CYBER CRIMES IN INDIA: TRENDS AND PREVENTION

Abstract

The COVID-19 virus has affected most countries in the world, India being one of them with over 19000 people infected till date. The purpose of the paper to analyse the increasing cases of cyber violations, the urgency for more robust and comprehensive cyber security measures, among other issues. Between March and April 2020, India has witnessed a staggering 86% increase in cyber-attacks. According to the UN Special Reporter, women are both disproportionately targeted by online violence and suffer disproportionately serious consequences as a result. Cybercrime has real consequences and costs. It undermines women’s wellbeing, their rights, and their progress in all aspects of life. Cyber violence results in psychological, physical, sexual or economic harm to women. Given the push towards digitisation, amongst the ongoing pandemic, more women and girls are using the internet for varied purposes including education, work, and financial transactions, amongst others. Many of these women and girls could be first-time users and/or may have a limited understanding of good practices when interacting with others in cyberspace and could be subjected to cybercrimes. No doubt the crime rate has subsided as people are staying back but online frauds have seen an upsurge. Apart from being interaction/communication interfaces, sometimes these also serve as platforms for criminal elements and eventually end up being the epicentres of immeasurable security concerns. This working from home has now become an opportunity for cybercriminals to exploit the people through e-mail scams, hacking passwords, phishing, ransom attacks, online sexual harassment, etc.