them less susceptible to the above threats. Children are especially vulnerable since they are inherently trusting.
The problem is compounded by the fact that confidence of the people and business organizations on local law enforcement agencies to tackle these high technology crimes is low. Hence, few people and business organizations approach local law enforcement for filing an F.I.R or making a complaint even if they are affected by these crimes.
