5 (in)famous ways to become 'famous' in social media that one must avoid

http://www.cybervictims.org

In the last couple of weeks almost the whole of England was in labour with Kate Middleton who gave birth to the baby prince just a couple of days ago. Social media like the Twitter and Facebook were flooded with comments on this ‘trend’. The language used in these comments was noteworthy. Many news channels picked up good, bad, humorous and rebellious comments and instantly the comment makers became famous or (in)famous. While internationally “royal baby” could make an impact among the online update feeders, nationally many sensitive issues have influenced the good or badness of the social media. Be it the devastating Himalayan Tsunami, or the ill-fated marriage of Divya and Ilavarasan of Tamil Nadu, or the poisonous midday meals which killed so many school students in different parts of India, or the political situation; users of social media have used all these issues to express their own concerns. But the styles that have been adopted by some of these users motivated me to do a small research to know how some of them have got instant highlight for good or bad reasons. I list here some of the infamous ways to become famous, which a good netizens should always avoid:

1. Using harsh words to target the personal shortcomings including physical challenges of activists or political leaders or celebrities; one must understand they are also human beings and they feel pain as much as we ordinary individuals feel.

2.  Insulting the communal sentiments of others; no wonder, this may instantly trigger a riot.

3. Spreading false information and photo images; one can get huge numbers of ‘likes’ and followers. But think of the devastating consequences.

4. Trolling for unnecessary attention seeking; the troll may never understand that he/she may become a laughing stock very soon.

5. Posting awkward “selfie” pictures; while the contributor may attract huge attention either for him/herself, or for the background for which he/she put him/herself in the picture, this may finally be detrimental to the contributor if it involves breach of privacy or illegal activity especially when photography has been prohibited in that area.

        It must be remembered that internet is a way of life today. But that does not mean that usage of it should be detrimental to the society at large. A responsible netizen may get lime light for correct reason in due time. Short way to fame may not always be a good journey.

Please Note: Do not violate copyright of this blog. If you would like to use informations provided in this blog for your own assignment/writeup/project/blog/article, please cite it as “Halder D. (2013), “5  (in)famous ways to become famous in social media that one must avoid”, 29^th   July, 2013,  published in http://cybervictims.blogspot.com/”

Showing death to the world

http://www.cybervictims.org

Off late there are too many disturbing reports about suicides in India. Well, if a researcher checks the graph, it can be seen that suicide rate probably goes higher immediately after the school leaving exams are finished or the exam results are out. Our young generation is stressed and many of them cannot take the pressure of being humiliated by peers and rejected by colleges they dreamt for. Yet another type of people who take this extreme step that attract my attention is those who commit suicide with web-cams on. Now this is really disturbing. The latest of this ‘brigade’ is a Chennai boy who took his own life with his web cam on. Before him, there were several others who did this and found their names in the news reports. While this boy in question finished his life for poor studies, others include those who committed suicide due to fight with girl friends, due to work pressure etc.  In the first case, I feel that the deceased probably had taken this extreme step to actually threaten the girlfriend on the other side of the screen. My claim can become a ‘truth’ only when the person witnessing it is properly investigated and the online communication is thoroughly investigated. The second case and cases like this boy in question may need more in-depth research, as whether they were persuaded by someone online at the time of death etc. But thinking from the other side, it is disturbing for the viewer to see a real suicide taking place infront of his/her eyes (through his camera). Ironically in India attempt to suicide is considered a penal offence and once the death has happened, the witnesses may face stringent police prosecution on several legal questions including persuading to even negligence in stopping the act. This is the case for many other countries too. But imagine a witness’s plight if he/she is a minor, or he/she never expected to witness such ghastly acts till he actually saw it. The prolonged process of investigating the evidences through checking the communications conveyed between the deceased or the one who tried to commit suicide and the witness on the other side should also obviously include cyber  forensic test  to ensure whether there were any third party activity involved in it or not. All these may leave the ‘witness’ even more traumatised.

Probably this is one of the worst examples of misuse of webcams by users. In one way, people must understand that attempting or committing suicide and showing death to the world is no big act of heroism. It creates bad example for others. On the other hand, it must also be understood that now time has come to take up interdisciplinary research to highlight this problem which may actually create new brands of cyber offences and cyber criminals.

Please Note: Do not violate copyright of this blog. If you would like to use informations provided in this blog for your own assignment/writeup/project/blog/article, please cite it as “Halder D. (2012), “Showing death to the world

”, 14^th October,2012, published in http://cybervictims.blogspot.com/”

Section 43 Of The Information Technology Act, 2000(amended in 2008) And Pollution Of Computers And Data

http://www.cybervictims.org

Internet is a window to me. Well, it is a window to millions of users like me. This window brings in good inflow of knowledge, some sweet breeze of friendships, economic inflow for some, and also dusty wind which carries viruses.  Even those, who do not access internet from their own computers, may bring to their own “safe computers” or to other’s computers all these unwanted pollutions by secondary methods like CDs, Pen drives, Floppies etc. I bet that every common man, woman or a school going child who uses computer, is afraid of pollution of computer.  There are hundreds of modes to pollute a computer ……nonetheless, hundreds of reasons too for doing this mischievous act. The Indian Information Technology Act recognizes two  most prominent modes of polluting the computer under section 43© , i.e introducing or causing to introduce computer contaminant and computer virus. Note that the mode is a two folded mode, i.e either directly introducing or causing to introduce.  This direct or indirect operation includes introduction of any computer contaminant and/or computer virus to the computer as a machine, computer system and the computer network as a whole.

Look at the draftsmen’s  particular observance on the distinguishing feature of ‘computer contaminant’ and ‘computer virus’….explanation to section 43 says under clause (i) that “computer contaminant” is a term which has been used to indicate “any set of instruction” which is designed to (a) modify, (b) destroy, (c) record, (d) transmit  any data or programme residing within a computer . The term also includes any set of instructions which is designed by any means, to  usurp the normal computer operations. This means that this provision penalizes any or the whole activity done in this course.

             Now, coming to the term “computer virus”, the first thing which came in my mind was the usage of the term “virus” in the very thought provoking movie “3 idiots”. The protagonist and others in the movie named the strict disciplinarian head of the institution “Virus”. It was a short form of his name “Veeru Shasrabudhhi”. But I felt that probably the movie wanted to establish the fact that “Virus” was polluting the minds of young aspirant researchers……………..exactly the way computer viruses pollute the data within the computers which may have been produced after real hard work. The legislation aforementioned in its explanation under clause (iii) clarifies what is meant by the term “computer virus”. It is explained as computer instruction, data or information or programmes that can either destroy, damage, degrade, adversely affect the computer functioning; or can attach itself to another computer resource and operate simultaneously when any data , instruction or programme is executed in that computer resource. The language of the legislation therefore indicates that ‘computer virus’ can include ‘computer contaminant’ too. Nonetheless, computer virus and computer contaminant could be the two prominent modes for hacking, besides monitoring and modifying the contents. Section 43 regulates such pollution of the computer (inclusive of computer contamination and polluting the computer through virus attack) by awarding pecuniary sanction of Rupees 1 Crore which the guilty person has to pay as compensation to the person affected as such.

Taking this provision as the base, hacking and modification of the content by such “pollutions” have also been regulated by Information Technology Act, 2008 under Section 65 (especially when the offense includes destruction , alteration of the computer source code which is required to be maintained by law for the time being in force) and section 66 (which includes all the offences as has been mentioned under Section 43, including ‘polluting’ the computer). Section 65 awards sentence which could be either imprisonment term up to 3 years or  pecuniary sanction which may extend to two lakh Rupees , or both; whereas section 66 awards sentence which could be imprisonment which may extend to three years , or pecuniary fine of  five lakh Rupees, or  both.

Hence do not take computer contamination or virus attacks lightly. If you are a programmer and you are asked to create any such programme, think again how it may affect you if you were the victim. If you are the victim, do not encourage any “techy” to beat the wrongdoer. The law is there to help…..however, how far it can be used and executed, remains still a matter of debates.

Please Note: Do not violate copyright of this blog. If you would like to use informations provided in this blog for your own assignment/writeup/project/blog/article, please cite it as “Halder Debarati. (2011), “Section 43 of the Information technology Act, 2000(amended in 2008) and pollution of computers and data”,9^th June,2011 , published in  http://cybervictims.blogspot.com/

Centre for Cyber Victim Counseling (CCVC): A committed organization to help Cyber Crime Victims

It had been eight long months since we started Centre for “Cyber Victims Counseling” (CCVC). http://www.cybervictims.edu.tf/ felt this is the right time to write a few words about this brain child of ours……me and my husband. We are basically a “Trust”, an all voluntary not for profit NGO with social service agenda, working towards betterment of cyber space. Our primary concern is Indian cyber space. Being a lawyer myself, I felt this is the best way I could contribute to my country and countrymen. Indian cyber space has become more secured than before due to several organizations and individuals who are working on cyber crime issues since couple of years. On behalf of CCVC, we are proud to follow their footsteps. 


When we conceived the idea of CCVC, I never knew there would be so many responses. Many contacted us for different sorts of help and guidance from within the country as well as outside the country. We in CCVC are thankful to all of you who consider us “worthy friends” to tell your problems. While we were building CCVC, we received many criticisms too. We consider them as treasures in disguise. Feedbacks, guidance and criticisms make CCVC stronger to help the victims, individuals, students and the researchers as well. We are growing in handling each experience of yours. I take this opportunity to thank Jayne Hitchcock, whom I consider as my mentor. I got to learn basic cyber ethics from her. WHOA and Hitchcock were our “motivators” behind starting CCVC. 


I know, healing a patient with physical pain is a tough job. But healing a victim of cyber attack is neither an easy task. The pain one goes through remains for long, some times for life. Besides providing counseling to cyber crime victims, what satisfies me more is the blogs I run as a part of CCVC’s activities. These blogs creates awareness about cyber crimes and victimisation. I would be extremely happy to help all who need to know about cyber crime and laws . In the CCVC, we are planning for more activities in the coming months. Do keep an eye on CCVC’c blogs @ http://cybervictims.blogspot.com/ and http://debaraticyberspace.blogspot.com/ to know about our further plans and activities.

PHISHING-PART II

http://www.cybervictims.edu.tf/

A typical Phishing Mail would look like as below:
“I sincerely ask for forgiveness for I know this may seem like a complete intrusion to your privacy but right about now this is my option of communication. This mail might come to you as a surprise and the temptation to ignore it as unserious could come into your mind; but please consider it a divine wish and accept it with a deep sense of humility.

I am aware that this is certainly an unconventional approach to starting a relationship.
I am the personal account officer to the great late diseased who has an account in one of our banks here in Burkina Faso . The account was opened in 2001 and he died in 2004 without a written or oral WILL and since 2004 nobody has operated on this account again hence the money is floating and if I do not remit this money out urgently it will be forfeited for nothing and Government of Burkina Faso will confiscate the funds for their personal use which I personally don't want such incident to happen being that this is a great opportunity for me.

My contact is for you to please assist me to transfer the fund ($10.6000.00 USD) Ten Million Six Hundred Thousand United State Dollars from a Cooperate Bank here in Burkina Faso to an overseas account. First, I must solicit your strictest confidence in this transaction. This is by virtue of its nature as being utterly confidential. I am sure and have confidence of your ability and reliability to prosecute a transaction of this great magnitude. I solicit your assistance to enable us transfer the said amount into your safe account for onward investment.

You can either provide us with an existing account or to set up a new Bank account immediately to receive this money, even an empty a/c can serve to receive this money, as long as you will remain honest to me till the end of this important business trusting in you and believing that you will never let me down either now or in future because this business is my life. The owner of this account is a foreigner and no other person knows about this account or anything concerning it, the account has no other beneficiary and until his death he was the manager of the company. My investigation through the National immigration department & Ministries here proved to me as well that he was single as at the time of his entry into the Republic of Burkina Faso . As a matter of fact, I have decided to transfer this fund abroad for investment and also to use my own share of the fund to take my wife to abroad for liver damage treatment. Your assistance as a foreigner is necessary because the management of the bank will welcome any foreigner who has correct information to this account which I will give to you immediately, if you are interested to do this business with me. There is no risk in this business. With my position here in the bank the money can be transferred to any account you can provide with assurance that this money will be intact pending our physical arrival in your country for sharing. Upon successful transfer without any disappointment from your side, I am only contacting you as a foreigner because this money cannot be approved to a local person here, but can only be approved to any foreigner who has the correct information of the account, which I will provide for you. So you should provide me with your correct account details where you will like the fund to be transferred to, or you can set up a new account for the transfer even an empty account is ok. At the conclusion of the transfer you will take 40%, 10% will be for any expenses both parties incurred in the process of this business and the remaining 50% will be for me. As soon as I hear from you and upon your strong assurance that you will not let me down once the fund goes into your account I will then send you the Text of application form which you will fill with your banking information and send to my bank here for immediate transfer of the fund to your account. If you are interested, please forward the following information as below:

{1} Your Name/company's name and full address,
{2} Bank Name:............
{3} Bank Address...
{4} Account No:.........
{5} Swift Code...{if any}
{6} Account Holder's Name: ..........
{7} your telephone Num. both Home, Office & Cell/Mobile and fax
Numbers...
{8} Your Occupation
{9} Your Valid ID
Waiting for your urgent reply”

Well, this was a mail (infact one of hundreds of mails I receive every day) I got just day before yesterday. Isn’t the informations provided inside the mail ,enough to tempt any ordinary individual? When I opened my first gmail account some three years back, I felt I got a fortune when I received a mail stating I have won a lottery. No no, I didn’t put my name in any such easy money making game. The sender told me it was a randomly searched name and I was the lucky one. I was about to send my informations when suddenly my instincts told me some thing is wrong. I consulted with my banker sister, my criminologist husband and couple of my police friends. Almost all of our net experiences were similar and I decided to resist my temptation. The incidence motivated my sister to inquire and tell me it was a kind of fraud that helps the mischief monger to access the victim’s financial accounts. My husband who was already researching on these incidences immediately went for a deeper research with me as a “case study” and told me this was nothing but another type of cyber crime which India is not very familiar with.

center for cyber crime victims

http://www.cybervictims.edu.tf/

Welcome to the blog of CCVC India

If you are a

1. a victim in the social networking websites
2. a victim of cyber harassment in the chat rooms
3. getting harassing emails in your email
4. fearing of being blackmailed through emails,
5. victim of stalking ( online and offline)
6. relative or friend of such victims
7. a corporate organization willing to know about cyber etiquettes and cyber safety measures for your people
8. an educational institution willing to interact with us
9. an NGO willing to interact with us …………………..

We welcome you to contact us at the center's email id @ ccvcindia@gmail.com.

Have a safe virtual life

Debarati Halder

Director, CCVC