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Scrape Timestamp (UTC): 2024-09-11 04:38:19.179
Source: https://www.theregister.com/2024/09/11/india_cyber_commandos/
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India to train 5000 'Cyber Commandos'. Minister reckons dedicated cops necessary to protect digital transactions. India has announced a plan to train a specialized wing of 5000 "Cyber Commandos" in the next five years, as part of its efforts to address cyber crime. The dedicated corps will be deployed by state and national governments and police organizations to counter cyber threats and assist in securing digital space, revealed India's Ministry of Home Affairs. The division of cyber fighters were part of four major initiatives announced by minister Amit Shah. Other plans include the establishment of a Cyber Fraud Mitigation Centre (CFMC), a centralized cyber crime coordination and data-sharing platform for law enforcement agencies – called the Samanvay platform – and the creation of a nation-level state registry of suspected cyber criminals. The registry will carry details of those involved in cyber and online financial frauds. It is based on the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (NCRP), in collaboration with banks and financial intermediaries. Shah asserted the Cyber Suspect Registry must be interconnected across states as "states have their own boundaries, but cyber criminals have no boundaries." The initiatives all fall under the purview of the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) – a national hub for coordinating prevention and response to digital baddies. The I4C is also embarking on a public awareness campaign to disseminate cyber crime prevention information and promote a national cyber crime helpline number to ensure victims know where to seek help. Shah asserted that India leads the world for digital payments – figures from the Reserve Bank of India estimate that 46 percent of the digital payments in the world take place in that country – and that additional protection from digital fraud is necessary. In 2014, only 600 of India's panchayats, or local governments, were connected to the internet, compared to 213,000 today, observed Shah. The minister disclosed that so far, I4C has issued more than 600 advisories – blocking a wide range of websites, social media pages, mobile apps and accounts operated by cyber criminals. Additionally, over 1100 officers have been trained in cyber forensics.
Daily Brief Summary
India plans to train 5000 "Cyber Commandos" over the next five years to tackle increasing cyber threats and enhance digital security.
The Cyber Commandos will be part of the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) and work with state and national government forces to secure digital spaces.
Additional initiatives include a Cyber Fraud Mitigation Centre and a centralized cybercrime data-sharing platform, Samanvay, to enhance the coordination among law enforcement agencies.
A national cyber suspect registry will also be developed to catalog individuals involved in cyber and financial frauds, fostering inter-state collaboration.
I4C is promoting a national cybercrime helpline and is involved in ongoing public awareness campaigns to educate on cybercrime prevention.
India, leading in global digital payments, aims to bolster its defenses against digital fraud paralleling its rapid digitalization and internet connectivity growth.
The minister highlighted that the cyber initiatives are crucial, given the significant rise from 600 internet-connected local governments in 2014 to 213,000 today.
I4C has already issued over 600 advisories, blocking numerous malicious online entities and training over 1100 officers in cyber forensics.