Showing posts with label International Cyber Crimes Treaty And India. Show all posts
Showing posts with label International Cyber Crimes Treaty And India. Show all posts

Thursday, October 6, 2011

Cyber Warfare Policy Of India

Cyber Warfare is a concept that is not clear yet. Some believe that there is nothing like Cyber Warfare as there is no involvement of traditional military actions. Others believe that Cyber Warfare is a reality of the present time and future wars would be fought in Cyberspace. Whatever the opinion may be but it is clear that Nations have to protect their Critical ICT Infrastructures and Strategic Computers from growing Cyber Attacks.

Cyber Warfare and Cyber Terrorism are issues that cannot be taken lightly by any Country. From these threats emerge the necessity of having a robust Cyber Security for Defense Forces in India. These issues are important as they strike at the very root of the Critical ICT Infrastructure Protection in India. However, India is not doing the needful in this regard. Cyber War Capabilities should be an Integral Part of Indian National Defense and Security.

India needs a sophisticated and robust Technological Command Centre to defend its global network of computer systems. It must develop both offensive and defensive capabilities under one roof. Strategic information and tactical inputs are essential part of modern warfare that can be lost or gained through Cyber War methods. There is no doubt that India needs good Cyber War Capabilities to meet the growing threats of Cyber Warfare.

Malware are posing significant threat to India yet there is no attention towards Cyber Security in India. For instance, we need Express Legal Provisions and Specified Policies to deal with issues like Denial of Service (DOS), Distributed Denial of Services (DDOS), Bots, Botnets, Trojans, Backdoors, Viruses and Worms, Sniffers, SQL Injections, Buffer Overflows Exploits, etc. Till now India has done nothing in this crucial direction and we are still waiting for the Cyber Security Policy and Strategy of India. Obviously, we have no Cyber Warfare Policy of India as well. Even the Cyber Law of India is weak and ineffective and deserves to be repealed.

The biggest hurdle before curbing Cyber Warfare Threats at the International level is Lack of Harmonisation in this regard. Till now we have no “Internationally Acceptable Definition” of Cyber Warfare. Further, we have no Universally Acceptable Cyber Crimes Treaty as well. There is also no International Cyber Security Treaty. India is not a part of any International Treaty or Conventions regarding Cyber Crimes, Cyber Security, etc.

We cannot have a Cyber Terrorism Policy in India till we have a Cyber Crimes Policy in India, Cyber Security Policy in India other similar Policies. Indian Government must urgently work in this crucial direction as it is the most urgent need of the hour.

Monday, July 4, 2011

International Cyber Security Policy Framework And Indian Response

International Organisations are not taking much interest in the field of Cyber Security and prevention of Cyber Crimes. Of course, at the National level countries like US have laid down their International Strategy for Cyberspace.

The Government Departments in US have also shown an increased Cooperation in the field of Cyber Security. Now US Department of Defense (DOD) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) would share their respective Cyber Security Expertise.

Further, US has also started strengthening its Cyber Security ties with other Nations and India US Homeland Security Dialogue was a part of the same. In fact, India and US have also signed a Cyber Security Cooperation Agreement. Meanwhile International Organisations have also shown their seriousness towards Cyber Crimes and they have started working in this direction.

However, Cyber Security in India is not upto the mark. We have no Cyber Security Strategy in India. Despite the importance of this issue, we have no “Effective and Implementable” Cyber Security Policy in India.

Further, we have no Cyber Warfare Policy of India, Critical ICT Infrastructure protection Policy in India, Data Protection Laws in India, Cloud Computing Policy in India, Cyber Security Laws in India, etc. Important issues like Cyber Crisis Management Plan of India, Cyber Forensics Laws in India, Legal Enablement of ICT Systems in India, etc are still not part of National Policies and Strategies of India.

At the International level we have no International Cyber Law Treaty and International Cyber Security Treaty that are “Universally Acceptable”. Further, the United Nations and other countries have still to Protect Human Rights in Cyberspace that are blatantly violated World over.

Cyber Security is essentially an International Issue and regional efforts are not conducive for the long term security of Cyberspace. For instance, EU has set up a Cyber Crimes Fighter Team, Seoul has formulated its Cyber Security Plan, Scotland Yard established its own Cyber Flying Squad, EU formed CERT Group to fight Cyber Attacks, etc. While these initiatives are timely and praiseworthy yet they are “Regional” in nature and Cyberspace and Cyber Security are International in nature.

Recent Cyber Attacks on Multinational Firms and Institutions ranging from Google and Citigroup to the International Monetary Fund, have raised fears that Governments and the Private Sector are not well equipped to deal with Cyber Attacks. It is high time that we must ensure not only an “International Harmonised Legal Framework” but also a Robust and Effective International Cyber Security Cooperation that is presently missing. India must also prepare itself for the bigger and unforeseen challenges that are waiting for it.