The New Nation - Internet Edition

Md. Kamruzzaman Ferose

The rise of computer and others high technologies equipments has paved the way for the genesis of new crime types. High-Tech Crime involves an attempt to pursue illegal activities through the use of advance electronic media. High Technology as a form of sophisticated electronic devices- computer, cellular telephone, internet and other digital communication- that is in common use today. The concept of cyber crime is not radically different from the concept of conventional crime. At first the cyber crime occurs in India, Japan & China at 1820. The first recorded cyber crime took place in the year 1820! That is not surprising considering the fact that the abacus, which is thought to be the earliest form of a computer, has been around since 3500 B.C. in India, Japan and China. The era of modern computers, however, began with the analytical engine of Charles Babbage. Although the term cybercrime is simply as criminal activity involving the information technology infrastructure, including illegal access (unauthorized access), illegal interception (by technical means of non-public transmissions of computer data to, from or within a computer system), data interference (unauthorized damaging, deletion, deterioration, alteration or suppression of computer data), systems interference (interfering with the functioning of a computer system by inputting, transmitting, damaging, deleting, deteriorating, altering or suppressing computer data), misuse of devices, forgery (ID theft), and electronic fraud.

One of the recent researches showed that a new cybercrime is being registered every 10 seconds in Britain. During 2006 the computer crooks were able to strike 3.24 million times. Some crimes performed on-line even surpassed their equivalents in real world. In addition, experts believe that about 90% of cybercrimes stay unreported. According to a study performed by Shirley McGuire, a specialist in psychology of the University of San Francisco, the majority of teenagers who hack and invade computer systems are doing it for fun rather than with the aim of causing harm. Shirley McGuire mentioned that quite often parents cannot understand the motivation of the teenage hackers. She performed an anonymous experiment, questioning more than 4,800 students in the area of San Diego. Her results were presented at the American Psychological Association conference:

38% of teenagers were involved in software piracy;

18% of all youngsters confessed of entering and using the information stored on other personal computer or website;

13% of all the participants mentioned they performed changes in computer systems or computer files.

In the 2005 survey 35% (n= 63) of these organizations reported experiencing electronic attacks that harmed the confidentiality, integrity or availability of network data or systems.

Characteristics of Cyber Crime: mainly it is property related crime; no direct contact with victims; electronic travel; involve less visible and tangible kinds of property such as information, data, computer networks; victims realize many times later after actual commission of crime; profits of high-tech crimes are vast; hackers are able to steal greater amounts with greater comfort; single act can victimize multiple or places at once; easy to evade detection and prosecution; criminals can carry their illegal activities without any geographical limitations; tracing high-tech criminal activity to the responsible individual is very difficult; high-tech criminals can easily move on to a new target; criminals can precipitate in a modern phenomenon: global community etc.

Categories of Cyber Crime: According to Mr. Pavval cybercrime can be divided basically in the following three categories.

Cybercrimes committed against persons include various crimes like transmission of child-pornography, harassment of any one with the use of a computer such as e-mail. The trafficking, distribution, posting, and dissemination of obscene material including pornography and indecent exposure, constitutes one of the most important Cybercrimes known today. Cyber harassment is a distinct Cybercrime. Harassment can be sexual, racial, religious, or other. Cyber harassment as a crime also brings us to another related area of violation of privacy of citizens. Violation of privacy of online citizens is a Cybercrime of a grave nature.

The second category of Cyber-crimes is that of Cybercrimes against all forms of property. These crimes include computer vandalism (destruction of others' property), transmission of harmful programmes. A Mumbai-based upstart engineering company lost a say and much money in the business when the rival company, an industry major, stole the technical database from their computers with the help of a corporate cyber-spy.

The third category of Cyber-crimes relate to Cybercrimes against Government. Cyber terrorism is one distinct kind of crime in this category. The growth of internet has shown that the medium of Cyberspace is being used by individuals and groups to threaten the international governments as also to terrorize the citizens of a country. This crime manifests itself into terrorism when an individual "cracks" into a government or military maintained website. In a report of expressindia. com, it was said that internet was becoming a boon for the terrorist organizations.

The above are the most common cyber crimes which are available now. Steps should be taken to prevent these crimes immediately to ensure secured information and technology based system.

Cyber Crimes pose a special problem to law enforcement agencies for two reasons: 1) these crimes are not easily detected since the offenders can quietly commit them from any computer terminal, usually in the comfort of their own homes. 2) Most law enforcement agencies are not equipped to deal with the phenomenon.

In Bangladesh, Nowadays youths are increasingly using cyber cafes as their dating places. According to newspaper reports, various types of antisocial activities take place in these cafes in the name of net browsing. For Internet browsing, there are separate cabins for pairs where their intimate moments are videoed secretly. These pictures are later made available on the Internet.

Bangladesh police recently has taken plan to set up a special unit to curb cyber crimes. The matter has become more urgent since an e-mail message was sent to Bengali daily Prothom Alo, issuing a life threat to Awami League president and Leader of Opposition Sheikh Hasina on August 23, 2004.

Another mail was sent to the police headquarters Aug 25, threatening Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, her son Tarique Rahman and Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) lawmakers. The police department took the mails seriously and decided to set up a cyber crime control unit, which will be the country's first policing unit against cyber crime. Two young men, a private university student and a software engineer, were arrested in connection with the e-mail threatening the prime minister and another youth for threatening Sheikh Hasina. The first two have reportedly said that they had sent the mail for fun. As there is no nationwide computer infrastructure, no watchdog or security system has yet been developed in Bangladesh

Let's talk about the situation in Bangladesh. Compared to other countries in the world, the Internet technology has come to Bangladesh lately. But, the country does not lag behind when it comes to cyber crimes. The country's Internet system is becoming a centre of cyber crimes like stealing information, pornography etc.

To address the problem, it is essential to enact a stringent law. And, after a long wait, many discussions and criticism, the Information Technology Act, 2006 was passed in parliament. IT specialists think it is possible to take effective measures against cyber crimes, including pornography, by properly enforcing this law.

This law is very tough indeed. Under the law, an offender is liable to long-term imprisonment and huge fine. But, not a single case could be filed yet under this law. The law enforcing agencies, however, have launched some activities in this regard and they are hopeful of doing some good jobs pretty soon. According to advice from the National Security Intelligence (NSI), measures are being taken to keep watch on cyber cafés and internet-related activities. So, it is suggested that formulating law against Internet crimes as soon as possible and providing proper training to law enforcers to fight such crimes.