The best defence against email hackers is a strong password. But internet users in smaller towns do not follow security tips while creating passwords of their accounts. The net result: hacking has become the most common cyber crime.
With the rising popularity of social networking sites, cyber criminals are exploiting people’s habit of uploading personal details on various sites. The cyber crime trend revealed in the latest data released by the National Crime Record Bureau shows that of the total 3,477 cyber crime cases registered in the country, hacking ruled the roost with at least 1,875 cases, followed by 589 offences relating to pornography and obscenity.
Besides, at least 282 cases of criminal breach of trust through Net and 259 cases of forgery were also reported from across the country. The NCRB’s figures also show that the number of cyber crime cases registered in Uttar Pradesh doubled over a period of one year. In 2012, at least 249 cases were lodged in contrast to 114 in 2011. UP ranks fifth in terms of cyber crime registration in the country. The most cases were registered in Maharashtra (561), followed by Andhra Pradesh (454), Karnataka (437) and Kerala (312).
“The netizen population in UP and other states is increasing and so is the number of cyber crime cases,” said Dinesh Yadav, nodal officer, cyber crime cell, Lucknow. He added: “Hacking is the most common cyber crime. Pornography and obscenity are also increasing with the growing popularity of social networking sites.” People from all age groups are logged on to these sites. Netizens in rural areas are also using social networking sites nowadays but they do not follow basic safety measures.
{{/usCountry}}“The netizen population in UP and other states is increasing and so is the number of cyber crime cases,” said Dinesh Yadav, nodal officer, cyber crime cell, Lucknow. He added: “Hacking is the most common cyber crime. Pornography and obscenity are also increasing with the growing popularity of social networking sites.” People from all age groups are logged on to these sites. Netizens in rural areas are also using social networking sites nowadays but they do not follow basic safety measures.
{{/usCountry}}The NCRB data also showed that that there had been a tremendous increase in registration of cyber crime cases in smaller cities and towns of UP. Of the total 249 cases reported in the state, at least 165 cases were registered from smaller cities. Yadav said girls and women were the major victims of obscenity on social sites.
He suggested people should neither upload their personal things on these sites nor should accept friend requests from unknown people. Citing an example, the nodal officer said a youth in a Rae Bareli village troubled at least 50 people on his friend list by uploading pornographic material and posting vulgar comments on their walls. He did all this after creating a fake facebook account.