Creating Awareness Only Way to Fight Cybercrime – Dist Judge Venkatesh Naik
Udupi: The Udupi district and session judge Venkatesh Naik has underlined the need for the police as well as the public to be aware of issues relating to cybercrime, which has become a formidable global threat.
He was speaking after inaugurating a day-long workshop on “Investigation on Cyber Crimes” organised by the Udupi district Police and District Legal Services Authority at the SP office Udupi on Saturday, July 14.
“Cybercrime is of several forms including harassment, intimidation, sending obscene messages, hacking information, blackmailing and credit card-related offences. Cybercrime nowadays is the fast-growing mode of crime. To prevent it from becoming regular, everybody including executives, law enforcing agencies the common man as well as the media should join hands to fight it,” he said.
“The police staff should initiate steps to sensitise people on banking related offences, create awareness on the use of social media among children and alert people on the calls coming from other areas over financial transactions”, he said.
Laxman B Nimbargi SP Udupi in his presidential message said, “In cybercrime, the criminal has the advantage of anonymity and they do not have to be physically present to harm someone. Fraudsters often get friendly and build a relationship with people to get access to personal information. Technological development is good but it should be used for the right purpose and not to commit a crime. Lack of awareness about cyber laws is resulting in many being lured to cyber fraud”.
“The new security features in social networking sites encrypt all types of data that can be read or viewed only by recipients. This has been posing a challenge to social security. With an increase in concern over privacy and regulatory framework, it is difficult to reach the accused. Regular upgrade of skills is essential for the investigation officers regarding cybercrime. Such workshops will help the police personnel on how to deal with cases such as online frauds and those committed through the social media”, he said.
Dr Ananth Prabhu from Cyber Crime, Law and Security trainer KPA Mysuru, Kumar Chandra ASP Udupi district demonstrated the cybercrime modes through a slideshow presentation. The patterns of cyber crimes such as obscene and obnoxious SMS and phone calls, hacking e-mail accounts, fraudulent online transactions, hacking confidential credit card/debit card and also bank account details and e-mail threats were discussed. The tools for investigating such cases were also explained to the police officers.
Latha senior civil judge and member secretary district Legal Services Authority, Shanthi Bai Government Prosecutor, Joythi Nayak, Mumthaz, Jayanthi, assistant Government Prosecutors, Kumaraswamy DySP were present.