India recorded a total of 44,546 cybercrimes, with Karnataka as the worst effect state of all and costed a data breach of 2 Million US Dollars.[1] Cybercrime can start with a financial fraud, which could be further categorized into carding, bank fraud, extortion, identity theft and theft of classified information, wherein a little technical knowledge can make the data get stolen, destroyed or suppressed for the purpose of unauthorized transactions.

The other type of cyber-crime is Cyber terrorism, wherein, the individuals spread fake news, which might result into a lot of tension in the minds of the citizens and even a more pressure on the governmental organizations. The other kind of cyber-crimes could be Cyber Extortion (e.g., 2014 Sony Pictures Entertainment Attack[2]), Cyber Warfare etc.

Efforts by the Government
Due to the increasing rate of cybercrimes since almost two decades, the Government of India has come up with the following statutory bodies/ statutes to aid the situation:

• National Cyber Security Policy, 2013[3]:
  The policy focused on establishing a safe cyberspace for the citizens, businesses and the government. It aimed to protect the cyberspace information and infrastructure and build such capabilities which will enable to prevent and protect cyber-attacks. It was also established to minimize the damage and develop a system of coordinated efforts of institutional infrastructure.
• Cyber Swachhta Kendra (Botnet Cleaning and Malware Analysis Centre) [4]:
  In 2017, the Computer Emergency Team of Government of India launched this. It is a desktop and mobile security solution, established for the purpose of combatting cyber security violations. Further, this was started to aim a decrease in the cyber-attacks.
   
• National Cyber Security Coordinator[5]:
  The position of the National Cyber Security Coordinator was created by the Prime Minister of India in 2014.
   
• National Critical Information Infrastructure Protection Centre (NCIIPC) [6]:
  It is created under Section 70A of the Information Technology Act, 2000.
   
• Establishment of various Cyber Crime Cells:
  The cyber cells are established in New Delhi, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Noida, Rajasthan, Punjab.

The cause behind such attacks is the ease by which they can track the information and the favorite spot of attackers are financial institutions, from where they can extract a good amount of money. The operating systems are made up of complex codes and even a small mistake or loophole in these codes can lead to a treat for the coders.

Case-Studies

• The cyber-attack in Cosmos Bank, Pune – In 2018, this Rs. 94.42 Crore was withdrawn by hacking the ATM servers. In addition, the attackers also stole the information of various debit card holders.[7]
• Canara Bank ATM system hack – This took place in 2018, where a total pf Rs. 20 Lakhs were taken-off the accounts of various bank account holders.[8]
• UIDAI Aadhar Software Hacked – This attack hacked Indian government websites (around 200), and resulted in a breach of Aadhar information, bank account details, PAN etc.[9]

End-Notes:

1. Sandhya Keelery, Cyber crime in India - statistics & facts, STATISTA (Apr. 22, 2021, 12:34 A.M.), https://www.statista.com/topics/5054/cyber-crime-in-india/
2. Cyberlaw.ccdcoe.org, https://cyberlaw.ccdcoe.org/wiki/Sony_Pictures_Entertainment_attack_(2014) (last visited April 22, 2021).
3. meity.gov.in https://www.meity.gov.in/sites/upload_files/dit/files/National%20Cyber%20Security%20Policy%20%281%29.pdf (last visited Apr. 22, 2021).
4. Cyber Swachhta Kendra https://www.csk.gov.in/ (last visited Apr. 22, 2021).
5. Varun Aggarwal, Gulshan Rai becomes first chief of cyber security; post created to tackle growing e-threats, ECONOMIC TIMES (Apr. 22, 2021, 10:10 P.M.), https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/gulshan-rai-becomes-first-chief-of-cyber-security-post-created-to-tackle-growing-e-threats/articleshow/46449780.cms
6. GK Today, https://www.gktoday.in/gk/national-critical-information-infrastructure-protection-centre/ (last visited Apr. 22, 2021).
7. Economic Times, https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/banking/finance/banking/rbi-releases-names-of-applicants-under-on-tap-licensing-of-universal-small-finance-banks/videoshow/82089251.cms (last visited Apr. 22, 2021).
8. Great Learning, 4 Biggest Cyber Security Threats for Indian Banking Sector (mygreatlearning.com) (last visited Apr. 22, 2021)
9. Ibid.