Monday, April 26, 2010

India Needs An Improved Cyber Security

Cyber security is an area that cannot be ignored by any technology driven society. The importance of cyber security has been felt in India though after many security breaches. However, the government has still not done the needful in this regard. As a result Indian cyberspace and government computer systems are still vulnerable to cyber attacks.

The first and foremost problem with the Indian cyber jurisprudence is a weak and ineffective cyber law. India has enacted information technology act 2000 (IT Act 2000) as the sole cyber law of India. The same was amended by the information technology act 2008 (IT Act 2008). The IT Act 2008 made almost all cyber crimes bailable. Now the cyber criminals have no deterrent that can prevent them from committing cyber crimes in India.

The problem has been further complicated due to absence of cyber security in India. The cyber criminals can attack Indian computer systems remotely without and fear and hesitation. This is so because firstly they would not be caught in the absence of cyber security and cyber forensics capabilities. Even if they are somehow magically caught, they have to be set free due to the weak cyber law of India.

India must not only enact strong cyber law but must also make its cyber security more robust.

SOURCE: CIO