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Ankur Chandrakant on cybercrime and cybercrimes on digital creators

Ankur Chandrakant, a famous Cyber Security and Forensic Expert with a deep understanding of Blockchain, NFT, Crypto, and Metaverse, discusses cybercrime and cybercrimes on digital creators. “Cybercrime is defined as the malicious use of computer networks, systems, and technology-dependent enterprises,” he explains. It is one of the most popular and widespread kinds of criminal activity on the planet. Malicious code is used to modify data and gain unauthorised access in a range of cybercrimes.”

Ankur stated, “Photographers, video editors, bloggers, influencers, and a slew of other creative rely significantly on the internet for job and profit. As a result, they become a popular target for cybercriminals looking to copy their work, obtain access to their online accounts, or steal sensitive data. Creators must be aware of some of the primary hazards they encounter in order to know how to defend themselves. This post will go over five cybersecurity dangers that artists face and how to deal with them.”

He also talked about the five Cybersecurity Threats to Creators. He said, “ The five threats are Compromised Account Login Credentials, Social Engineering Attacks, Threats to Mobile Security, Threats to Cloud Security and Ransomware Attacks”.

The first is Compromised Account Login Credentials. “Social media influencers and bloggers, for example, frequently utilise many platforms and maintain multiple online profiles to promote their work. If someone else acquires access to these accounts, they may be able to harm the creator’s reputation or finances severely. The usage of weak passwords is the leading cause of account breaches. Creators must take the security of their accounts extremely seriously as online professionals. Setting up strong passwords is the first step. Having said that, some creators may only utilise a few accounts each day to do their job. Setting up strong and difficult-to-remember passwords for each of them might be difficult. However, if you continue to use weak passwords, it’ll only be a matter of time until your accounts are hacked. A password manager can help you keep track of your credentials if you have trouble remembering them.”

The second is Social Engineering Attacks. “Social engineering attacks utilise psychological manipulation to get people to expose critical information by making seemingly innocuous mistakes. Because they spend the majority of their work time online, creators are extremely cyber-aware. They are, nevertheless, just as prone to committing unintentional errors such as clicking on risky links or downloading harmful files. Threat actors tend to target artists in large groups, based on publicly accessible information such as email, phone number, and portfolio, in the hopes that they would make a thoughtless error. Phishing is the most prevalent social engineering assault. Phishing is when hackers send communications pretending to be someone they aren’t. The purpose is to infect the victim with hidden software or trick them into providing sensitive information like login passwords. With creators, hackers may pose as a customer and send a malicious link containing malware to the victim.”

The third is Threats to Mobile Security. Ankur said, “The majority of content creators use their mobile phones to generate content on a regular basis. As a result, they must understand how to safeguard their equipment from cybersecurity threats. The following are the most typical mobile phone cybersecurity concerns. Taking advantage of public WiFi, There are no authentication security procedures in place, Theft or physical loss. When utilising public WiFi, creators should avoid it or utilise a VPN. They should also use a passcode or face or fingerprint recognition to open their phone.”

The fourth is Threats to Cloud Security. He said, “Data storage and sharing via the cloud has become second nature to creators. There’s nothing wrong with it, but creators should be aware that there are hazards out there, and they should know how to avoid them. True, the majority of trustworthy cloud providers employ strong security measures to thwart assaults. Unfortunately, this does not necessarily imply safety. Misconfiguration is perhaps the most significant cybersecurity risk associated with cloud computing. If developers are unfamiliar with a platform, they may inadvertently misconfigure the settings, allowing unwanted access to sensitive information.”

The last is Ransomware Attacks. He said, “Ransomware is a sort of malware that threatens to reveal your data unless you pay the perpetrators a ransom. After the attackers have hacked your device and acquired access to vital information that they may use to demand ransom, the malware is put on it. Ransomware is becoming a more serious danger, with hundreds of new variations appearing each year and a roughly 100 per cent increase in paid ransoms. Creators are still seen as businesses, whether they operate alone or with a team. Hackers are well aware of the benefits of gaining access to their data.”

Finally, he concluded, “Bloggers, photographers, influencers, and other creators rely substantially (and often exclusively) on the internet for their livelihood. As a result, they must be aware of a variety of cybersecurity concerns. Thankfully, artists may considerably lower the danger of cyberattacks by being cautious, being informed about the current risks, and employing security measures to avoid assaults.”

[cyberexpertankur]

Ankur Chandrakant on cybercrime and cybercrimes on digital creators

Ankur Chandrakant, a famous Cyber Security and Forensic Expert with a deep understanding of Blockchain, NFT, Crypto, and Metaverse, discusses cybercrime and cybercrimes on digital creators. “Cybercrime is defined as the malicious use of computer networks, systems, and technology-dependent enterprises,” he explains. It is one of the most popular and widespread kinds of criminal activity on the planet. Malicious code is used to modify data and gain unauthorised access in a range of cybercrimes.”

Ankur stated, “Photographers, video editors, bloggers, influencers, and a slew of other creative rely significantly on the internet for job and profit. As a result, they become a popular target for cybercriminals looking to copy their work, obtain access to their online accounts, or steal sensitive data. Creators must be aware of some of the primary hazards they encounter in order to know how to defend themselves. This post will go over five cybersecurity dangers that artists face and how to deal with them.”

He also talked about the five Cybersecurity Threats to Creators. He said, “ The five threats are Compromised Account Login Credentials, Social Engineering Attacks, Threats to Mobile Security, Threats to Cloud Security and Ransomware Attacks”.

The first is Compromised Account Login Credentials. “Social media influencers and bloggers, for example, frequently utilise many platforms and maintain multiple online profiles to promote their work. If someone else acquires access to these accounts, they may be able to harm the creator’s reputation or finances severely. The usage of weak passwords is the leading cause of account breaches. Creators must take the security of their accounts extremely seriously as online professionals. Setting up strong passwords is the first step. Having said that, some creators may only utilise a few accounts each day to do their job. Setting up strong and difficult-to-remember passwords for each of them might be difficult. However, if you continue to use weak passwords, it’ll only be a matter of time until your accounts are hacked. A password manager can help you keep track of your credentials if you have trouble remembering them.”

The second is Social Engineering Attacks. “Social engineering attacks utilise psychological manipulation to get people to expose critical information by making seemingly innocuous mistakes. Because they spend the majority of their work time online, creators are extremely cyber-aware. They are, nevertheless, just as prone to committing unintentional errors such as clicking on risky links or downloading harmful files. Threat actors tend to target artists in large groups, based on publicly accessible information such as email, phone number, and portfolio, in the hopes that they would make a thoughtless error. Phishing is the most prevalent social engineering assault. Phishing is when hackers send communications pretending to be someone they aren’t. The purpose is to infect the victim with hidden software or trick them into providing sensitive information like login passwords. With creators, hackers may pose as a customer and send a malicious link containing malware to the victim.”

The third is Threats to Mobile Security. Ankur said, “The majority of content creators use their mobile phones to generate content on a regular basis. As a result, they must understand how to safeguard their equipment from cybersecurity threats. The following are the most typical mobile phone cybersecurity concerns. Taking advantage of public WiFi, There are no authentication security procedures in place, Theft or physical loss. When utilising public WiFi, creators should avoid it or utilise a VPN. They should also use a passcode or face or fingerprint recognition to open their phone.”

The fourth is Threats to Cloud Security. He said, “Data storage and sharing via the cloud has become second nature to creators. There’s nothing wrong with it, but creators should be aware that there are hazards out there, and they should know how to avoid them. True, the majority of trustworthy cloud providers employ strong security measures to thwart assaults. Unfortunately, this does not necessarily imply safety. Misconfiguration is perhaps the most significant cybersecurity risk associated with cloud computing. If developers are unfamiliar with a platform, they may inadvertently misconfigure the settings, allowing unwanted access to sensitive information.”

The last is Ransomware Attacks. He said, “Ransomware is a sort of malware that threatens to reveal your data unless you pay the perpetrators a ransom. After the attackers have hacked your device and acquired access to vital information that they may use to demand ransom, the malware is put on it. Ransomware is becoming a more serious danger, with hundreds of new variations appearing each year and a roughly 100 per cent increase in paid ransoms. Creators are still seen as businesses, whether they operate alone or with a team. Hackers are well aware of the benefits of gaining access to their data.”

Finally, he concluded, “Bloggers, photographers, influencers, and other creators rely substantially (and often exclusively) on the internet for their livelihood. As a result, they must be aware of a variety of cybersecurity concerns. Thankfully, artists may considerably lower the danger of cyberattacks by being cautious, being informed about the current risks, and employing security measures to avoid assaults.”

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Cybercrime and how influencers may protect themselves from cyberattacks are discussed by Ankur Chandrakant

Cybercrime and how influencers may protect themselves from cyberattacks are discussed by Ankur Chandrakant, a well-known Cyber Security and Forensic Expert with a thorough understanding of Blockchain, NFT, Crypto, and the Metaverse. He defines cybercrime as “malicious use of computer networks, systems, and technology-dependent organisations.” It’s one of the world’s most popular and ubiquitous forms of illicit behaviour. In a variety of cybercrimes, malicious code is used to alter data and obtain unauthorised access.

“With the advancement of technology, the number of cybercrimes and scams is continuously increasing. A new cyber fraud involving social media influencers has been discovered, according to the police. Companies pay social media influencers on a regular basis for their handles to advertise their products, and they have a large number of followers. Many well-known people are also drawn in. Cyber fraud is a type of cybercrime that uses the Internet to conceal information or supply false information in order to defraud victims of their money, property, and heritage.”

Ankur explained the various steps social media personalities can take to protect themselves online. He said, “The first step is to use passphrases or difficult passwords to secure your accounts. The best way to do this is to use a passphrase, which is a set of words that only you understand. We recommend using a passphrase with at least four words and a length of 15 characters. To add an extra degree of security to your accounts, enable multi-factor authentication in the second step. In order for a cyber criminal to gain access to your account, they must not only guess your password, but also supply a second authentication factor that matches yours.”

Second is to keep an eye on who has access to your information. He said, “Many social media influencers collaborate with a team to generate and post content when building their personal brand. For some influencers, this entails enlisting the help of team members who can write and create material that they can share on their own. Only one person — the influencer — has access to the account in these circumstances. Others, on the other hand, collaborate with a team to log in and post the content on behalf of the influencer. That implies exchanging credentials and access with people who aren’t as concerned about cyber security as you are. While this may make it easier to publish postings that engage your audience, it also makes you more open to cyber attacks than if you were the only one who had access to your accounts. With more people having access, there are more potential weak spots. It also means that there are more possibilities for a cyber thief to obtain a password or account access. Not everyone on your team will be as conscientious about password security as you are. Because of the acts of one person, the entire account is vulnerable. Limiting the amount of persons that have access to your accounts is one strategy to combat this. Adopting a cyber security policy that applies to everyone with access might also help. A policy like this, which describes how to keep passwords secure and the significance of logging out of accounts when not in use, establishes the ground rules for how your team will upload content.”

Third is to keep up with the latest risks and the protection measures. He said,

“What’s the greatest way to protect yourself against cyber-threats? Information.

Cyber thieves’ methods are constantly evolving. It’s critical to stay informed about these threats and how they can be utilized against you. But it’s not just threats. To remain ahead of those risks, social media platforms and other service providers are changing their services and features. Stay informed to protect yourself. You can keep one step ahead of cyber criminals by regularly educating yourself.

Finally he concluded, he said, “As the popularity of social media influencers has grown, so have the stakes for keeping safe online. You can be well on your way to influencing whether or not you become a victim of a cyber assault by following a few basic measures.”

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Ankur Chandrakant on cybercrime and the two well-known initiative to combat cybercrime and raise cyber security awareness

Ankur Chandrakant, a famous Cyber Security and Forensic Expert with a deep understanding of Blockchain, NFT, Crypto, and Metaverse, discusses cybercrime and the well-known two initiative to combat cybercrime and raise cyber security awareness. “Cybercrime is defined as the malicious use of computer networks, systems, and technology-dependent enterprises,” he explains. It is one of the most popular and widespread kinds of criminal activity on the planet. Malicious code is used to modify data and gain unauthorised access in a range of cybercrimes.”

Ankur talked about the first important initiative, the eProtect foundation. He said, “The Community for Cybercrime Prevention and Justice for Women is run by the eProtect Foundation in Uttarakhand. In general, the State Police Department has a specialised section that deals with all complicated and sensitive cybercrime cases, including those involving women and children as victims. They serve as a link between the victims/complainants and law enforcement. They offer hassle-free documentation and cyber complaint/FIR filing.”

“With the help of the Uttarakhand Police and State Administration, the eProtect Foundation is also driving a FREE cyber safety awareness effort for women and youth through the production of standardised awareness modules that include videos, short films, PPTs, FAQs, Quizzes, and Do’s and Don’ts. The Foundation holds awareness workshops for teachers and students in schools around Uttarakhand and India on a regular basis.”

He also stated that “As the mentor of the eProtect Foundation and a Sr. Cyber Security Researcher and Forensic Expert, it is my goal to help law enforcement agencies improve their cyber investigative capabilities. In cybercrime awareness, new cyber TRACKING methodologies, and criminal investigation, I have educated over 18,000 students across India, including researchers, senior IPS officers, inspectors and sub-inspectors of District Cyber Cells, and State Police Station Cyber Teams.”

He explained the mission of the eProtect Foundation. He said, “First, To prevent cyber-harassment and information theft in cyberspace. Secondly, Enhance your ability to detect and respond to cyber-threats. Third, to reduce cyber insurance vulnerabilities and harm via a mix of institutional structures, people, procedures, technology, and collaboration. Fourth, We put together strong, inventive, multi-disciplinary teams to tackle current and future cybersecurity and privacy concerns that anybody can encounter. And finally, Threats Never Stop. Neither Do We.”

He talked about the other initiative, CyberGram. “The Cyber Gram project under the Ministry of Minority Affaires’ Multi-Sectoral Development Programme is an endeavour to equip the targeted group with an understanding of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and enable them to use ICT services in their day-to-day job,” he stated.

He discussed CyberGram’s targeted beneficiaries as well as the program’s main goal. “, he explained “The programme would benefit children in classes VI through X who are members of Minority Communities who have been notified under Section 2(c) of the National Commission for Minorities Act 1992 and who live in regions covered by the Multi-Sectoral Development Programme. Its principal goal is to give hands-on computer training to students from Minority Communities, allowing them to learn fundamental ICT skills that will empower them.”

He also discussed a Training Centre’s duties. “, he explained “Provides the necessary training course, as well as course materials, to beneficiaries who are eligible for the initiative. Using the OMA-cum-LMS, register the beneficiaries, track their attendance, and perform a continuous evaluation. Keeping track of all beneficiaries who sign up for the course, confirming their attendance, and ensuring that the beneficiary shows up for the test. Candidates who pass the exam will receive 30 hours of free internet usage.”

[cyberexpertankur]

Ankur Chandrakant on cybercrime and the two well-known initiative to combat cybercrime and raise cyber security awareness

Ankur Chandrakant, a famous Cyber Security and Forensic Expert with a deep understanding of Blockchain, NFT, Crypto, and Metaverse, discusses cybercrime and the well-known two initiative to combat cybercrime and raise cyber security awareness. “Cybercrime is defined as the malicious use of computer networks, systems, and technology-dependent enterprises,” he explains. It is one of the most popular and widespread kinds of criminal activity on the planet. Malicious code is used to modify data and gain unauthorised access in a range of cybercrimes.”

Ankur talked about the first important initiative, the eProtect foundation. He said, “The Community for Cybercrime Prevention and Justice for Women is run by the eProtect Foundation in Uttarakhand. In general, the State Police Department has a specialised section that deals with all complicated and sensitive cybercrime cases, including those involving women and children as victims. They serve as a link between the victims/complainants and law enforcement. They offer hassle-free documentation and cyber complaint/FIR filing.”

“With the help of the Uttarakhand Police and State Administration, the eProtect Foundation is also driving a FREE cyber safety awareness effort for women and youth through the production of standardised awareness modules that include videos, short films, PPTs, FAQs, Quizzes, and Do’s and Don’ts. The Foundation holds awareness workshops for teachers and students in schools around Uttarakhand and India on a regular basis.”

He also stated that “As the mentor of the eProtect Foundation and a Sr. Cyber Security Researcher and Forensic Expert, it is my goal to help law enforcement agencies improve their cyber investigative capabilities. In cybercrime awareness, new cyber TRACKING methodologies, and criminal investigation, I have educated over 18,000 students across India, including researchers, senior IPS officers, inspectors and sub-inspectors of District Cyber Cells, and State Police Station Cyber Teams.”

He explained the mission of the eProtect Foundation. He said, “First, To prevent cyber-harassment and information theft in cyberspace. Secondly, Enhance your ability to detect and respond to cyber-threats. Third, to reduce cyber insurance vulnerabilities and harm via a mix of institutional structures, people, procedures, technology, and collaboration. Fourth, We put together strong, inventive, multi-disciplinary teams to tackle current and future cybersecurity and privacy concerns that anybody can encounter. And finally, Threats Never Stop. Neither Do We.”

He talked about the other initiative, CyberGram. “The Cyber Gram project under the Ministry of Minority Affaires’ Multi-Sectoral Development Programme is an endeavour to equip the targeted group with an understanding of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and enable them to use ICT services in their day-to-day job,” he stated.

He discussed CyberGram’s targeted beneficiaries as well as the program’s main goal. “, he explained “The programme would benefit children in classes VI through X who are members of Minority Communities who have been notified under Section 2(c) of the National Commission for Minorities Act 1992 and who live in regions covered by the Multi-Sectoral Development Programme. Its principal goal is to give hands-on computer training to students from Minority Communities, allowing them to learn fundamental ICT skills that will empower them.”

He also discussed a Training Centre’s duties. “, he explained “Provides the necessary training course, as well as course materials, to beneficiaries who are eligible for the initiative. Using the OMA-cum-LMS, register the beneficiaries, track their attendance, and perform a continuous evaluation. Keeping track of all beneficiaries who sign up for the course, confirming their attendance, and ensuring that the beneficiary shows up for the test. Candidates who pass the exam will receive 30 hours of free internet usage.”

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Ankur Chandrakant on cyber crime and cyber criminals methodology

Ankur Chandrakant, a renowned Cyber Security and Forensic Expert, profound SME on Blockchain, NFT, Crypto & Metaverse, talks about Cybercrime and cybercriminals methodology. He says, “Cybercrime is described as the intentional exploitation of computer networks, systems, and technology-dependent businesses. It is one of the most common and prevalent forms of crime in the world. Malicious code is used in a variety of cyber crimes to change data and obtain unauthorized access.”

Ankur talked about the different categories of cybercrimes. He said, “Individual, property, and government cybercrime are the three primary categories of cybercrime. Cybercriminals deploy various levels and types of threats depending on the type of cybercrime they are committing.”

He explained all the categories in detail. The first category is Individual cybercrime. Disseminating malicious or illegal material via the internet and digital applications by a single individual falls under this type of cybercrime. This category of cyber crime includes things like cyber speaking, pornography distribution, and human trafficking.

The second category is Property cybercrime. This cyber crime is analogous to a real-life situation in which a thief illegally holds bank or credit card information. The hacker takes a person’s bank account information in order to obtain money or creates phishing scams on the internet in order to obtain information from people.

The last category is Government cybercrime. This is the least common type of cybercrime, yet it is the most serious. Computer terrorism is defined as a cyber crime committed against the government. Website hacking, military website hacking, and the distribution of government propaganda are all examples of government cybercrime.

Ankur also talked about the various important types of cyber crimes done by cyber criminals. The first one is DoS and DDoS Attacks. He said, “This is one of the most widely utilised hacking techniques by both rookie and experienced hackers. The hacker uses this technique to flood the server with excessive traffic, causing a Denial of Service (DoS) for legitimate users. The hacker could start a DDoS attack by utilising artificial tools such as dummy computers or bots to keep issuing phoney requests to the server in order to overload it. It makes the targeted website or webpage inaccessible to genuine users.”

The second one is Keylogging. He said, “Keylogging is a hacking technique in which a malicious hacker install keylogger software on your computer. This software logs every keystroke and saves it in a log file that a hacker can use to sniff sensitive information such as your login and passwords for online accounts. It’s a risky hack that could lead to identity theft and bank fraud.”

The third type is Cookie Stealer. He added, “Cookies in your browser make it easy to access frequently visited websites. The basic principle behind cookies is that they save your personal information, such as your login and password, as well as information about the websites you visit. Once the hacker has your browser’s cookies, they can use them to impersonate you and log into your online accounts, such as Facebook and Twitter. Another interesting point is how cookie theft has become increasingly convenient. With advanced algorithms and software, a hacker can download the software and have all of your personal information in front of them in only a few clicks.”

The fourth one is Bait and Switch.He said, “Bait and switch is a hacking tactic that has been used for a long time. The hacker requests that the user (victim) download or execute software or an app that appears to be non-malicious but contains spam or malicious software. To put it another way, they may offer free software as bait, and after you click, they’ll redirect you to a malicious link, putting your data at risk.”

The fifth type is Internet of Things (IoT) Attacks. He said, “Everyone is moving towards a day where we are completely reliant on the Internet for even the tiniest of tasks. Everything was well until it became a weak point for hackers to peek into your personal information, which is best kept concealed from prying eyes. Hackers are now developing strong viruses and spyware that they may use to infect your smart TVs, smart watches, and nearly anything else you connect to the Internet, such as your home pods, refrigerators, and air conditioners. This is a powerful attack that can result in the loss of personal information for all members of your family.”

The sixth type is Phishing Attacks. He said, “Phishing is a Social Engineering assault in which attackers pose as trusted individuals and lure victims into clicking on malicious links in order to acquire sensitive information such as login credentials or credit card numbers. Individuals seeking illegal access to certain organisations’ data are the targets of these attacks. These hacks aren’t carried out by random attackers, but rather by those attempting to gain access to specialised information such as trade secrets, military intelligence, and so on. A Whale Phishing Assault is a form of phishing attack that targets those in positions of power, such as CFOs or CEOs. Its main goal is to steal information because these people usually have unrestricted access and work with sensitive data.”

The other types are malware, ransomware and trojan horses. At last he added, “Malware is a catch-all phrase for a programme or code that is designed to affect or attack computer systems without the user’s permission. In most cases, ransomware prevents victims from accessing their own data and deletes it if a ransom is not paid. A Trojan Horse is a malicious software programme that tries to pass itself off as something good. It appears to be a typical application, but when used, it corrupts data files.”

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Ethical Hacking in “India”

There have been many arguments on the topic that whether Ethical hacking is legal in India or not. Before we go into the rule of moral robbery, it’s important to understand the distinction between cheating and abduction. Ankur Chandrakant explains this along with everything we need to know about Ethical Hacking in INDIA. Hacking is a criminal crime under the Indian legal system. Ethical Hacking is still a work in progress in India, despite its rarity. Ethical Hacking courses are taught at a variety of institutes and colleges throughout India. According to a survey by security solutions provider Symantec, India was the third most susceptible country in terms of cyber threats such as malware, spam, and ransomware in 2017, climbing to the same position last year. Hacking is a criminal violation in India, notwithstanding the fact that Indian law does not specifically handle Ethical hacking. Hacking is a violation of the Indian law system’s core principles. Hacking is a subject that has not been expressly addressed in Indian law, hence it is seen as neutral in the Indian legal system.

Argument from the Constitution

Hacking violates Article 21, which deals with the right to life and personal liberty, which includes the right to live in dignity, according to constitutional norms. Furthermore, hacking infringes on an individual’s right to privacy, which is now a basic right. By breaking into a system, black hats get access to a person’s or organization’s confidential information, whereas ethical hacking prevents this from happening. As a result, ethical hacking is permissible as long as it follows constitutional guidelines.

It’s not a crime.

A crime must have two aspects in order to exist, and these two elements are: 1.) men’s rea, i.e., malicious purpose

2.) actus reus, which refers to a physical act.

Because the first and most basic factor, men’s rea is lacking in ethical hacking, the question of whether it is a crime does not arise. Furthermore, ethical hacking is vital since it is done to prevent hacking.

Trespass

Trespass is mostly separated into two sections: 1) Trespass against a person and 2) Trespass against property are the two types of trespass.

Only trespassing on private property is important in this article. Trespass is defined as an unlawful entry onto another’s property without the consent of the genuine owner. Trespass is a criminal offence in both civil and criminal law. In civil law, the purpose is unimportant, however, in criminal law, the intent is critical.

Trespassing is the only infraction frequently associated with ethical hacking; however, it refers to the act of hacking rather than ethical hacking.

Civil Law Civil law is a set of rules that govern Trespassing is defined as invading another’s a property without their consent under civil law. It is a component of the Tort Law, which is a non-codified body of law based on case law. Although tort law only applies to physical property, it does not apply to hacking or ethical hacking. In support of this, ethical hacking carries no culpability because it is done with the owner’s authorization, hence the issue of it being a civil wrong will never arise.

Criminal Law

Trespass is defined in Indian criminal law under section 441 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), 1860, and has a fairly broad definition. In a nutshell, it defines trespass as accessing another’s a property with malice with the aim to hurt or intimidate the owner of the property in question. The type of property required to establish the crime of trespass is not mentioned here.

Trespass is a property crime that may be classified into two categories. 1) observable 2) it is immaterial

Trespassing on a computer system, which is an intangible asset, is referred to as hacking. Bodily intrusion and physical injury are not always relevant for determining trespass culpability. Computer systems, software, and websites are all considered property nowadays. In the online world, terminology like homepage, visiting a website, domain, or navigating to a site is used, implying that websites are owned. As a result, any illegal access onto their property with the purpose to harm them might be considered criminal trespass. Because ethical hacking lacks all of the necessary elements, such as the intent to conduct an offence or to intimidate, offend, or irritate, it is legal and does not carry any risk.

Information Technology Act, 2000

The Information Technology (IT) Act of 2000 is a watershed moment in Indian legal history and a turning point in the field of cyber law. If we carefully examine the provisions of the IT Act, we can deduce that it covers almost all of the wrongs that arise from hacking, because hacking is such a broad offence that it encompasses a wide range of other offences, such as a person who hacks another person’s system can leak the owner’s private information, it can also be used to extort money, a black hat hacker can use the information to enrich himself, and so on.

The need for the HOUR Ankur Chandrakant says that According to security software firm Symantec, India is rated third among countries with the most cyber risks. In terms of targeted attacks, the same study placed second (see here). With this information in mind, it is unfair to dismiss the relevance and necessity of ethical hacking in the present legal climate. It is a lawful method of hacking a networking system that must adhere to certain guidelines. The act is justified as long as the regulating norms are followed. Furthermore, ethical hacking requires the approval of the system’s owner and is carried out in accordance with the law, bolstering ethical hacking’s legal status. On one hand, a black hat can break into a computer system and use the points of entrance to encourage illegal conduct; on the other hand, a white hat enters a computer system with the owner’s permission to identify the ports of entry that black hats could use to promote illicit activity. As a result, white hats prevent black hats from invading and promote safety. The period we live in is the internet era, and because a computer system can store endless amounts of data and accounts, the threat is ever-present. As a result of this massive data storage, our computer system must be updated on a regular basis, and necessary steps must be made to prevent black hats from obtaining such information. As a result, ethical hacking is permitted.

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The return of “HACKTIVISM” A study by Ankur Chandrakant

Many of us remember hearing the word “hacktivism” a decade ago. Prior to the severe ransomware attacks that controlled current concerns about cybersecurity, other scams were used to spread political messages to governments and business groups.

Hacktivism is now obscured as protest, due in part to the persecution of prominent hacktivists, who have received extremely severe punishments sometimes. However, as the current epidemic reduces global protests and new legislation is being drafted to curb offline protests, hacktivism seems likely to return.

Ankur Chandrakant’s research on hacktivism and cybercrime resources in the history of hacktivism — which explains how, where, and why criminals could return to digital protests around the world soon.

Hacktivism may have reached a climax a decade ago, but it has been part of online activism since the early days of the internet. By the late 1990s, major hacktivist organizations, such as the Electronic Disturbance Theater, Electro hippies, and Hacktivismo, were already operating. They supported the Zapatista revolution in Mexico, opposed global economic inequality, and raised security concerns about popular software. Even established activist groups, such as Greenpeace and the German anti-apartheid movement, Kein Mensch ist Illegal, used hacktivist protests long before they were widely publicized. In fact, in 2001, the Kein Mensch ist Illegal group organized a “joint blockade” of the Lufthansa website to protest the airline’s cooperation with German eviction procedures. Although the Frankfurt Court of Appeals later ruled that the robbery included freedom of speech instead of a crime, this legal precedent was not followed by other courts.

How did it start? When the Unknown — a group of criminals, cybercriminals, trolls, and pranksters — focused on political issues, hacktivism gained worldwide prominence. In 2008, the group challenged Church of Scientology for pressing Internet data, and in 2010, they rallied to protect whistleblower-related websites such as WikiLeaks, among other national and international programs. Because of Anonymous’s activities, the leading cybersecurity businesses listed 2011 as a “hacktivist year.” Hacktivist organizations appeared around the world recently. Many branches in the country of Anonymous were present, and these organizations took part in the shared political controversies while also intervening in local conflicts. During the Arab Spring uprising of 2012, for example, Anonymous cracked down on hundreds of official Egyptian websites.

Apart from this, cybercrime laws have become stronger in recent years, forcing hacktivists to withdraw. But their tactics still work, and given that the epidemic has limited our ability to have physical gatherings around the world, hacktivism can also be used as a post-COVID alternative to expressing dissatisfaction.

Great Hacktivist Tricks- Hacktivs have long been trying to replicate forms of offline protest and public disobedience in the online environment. They wrote political messages on selected websites using cybercrime, sometimes known as “internet graffiti.” Denial of service (DoS) attacks, in which a website was attacked by vehicles to crash it, are also widespread. These are called “virtual sit-ins” by hacktivists.

Virtual sit-ins, unlike graffiti internet, which can be managed by a single experienced cyber criminal, require extensive involvement. This increases the legitimacy of democracy and the impact of protests, as well as the criminal guilt of visible protesters.

In his research, Ankur praised how these approaches cover citizen opposition in the online world while covering important political topics. Virtual sit-ins have financial implications for targeted organizations and programs. Meanwhile, some observers have criticized hacktivism as a form of “slacktivism” that lacks the political conscience and determination found in street parties. While the purpose of hacktivism is to promote the desired goals of society while minimizing decline, it can be marred by unsafe guardian forgiveness. Anonymous users, for example, have previously disclosed personal information about people like the police, putting them and their families at risk. The hacktivist group LulzSec had a history of attacking large companies because of a challenge rather than a political goal. Finally, world hacktivists have a history of engaging in cross-border hacker wars that have turned into real bloodshed sometimes.

The resurgence of hacktism? Without this opposition, one cannot help but believe that in the post-epidemic era, when we all spend so much time online, the same political systems will emerge again in the whole political arena. Extinction Rebellion, for example, has been rethinking its future strategies by looking at borders and premature detention, and there are already actions that hacktivism may be their strategy aside.

Hacktivism has not been extinguished. During the summer protests of the 2020 Black Lives Matter, Anonymous reappeared, robbing websites of police departments. However, we are still in the process of change, as hacktivist programs are less widespread than they were a decade ago.

Despite this, the stage seems to have been prepared for the third wave of hacktivism. When many of us are still concerned about the distribution of COVID-19, new protest groups are slowly gaining popularity in the community, and hacktivist activity may be another popular form of personal disobedience.

It’ll be intriguing to watch if hacktivist techniques can truly help to galvanising change in an increasingly politicised world as environmental and anti-discrimination groups develop worldwide and their fundamental aims unify folks on a global scale.

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Ankur Chandrakant explains how digital forensics is assisting law enforcement in the investigation of cybercrime

Information and communication technologies (ICTs) pervade many parts of life, allowing people to communicate, network, access information and learn in new, better, and faster ways. With the massive increase in digital footprints, technology-related crimes have also increased rapidly. Digital forensics is a study that combines parts of the law and computer science to gather and analyse data from computer systems, networks, wireless communications, and storage devices in a way that may be used in court. Our cyber expert, Ankur Chandrakant explains how digital forensics is assisting law enforcement in the investigation of cybercrime

Retrieving hundreds of lost emails, recovering evidence after a hard drive has been formatted, and conducting an inquiry after numerous users have taken over the system are all examples of digital forensics. The use of ICTs is widespread in commercial and national security-related operations, therefore digital forensics and digital investigations are not limited to law enforcement. In civil litigation and national security investigations, such as those involving espionage or cyber warfare, a digital forensic examination is used. As a result, there is a need for more research and study in the field of digital forensic investigation, encompassing a wide spectrum of stakeholders.

Ankur says that digital forensics is used by Criminal prosecutors, Civil lawsuits, Insurance firms, Law enforcement officials, Individual/private citizens and private businesses. Criminal prosecutors utilise digital forensics. Personal and business information found on a computer can be utilised in situations of fraud, divorce, harassment, and so on. Insurance firms uses evidence found on a computer can be utilised to reduce expenses. Police officers should rely on digital forensics to support search warrants and post-seizure procedures. Individuals and private people should use competent computer forensic experts to back up charges of harassment and abuse. Private businesses: data gathered from staff computers can be utilised as evidence in situations of fraud and embezzlement.

Ankur talks about the goals of digital forensics. The first rule is to retrieve, analyse, and preserve documents in order to assist law enforcement authorities in locating offenders. The second rule is that the investigating agency will be able to determine the motive for cybercrime. The third rule is that they retrieve erased data and partitions from digital devices such as laptops, smartphones, and hard drives to learn about illegal actions.

Digital forensics involves a number of steps.

1. Identification: The collection of digital evidence begins with the identification step.

There are two types of information gathered. One type is persistent data, which is information stored on a local hard disc or another similar storage medium. Even if the system is turned off, the data is saved. The secondary data type is volatile data that is discovered in transit or in the memory of a device and is lost if the system is turned off.

2. Gather evidence in a proper manner without causing any damage to it, including conducting interviews with IT employees or affected end-users.

3. Evidence preservation: Ensure that the evidence is not tampered with or corrupted during the inquiry. For the safe transfer to the forensic lab, storage devices and other elements of pertinent physical evidence are tagged and secured in tamper-resistant containers.

4. Examining the Evidence: Checking the evidence for any further specifics.

5. Analysis: putting the bits and pieces of information in the evidence together and connecting them.

6. Reporting and presentation: recording, reporting, and presenting the facts and numbers to the IT staff of the impacted organisation. This paper should also include the IT department’s strategy and recommendations for preventing future occurrences. A second document (written in less technical language) is also created for use in court by the investigators.

As the country moves closer to implementing 5G, the government is finalising a “trusted suppliers list” for acquiring telecom equipment. The government is also putting together a united national-level cybersecurity task force, with a particular focus on the threats posed by the telecom industry. The current cyber dangers are dealt with by the MEITY-affiliated Indian Computer Emergency Response Team. The government aims to form a specialised unified task force that will act on inputs from security and cyber forces within the country, as well as inputs from friendly countries, as cyber assaults become more sophisticated.

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Ankur Chandrakant take on Digital Forensics In India

Preserving, identifying, extracting, and documenting computer evidence that can be utilised in a court of law is known as digital forensics. It’s the science of extracting evidence from digital media such as a computer, smartphone, server, or network. This article is about how our cyber expert, Ankur Chandrakant, looks at the legal system’s flaws, its inability to keep up with the rapid advancement of technology, which leads to cybercrime, and what the future holds. Non the courts, it discusses the inadmissibility of forensic evidence in digital format.

How India requires more qualified professionals in this sector, as well as adequate institutions to train them in digital forensics in the future. Also, the requirement for proper processes and the monitoring of their efficacy.

Cyber forensics is an even more recent addition to the area of forensic science. There are several types of cyber forensics, each of which is extremely difficult to master. However, the importance of cyber forensics cannot be overstated, particularly in the age of space laws, artificial intelligence, and the Internet of Things (IoT)

India has undertaken technology-driven programmes such as the National E-Governance Plan (NeGP), Digital India, and others. Cyber forensics will play a crucial part in everything from basic cases of broadband theft to complex cases of satellite hacking. Of course, because India is a novice on this subject, we must begin with the fundamentals of cyber forensics.

We see law enforcement agencies, public prosecutors, and courts grappling even with the most basic use of cyber forensics techniques. When a defective police investigation is launched, the entire case against a cybercriminal is jeopardised.

In India, forensic evidence in digital format is admissible in a legal court. When a document is missing, oral testimony cannot be presented as to the document’s correctness, nor can it be compared to the document’s contents. Because the document is missing, the oral evidence’s truth or correctness cannot be compared to the document. Either primary or secondary evidence must be shown to prove the contents of a document.

In India, the Effectiveness Of Cyber Forensic Tools For Examining Evidence are X-Ways WinHex, First on Scene, Rifiuti, Pasco, Galleta/Cookie, Forensic Acquisition Utilities, NMap, Ethereal, BinText, Encrypted disc detector, MemGator are some tools used in cyber forensic investigations. Rifiuti is a programme that aids in the discovery of the last details of a system’s recycle bin. It aids in the recovery of all deleted and undeleted files. Pasco is a Latin word that means “to run.”

Hackers and malicious users are devising new ways to insert data files into a variety of formats, including pictures, audio, and video files. Individuals have tried to disguise their damning information by renaming a file of one kind to another by altering the extension. It becomes more difficult to establish the right file type because of this. Encase is used to identify suspicious files; by executing the hash (#) function on the hard disc, file headers are interpreted and marked as containing improper header information.

It is critical to building a precise representation of the information in order to make it admissible in a court of law. And for this, the specialists work really hard, with extreme patience and precision, complete anonymity so that no one knows what they’re working on, and complete commitment in order to collect essential information that may be used as tangible evidence in court.

Once all the facts and evidence have been gathered, the experts compile a report that may be presented to the courts. Because of their competence and particular training in using such complicated instruments and processes, these individuals may also testify in court on the issue they are working on.

Regardless of how effective any technology or method is. There has always been a disadvantage to the same. Similarly, keeping data or information to act as evidence is helpful to the court, but there may be certain technological and human impediments to such information collecting.

The following are some limitations:

Some browser features for storing WWW pages to disc aren’t perfect since they just store the text and not the corresponding graphics.

There may be discrepancies between what is seen on the screen and what is recorded on the disc.

It’s possible that the technique utilised to save a file doesn’t include specific labelling showing when and where it was collected. These files can simply be forged or altered.

It might be tough for the system to discover the page that was finally got. When the en- tyre series is reviewed, determining which one was later and which was earlier gets more difficult. Many Internet service providers (ISPs) utilise proxy servers to speed up the delivery of popular web pages. As a result, the user may be unsure of what he has gotten from that specific page via his ISP.

Common errors such as changing the date and time stamps, eliminating rogue programmes, patching the system before an investigation, and so on result in data loss from the disc, causing the e-files and pieces of evidence on the computer to crash.

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Phases of Ethical Hacking

Steps in ethical hacking are critical for software development, operations, and cybersecurity workers because they assist them in enhancing the security posture of their organisations. Ethical hackers go through multiple steps of hacking to assist software teams to avoid the consequences of a successful black hat hacking assault by finding and correcting attack vectors. White Hat hacking, also known as ethical hacking, is a critical stage in determining the efficiency of a company’s security policy. White hat hackers use four core ideals to distinguish themselves from bad hackers:

Getting customer clearance before completing the vulnerability evaluation to keep the exploits lawful.

Defining the assault ahead of time ensures that the security evaluations stay within the legal bounds.

Notifying the system’s administrator of all found vulnerabilities and making remedy suggestions

Accepting the terms and conditions set out in terms of data privacy and confidentiality.

The goal of ethical hacking is to imitate the activities of hackers in order to find both current and potential vulnerabilities. To do so, an ethical hacker goes through many rounds of evaluation in order to get as much in-depth an understanding of the system as workable. Ankur Chandrakant says that it takes a lot of effort and patience to find and completely exploit system vulnerabilities. An ethical hacker must typically bypass authorization and authentication mechanisms before probing the network for potential data breaches and network security threats. Because a real-world black hat hacker is always coming up with new ways to exploit weaknesses, an ethical hack should be weighed considering the ever-changing threat landscape. Ethical hackers use various phases of the ethical hacking process to uncover such vulnerabilities. Reconnaissance, Scanning, Gaining Access, Maintaining Access, and Clearing Track are the phases of hacking. While not every hacker follows these stages in order, they provide a methodical approach that produces better outcomes. Let’s look more closely at what these hack stages offer. He further elaborates more on the steps:

Reconnaissance- The first obvious thing to ask with penetration testing is, “What is the initial step of hacking?”

Hackers footprint the system and gather as much information as they can before performing actual penetration tests. Reconnaissance is a stage in the hacking process during which the hacker documents the organization’s request, gathers valuable system configuration and login information, and probes the networks. This data is essential for carrying out the assaults, and it includes:

Norms for naming, IP addresses, names, and login credentials of users connected to the network Services on the network Servers managing workloads on the network and the location of the target machine.

Scanning- The ethical hacker starts probing the networks and computers at this point to detect possible attack surfaces. This entails employing automated scanning technologies to gather information on all computers, users, and services on the network. Three types of scans are commonly used in penetration testing: a) Mapping of Networks This entails determining the network topology of the host network, which includes host information, servers, routers, and firewalls. White hat hackers may envision and strategize the following phases of the ethical hacking process once they’ve created a map. b) Scanning of the Port Automated tools are used by ethical hackers to identify any open ports on the network. As a result, it’s a quick and easy way to identify the services and live systems in a network, as well as how to connect to them. c) Vulnerability Assessment Automated technologies are used to discover flaws that can be exploited to organise assaults. While there are many ethical hacking tools accessible, here are a handful that are typically utilised during the scanning phase: - Sweepers for SNMP - Ping-pong sweeps - Mappers of networks - Scanners for vulnerability

Gaining Access Following the first and second hacking rounds of the procedure, ethical hackers seek to exploit vulnerabilities for administrator access. Attempting to transfer a malicious payload to the application across the network, an adjacent subnetwork, or directly utilising a linked machine, is the third phase. To mimic attempted unauthorised access, hackers often utilise a variety of hacking tools and tactics, including: - Overflowing buffers - Injection phishing attacks - Processing of XML External Entities - Using components that have known flaws If the assaults are successful, the hacker will have complete or partial control of the system and will imitate further attacks such as data leaks and Distributed Denial of Service attacks (DDoS).

Maintaining Access The fourth part of the ethical hacking method entails procedures for ensuring that the hacker has access to the application in the future. A white-hat hacker regularly attacks the system for new flaws and raises privileges to see how much influence attackers have once they’ve gotten past security clearance. Some attackers may also try to conceal their identity by erasing any evidence of an attack and installing a backdoor that allows them access in the future.

Clearing Tracks Hackers execute procedures that remove any traces of their destructive activity in order to avoid leaving any proof. These are some of them: - Scripts and apps that were utilised to carry out attacks are being uninstalled. - Changing registry settings - removing logs - deleting the folders that were generated because of the assault Hackers who want to remain unnoticed use strategies like - Tunneling - Stenography The ethical hacker ends the processes of ethical hacking by documenting a report on the vulnerabilities and offering repair suggestions after successfully completing all five phases of ethical hacking.

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What do Ethical Hackers do?

Ethical hacking is a preventative approach to data security. An ethical hacker utilises the same tactics as a malevolent hacker to get past a system’s defences, but instead of exploiting any flaws they uncover, they offer suggestions on how to patch them so a firm may enhance its overall security. But what do ethical hackers do? Let’s see what Ankur Chandrakant has to say on the same. The goal of ethical hacking is to examine the infrastructure security of a system or network. An ethical hacker will try to go around system security and uncover and reveal any vulnerabilities that a malevolent hacker may exploit. Vulnerabilities are often discovered in insecure system configurations, as well as faults in hardware or software. Hacking must get authorization from the owner to investigate their network and find security problems in order to be ethical. An ethical hacker must do research, record their results, and share them with management and IT teams. Businesses and organisations then utilise this information to strengthen their system security in order to reduce or eliminate prospective assaults. As a company solves security flaws, ethical hackers will give input and verification. Within the information security business, ethical hacking has gained in popularity. A penetration test should be considered by every company or organisation that offers an online service or has a network linked to the Internet. Successful testing does not always imply that a system is completely safe, but it should be able to defend against inexperienced hackers and automated attacks. Companies must do yearly penetration testing under the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard, especially if large modifications to their apps or infrastructure are made. Many big corporations have ethical hacking teams on staff, and there are many companies that offer ethical hacking as a service. What are the Techniques used by Ethical Hackers? Hacking skills used by ethical hackers are like those used by malevolent actors to harm businesses. They create situations that might jeopardise corporate and operational data through reverse engineering. The ethical hacker uses a variety of methodologies and technologies to conduct a vulnerability assessment on behalf of a customer. The following are some of the hacking techniques mentioned by Ankur: 1) examining a company’s systems, identifying open ports, studying the vulnerabilities of each port, and recommending remedial action using port scanning tools such as Nmap, Nessus,Wireshark, and others; scanning ports to find vulnerabilities with port scanning tools such as Nmap, Nessus, Wireshark, and others; 2) examining patch installation procedures to ensure that the upgraded programme does not cause new exploitable vulnerabilities; 3) utilising proper technologies to do network traffic analysis and sniffer; 4) attempts to get around intrusion detection and prevention systems, honeypots, and firewalls; and; 5) To ensure that hostile hackers cannot introduce security flaws that expose sensitive information stored in SQL-based relational databases, testing techniques to identify Structured Query Language injection. Social engineering tactics are also used by ethical hackers to deceive end users and gather knowledge about a company’s IT infrastructure. Ethical hackers, like black hat hackers, dig through social media or GitHub postings, engage staff in phishing attempts via email or SMS, or prowl the premises with a clipboard to exploit physical security holes. However, ethical hackers should avoid using social engineering tactics like making physical threats to employees or attempting to extort access or information. Now that we know about ethical hackers, let’s see what Ankur says about, How to become an ethical hacker?

Because there are no standardised educational qualifications for ethical hackers, each organisation can establish its own. A bachelor’s or master’s degree in information security, computer science, or even mathematics is a great foundation for anyone interested in pursuing a career as an ethical hacker. Individuals who do not want to attend college might choose a military career in information security. A military background is a benefit for many firms when it comes to employing information security professionals, and some organisations are mandated to hire people with security clearances. Other technical topics, like as programming, scripting, networking, and hardware engineering, might aid students interested in pursuing a career as ethical hackers by providing a basic grasp of the underlying technologies that make up the systems they will be working on. System management and software development are two other important technological abilities.

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Ankur Chandrakant’s thoughts on cyber forensics as a career.

For the past two years, the number of cyberattacks has increased. According to a source, nearly two million cyberattacks occurred in 2018, costing over $45 billion in losses globally. India is ranked third among the countries most vulnerable to cyberattacks. Cyberattacks impacted 76 per cent of Indian firms in 2018. Companies have realised the necessity for trained cybersecurity workers as the number of cyberattacks has increased. While some firms are recruiting white hat hackers, a new job title is gaining traction: computer forensics analyst. In this post, we’ll look at our cyber expert Ankur Chandrakant’s thoughts on cyber forensics as a career.

Computer forensics, sometimes referred to as cyber forensics, is an important part of the cybersecurity ecosystem. While network analysts and white hat hackers are crucial in the sector, cyber forensics professionals play an equally significant role. Cyber forensics is the use of investigation and analysis techniques to collect and preserve evidence from a computing device or a victim device, such as an electronic document, computer, laptop, and storage mediums like USB drives and hard discs. A cyber forensics professional conducts a detailed examination to determine what occurred on a computer and who was responsible. They also undertake the extraction of existing or deleted data from a storage or computer device for this purpose.

If you’re asking if an expert must follow a set of protocols, the answer is yes, there is a set of processes that must be followed. One of the methods is to preserve a soft copy of the device that will be reviewed at all times and to keep it locked away in a safe and secure location. Once they are done researching and gathering all the information, they write an in-depth report that might be utilised for judicial procedures of the entire case

Computer forensics analyst, like any other career in the cybersecurity field, has a set of requirements. A bachelor’s degree in computer forensics is required to enrol in a cyber forensics course. In order to work as a cyber forensics analyst, one must also have a post-graduate degree in cyber forensics or obtain a certification in information or cybersecurity.

As firms seek to employ more and more cyber forensics analysts, cyber forensics courses in India have begun to garner much-anticipated traction. While many colleges and training centres need a bachelor’s degree, there are some institutions that provide certificate and associate’s degree programmes. You must also ensure that you devote sufficient time and effort to learning about some of the most critical components of cyber forensics. Here they are:

One of the most significant aspects of this topic is the fundamentals. You must have a firm grasp of all of the fundamentals.

One of the most crucial components of cyber forensics is data recovery. Most of the time, experts are given devices that have been formatted or wiped, and if the cyber forensic specialist does not know how to retrieve data, surviving in the domain will be quite tough.

Each country has its own set of rules and regulations. And, if you operate in the cybersecurity field, you must be completely familiar with and comprehend all cyber regulations. You may get information about India’s cyber laws here.

After finishing your cyber forensic course and receiving your certification, the prospect of joining a firm and working as a cyber forensic analyst may be appealing; nevertheless, as a newcomer to the field, there are a few things to bear in mind.

What you learn in a training centre isn’t everything; the actual learning begins when you start working in the field. As a result, communicate with other cyber forensic experts to learn more. Aside from the traditional cyber forensic analyst, there are other jobs to consider: computer forensics analyst, computer forensics investigator, computer forensics expert, computer forensics technician, digital forensics professional, and forensic computer examiner.

The demand for computer forensic specialists is steadily increasing. In terms of market growth, the Global Digital Forensics Market is expected to reach $7 billion by 2024, according to a source. One of the most significant advantages of this employment role is that it allows you to work for both private companies and government agencies. Because there are so many cyber-attacks every year, government agencies all over the globe are investing a lot of money in cyber forensics and recruiting the finest personnel in the field to build cyber incident response and recovery teams.

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Ankur Chandrakant on future demand for digital forensics

Our cyber specialist, Ankur Chandrakant, talked about the future demand for digital forensics. In this article, we have summarized Ankur’s take on future demand. Technology continues to improve. Everyone now has to have a basic understanding of technology. Since the need for information technology has grown, we’re concerned about cybersecurity. We wish to keep our gadgets safe from cyber-attacks and criminal activity. We’ve seen that the number of cybercrimes and cyber-attacks has skyrocketed. The reason for this is that we, as well as our commercial activities, are becoming increasingly digitalized. They understand that assaulting us digitally allows them to achieve their goal. Digitally, a great deal of sensitive information is transmitted. Criminals are swarming all over the place, hoping to rob us.

We shall realise that our digital actions have the potential to injure us and put us in danger. This information makes us concerned since our data is in danger, and we might be subjected to devastating cyber assaults. Malware and ransomware have surged by 358 percent and 435 percent, respectively, compared to 2019. Malware activity has surged as well, with 95 percent of malware arriving via email. The success rate of phishing attacks has been estimated to be over 80%. In the year 2020, Google recorded the largest number of phishing websites at 2 million.

We must be able to prevent cyber-attacks and cybercrimes, but we must also be familiar with digital forensics. This is how digital media and technologies may gather evidence. When a digital crime happens, digital forensic professionals play this function. To solve cybercrime cases, the digital forensics’ team employs the most innovative methodologies and equipment. It is a method for identifying, preserving, analysing, extracting, and presenting computer evidence. During investigations, forensic professionals recreate prior activity and examine digital data in order to solve computer-related crimes. Gathering evidence is known as the identification phase. The preservation procedure is the second step. It is determined if data has been secured, isolated, and kept during this procedure. Because it is based on analysis, the third process is extremely important. They assess the information gathered in this step. They examine the facts and prepare a conclusion during this step. The documentation procedure is a research procedure. The goal is to keep a permanent record of all important information that can aid in decision-making. They recreate the crime scene once more. Finally, after evaluating all four procedures, a final summary is generated.

The identification step is acquiring evidence. The second phase is the preservation technique. During this method, it is assessed if data has been secured, segregated, and maintained. The third procedure is incredibly significant since it is based on analysis. They evaluate the data gained in this stage. During this stage, they study the data and plan a conclusion. The technique for documenting is a research procedure. The purpose is to retain a permanent record of all critical data that may make decisions. They go over the crime scene again. Finally, a final summary is created once all four methods have been evaluated. Investigative agencies do digital forensics. They concentrate on the following areas: disc, network, wireless, database, malware, email, memory, mobile phone, and, aside from these, all forms of minor operations are carried out if they are deemed questionable.

Investigation organisations have several difficulties since all evidence must have a solid foundation and be justified. Many computers and internet activity must be gathered for proof by agencies. Physical proof is rarely got. Computer hard drives have become larger in capacity in recent years. It’s a difficult undertaking to recover crashed data and make them useable again.

The future will be entirely digitalized, particularly in the sector of business, where new technology will be used for everything. We may be subjected to cyber-attacks, necessitating a security guard at all times. The guard will be a cyber specialist who will protect us from threats while also identifying criminals. Many businesses currently use CCTV cameras to monitor their employees and other activities, but this is insufficient. There are negative factors around. We have no way of knowing if someone attempting to hurt us is an insider or an outsider. We cannot decide since many people are unaware of cybercrime. It is the job of IT specialists to educate them in order to prevent them from falling into traps. Many businesses have already established regulations and are employing tools and technology to combat cybercrime. They also have forensic sections that keep track of everything. However, many businesses are still uninterested in digital forensics. They don’t even use simple ideas that might aid them in comprehending any cyber breach or cyber assault. It’s critical to realise that digital forensics is critical for cybersecurity since the two are intertwined. Happy reading!

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THE CHALLENGES AND USE OF CYBER FORENSICS AND ELECTRONIC EVIDENCE BY ANKUR CHANDRAKANT

Ankur Chandrakant, a recognised Cyber Security and Forensic Expert with a deep understanding of Blockchain, NFT, Crypto, and Metaverse, explains the challenges and use of Cyber Forensics and electronic evidence. Ankur talked about the use of cyber forensics in various aspects of the law. They were used in criminal prosecution, insurance cases, corporations, revenue regulations and counsels. The first is criminal prosecution. Electronic evidence can be used in a range of offences if damning evidence is present. Criminal prosecution can include homicide, financial fraud, narcotics and embezzlement, harassment, record keeping, and child pornography, to name a few examples.

Electronic evidence can be used in civil prosecutions to reveal company and personal data. Contracts, divorces, claims, harassment, and defamation lawsuits are just a few instances. Second, cyber forensics is used in insurance cases. In accident and arson cases, insurance firms may be able to effectively defend themselves against any claim by providing electronic records of probable fraud. The third is Corporations — They use these evidences to see whether there are any connections between blackmail, fraud, trade secrets, misappropriation, and other internal and external information. Revenue/Enforcement/Regulation, these terms are frequently used in the aftermath of a computer asset seizure. Finally, it is counseled. In certain circumstances, they may keep experienced cyber forensics to handle and establish sophisticated electronic records.

Ankur discussed electronic evidence and its considerations, care and caution. “Understanding electronic evidence is critical. Electronic evidence, unlike any other type of evidence, is very simple to teach, even for an expert who works with it daily. As a result, treating such sensitive pieces of evidence requires extra caution and attention. Viruses, electromagnetic or mechanical harm are the most common risks to electronic evidence.” Such instruments and approaches must be used that have been tried and proven, and my specialists have proved that they are exact enough to get to the thin roots of subtleties in complicated data. To avoid any form of error during the collection/examination of evidence, the tools should be subjected to mock examination as much as workable before usage. Experts should study sensitive information as much as workable, and amateurs should not be permitted to tamper with the data. These are some fundamentals that, if adhered to religiously, can cause an astounding shift in the prosecution’s victorious conclusion.

“As a subject, cyber forensics causes highly skilled professionals working in an organised and complete manner. The rise in cybercrime causes the formation of a support group comprising officers from the CBI, CID, state police headquarters, and the detective department of computer investigation. These trained police officers are necessary to comprehend the nature of the crime at the border and investigate in the proper and required method. If this does not happen, the investigation will be bungled from the start, leaving no proof, and the culprit will be acquitted.”

When performing a cyber forensics investigation, extra precautions should be taken. It’s important to remember that merely gathering proof isn’t necessary. The agency determines whether the evidence gained is acceptable in a court of law. They are required to establish safeguards to ensure that those pieces of evidence are not tampered with or fooled with for the sake of admissibility. Evidence must pass a rigorous admissibility standard. As a result, they must provide a clear picture of the circumstances that led to one and only one conclusion: the accused is guilty.

The cleverness of the offenders is another perplexing facet of these acts. These crimes are committed by highly competent individuals who have received particular training in these professions. As a result, their comprehension of events is significantly more than what investigators can detect. A hyper-technical and acute approach is required to match the knowledge and expertise of criminals.

“Because novel forms and techniques of data storage are always being altered and new technologies are being invented, cyber forensics has become more difficult. The legal framework is one of the key issues that investigators and law courts encounter. Electronic records are acceptable evidence in India with introducing the Information and Technology Act, 2000, and subsequent revisions to the Indian Evidence Act, 1872, and the Indian Penal Code, 1860. The main issue, however, is a question of jurisdiction. The difficulty of enforcement occurs when the laws of one nation recognise an act as a crime, but the laws of another country do not. Not to mention the importance of the other country’s collaboration and help.”

“An electronic record’s evidential value is directly proportionate to its quality. The Indian Evidence Act of 1872 has addressed the evidential value of electronic recordings extensively. Section 3 of the Act defines “evidence” as “any papers, including electronic records, produced for the court’s scrutiny,” and such materials are referred to as documentary evidence. As a result, the provision establishes that documentary evidence can take the form of an electronic record and is just as valid as traditional papers.”

“The fundamental ideas of equivalence and legal validity of both electronic and handwritten signatures, as well as the equivalent of paper and electronic documents, have achieved widespread recognition. Despite technical precautions, electronic records are still vulnerable to manipulation, and complicated scientific approaches are being developed to estimate the likelihood of such tampering. Specific standards have been established in the Indian Evidence Act for the admission of electronic records in order to fulfil the primary criterion of authenticity or dependability, which may be enhanced by new security mechanisms brought by emerging technology.”

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HACKERS IN MODERN WORLD

Computers and the Internet have altered the global work environment in ways that were previously unimaginable. All of our data has been shifted from records and ledgers to computers, as computers have taken over much of our life. While this change in employment has lowered physical strain on employees, it has also raised the risk of data theft. Hackers are knowledgeable persons with ill intentions who are involved in stealing data or damaging systems. Hackers come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Ankur is cyber forensics and cyber intelligence analyst with over nine years of experience. . He’s also directed a number of cyber-awareness programmes for children at a variety of schools and colleges. Microsoft certified trainer, cyber forensic investigator, the most valuable person in the Australia chapter, Cisco certified, and he has worked on over 800 cyber cases are just a few of his impressive achievements and ambitions. He is regarded as one of the most well-known ethical cyber-hackers.

Let’s look at the many sorts of hackers and the various hacker assaults and strategies listed by Ankur Chandrakant through this article-

1) White Hat Hackers. White hat hackers are cybersecurity experts who hack in a professional capacity. They have been given permission or certification to hack the systems. By breaking into the system, these White Hat Hackers help governments and organisations. They get access to the system by exploiting the organization’s cybersecurity flaws. This hacking is being done to see how secure their corporation is. They are able to discover weak areas and correct them in order to avoid assaults from outside sources. White hat hackers adhere to the government’s norms and regulations. Ethical hackers are often referred to as white hat hackers. Motives and Goals: These hackers are motivated by a desire to aid businesses and a desire to find security flaws in networks. They want to help and defend businesses in the continuous war against cyber-threats. A White Hat hacker is someone who helps the firm protect itself from cybercrime. They assist businesses in establishing defences, detecting weaknesses, and resolving them before other hackers do.

2) Black Hat Hackers. Black hat Hackers are also computer geniuses, but they have the wrong motive. They target other systems in order to gain access to systems to which they are not allowed. They may steal data or harm the system if they get access. The hacking techniques utilised by these categories of hackers are determined by the hacker’s ability and expertise. Because of the hacker’s motives, he or she is a criminal. While hacking, neither the hostile purpose of the hacker nor the degree of the intrusion can be determined. Motives and Goals: Hacking into corporations’ networks in order to steal bank data, cash, or sensitive information. Typically, they benefit from the stolen resources by selling them on the illicit market or harassing their target organisation.

3) Grey Hat Hackers. When classifying a hacker, the hacker’s intent is considered. Between black hat and white hat hackers, the grey hat hacker occupies a middle ground. Hackers, they aren’t certified. These hackers might have either good or harmful motives when they hack. It’s possible that the hacking is for their own benefit. The purpose of hacking determines the sort of hacker. If the hacker’s goal is to make money, he or she is referred to as a grey hat hacker. Motives and Goals: The difference is that they don’t wish to rob anyone or aid someone in particular. Rather, they like tinkering with systems in order to identify vulnerabilities, crack defences, and have a good time hacking.

4) Script Kiddies. It is a well-known reality that half-knowledge is never safe. The Script Kiddies are a group of hackers that are new to the industry. They attempt to attack the system using scripts written by other hackers. They attempt to break into computer systems, networks, or websites. The purpose of the hacking is to attract the attention of their peers. Script Kiddies are amateurs who aren’t fully aware of the hacking procedure. Motives and Goals: DoS (Denial of Service) or DDoS assault is a common Kiddie Script attack (Distributed Denial of Service). This simply shows that an IP address is overburdened with excessive traffic to the point of collapsing. Look at a few Black Friday shopping websites, for example. It causes confusion and makes it impossible for someone else to utilise the service.

5) Hackers who are sponsored by a state or a country Hackers are hired by the government to get information on other countries. State/nation sponsored hackers are the sort of hackers we’re talking about. They utilise their knowledge to get sensitive information from other countries in order to be well prepared for any potential threats to their country. The sensitive information not only helps you stay on top of every situation, but it also helps you avoid danger. They only report to their respective governments.

6) Whistleblower. Individuals that work for a company and have access to secret information are examples of this sort of hacker. The motivation for the disclosure might be a personal vendetta against the institution, or the individual could have discovered criminal actions within the organisation. The intention behind the exposure is defined by the cause of the exposure. Whistleblowers are people who expose wrongdoing.

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[cyberexpertankur]

ANKUR CHANDRAKANT ON IMPORTANT SKILLS REQUIRED FOR CYBER FORENSICS AND HOW DO CYBER FORENSICS EXPERTS WORK.

Ankur Chandrakant, a recognised Cyber Security and Forensic Expert with a deep understanding of Blockchain, NFT, Crypto, and Metaverse, explains how do Cyber Forensics experts work. He explained the seven steps. They are as follows.

1. Imaging or copying the hard drive of the under investigation system: Imaging or copying the hard drive involves producing a copy of the files and folders on the hard disc. By copying every item of data on the drive from the system under inquiry, a clone of the drive is made on another drive.

2. Verification of the duplicated data: After the data is copied from the hard drive of the investigation system to another hard drive, the forensic professionals verify that the copied data is identical to the original data.

3. Ensuring that the duplicated data is forensically sound: The data written to the hard drive is in a format that is compatible with the computer’s operating system. As a result, forensic professionals must ensure that data moved from the investigation system’s disc to another drive is not tampered with in any manner. The data is replicated in a forensically sound way, utilising a write-blocking device.

4. Recovering lost files: Forensic professionals can retrieve files that have been erased by the user on the computer. The data are not completely wiped by the computer, and forensic professionals understand how to recover them.

5. Finding data in free space: The operating system regards space on the hard drive as space available to store new files and folders, but temporary files and files that were deleted years ago are stored here until fresh data is placed into it. To rebuild such data, forensic professionals look through this vacant space.

6. Performing keyword searches: Forensic professionals employ software that can scan all the data for certain phrases and provide the results.

7. The technical report: The technical report should be a simple document that everyone can comprehend, regardless of their background. It should primarily focus on the offence, the perpetrator, and how he committed the crime, as well as on the details.

Ankur explained why computer forensics is important. Computer forensics is used in the civil and criminal judicial systems to ensure the integrity of digital evidence presented in court cases. Digital evidence — and the forensic method used to collect, preserve, and examine it — has grown more crucial in solving crimes and other legal concerns as computers and other data-gathering devices are utilised more often in every part of life. Much of the data collected by contemporary technologies is never seen by the average individual. For example, automobiles computers continuously gather data on whether a driver stops, switches, or changes speed without the driver’s knowledge. This information, on the other hand, might be crucial in resolving a legal situation or a crime, and computer forensics is frequently used to find and preserve it. Data theft, network breaches, and illegal internet transactions are just some of the crimes that may be solved with digital evidence. It’s also utilised to solve physical crimes including burglary, assault, hit-and-run accidents, and murder in the real world. To keep proprietary information safe, businesses frequently employ a multilayered data management, data governance, and network security approach. Having data that is well-managed and secure might speed up the forensic procedure if the data is ever investigated.

Ankur also discussed some of the most important abilities to master cyber forensics. They are.

1. Technical aptitude: This is a technology-based skill. As a result, familiarity with many technologies, such as computers, mobile phones, network hacking, and security breaches, is required.

2. Attention to detail: To review an enormous quantity of data and find proofs, a forensic investigator must pay close attention to every detail.

3. Legal and criminal investigation knowledge: A forensic investigator must be as knowledgeable about criminal laws, criminal investigations, white-collar crime, and other related topics as he is about technology.

4. Effective communication skills: As part of a case, a forensic investigator must be able to assess and communicate technical material to others in the business or in court.

5. Understanding the fundamentals of cyber security: Cyber security and cyber forensics are closely connected topics, and a firm foundation in cybersecurity may help you succeed in cyber forensics.

6. Analytical Skills: To assess proofs, discover patterns, interpret data, and solve crimes, forensic professionals must have strong analytical skills.

7. Desire to learn: The area of cyber forensics is always developing, and forensic hopefuls must be eager to keep up with recent developments.

8. Willingness to take on new challenges: Criminal investigations involving law and order can contain unsettling information and occurrences. Candidates for forensic science must be able to operate in such a demanding atmosphere.

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