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3G mobile service may be
prone to cyber attacks
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Anurag Sharma in New Delhi: As 3G mobile services
are set to be rolled out soon in the country, cyber experts sound a word of
caution about the high tech enabled mobile phones, which they say are more
vulnerable in the world of technology related crimes.
While the next generation technology aims to make life simpler enabling
downloading of movies and music within minutes, it can also be used for various
unscrupulous activities.
"With 3G, cellphones will have faster broadband Internet and with such speed you
can watch television live, make video calls and download music and movies in no
time.
But through spying software and virus, the hacker can easily break into your
system," says Ankit Fadia, an ethical hacker and cyber security expert. "The
hacker can record all the audio conversation and video files
Not many people in India install anti-virus in the phones. I would recommend
them to install anti-virus and fireballs while using 3G, says Fadia who
recommends switching off the bluetooth function of the phone when not required
to protect the user's password.
Not limited to an individual's privacy issues, the 3G technology will also lead
to increase in piracy of films and music, thereby giving a staggering amount of
losses to the entertainment industry that is battling the piracy threat.
"It will become extremely easy for anybody to download an entire Bollywood film
in few minutes using 3G. This is going to lead to further tremendous growth of
websites like torrents," says advocate Pavan Duggal, a cyberlaw expert
The Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) points out that Bollywood
would be hit most by the 3G and wants service providers to adopt a stricter
approach to check cybercrimes.
"Today it takes several hours to download a new release Bollywood film but with
3G it will be in minutes that will encourage people to use illegal means to view
a film," says Rakshit Tandon, consultant, IAMAI. According to a
PricewaterhouseCoopers report titled, "Indian 3G broadband subscribers," the
mobile subscriber base is projected to cross one billion in 2014.
The 3G broadband subscriber base is expected to cross 107 million by 2015
The Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) points out that Bollywood
would be hit most by the 3G and wants service providers to adopt a stricter
approach to check cybercrimes.
"Today it takes several hours to download a new release Bollywood film but with
3G it will be in minutes that will encourage people to use illegal means to view
a film," says Rakshit Tandon, consultant, IAMAI. According to a
PricewaterhouseCoopers report titled, "Indian 3G broadband subscribers," the
mobile subscriber base is projected to cross one billion in 2014.
The 3G broadband subscriber base is expected to cross 107 million by 2015
Indian law enforcement lacks the necessary training to deal with cyber-crimes
and there is a distinct need for amending the law and making security agencies
aware about the Internet, say experts.
"Laws are there to protect but our police agencies are yet not ready to take-up
the cyber crime challenges, especially 3G. They need to be trained to tackle the
growing usage of Internet by criminals," says Fadia.
Duggal, who is a Supreme Court lawyer, says there is a distinct need for
amending the law so as to provide for far more broad generic provisions which
can withstand the onslaught of any other new technology
"Further adequate statutory protections needs to be given to users so that
whatever limited right to privacy they have in the context of the electronic
ecosystem are not appropriately compromised with the advent of new technology,"
he says.
As mobile handsets is becoming an integral part of the consumer experience, the
availability of a large number of feature-rich handsets at affordable prices or
in attractive bundled offers is likely to further drive the adoption of 3G
value-added services, according to a report by RNCOS.
The industry analysis provider also predicts that the number of 3G mobile
subscribers is expected to grow at a CAGR of around 80 per cent during 2011-2013
( Courtesy:
http://www.rediff.com )
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