Electronic police patrols to keep tabs on cyber crime
Security agencies will step up electronic police patrols to keep tabs on cyber crimes as UAE residents are increasingly using the internet for their day-to-day affairs.
Abu Dhabi: Security agencies will step up electronic police patrols to keep tabs on cyber crimes as UAE residents are increasingly using the internet for their day-to-day affairs.
E-police patrols involve police officials surfing the internet to spot cyber crime and gather evidence.
"Presently, e-patrols are used as and when a case demands and is conducted by members of the Criminal Investigation Department. But such efforts are being stepped up as a means to improve online safety", said Major Faisal Mohammad Al Shemmari of the Abu Dhabi Police.
"When there is a malicious rumour doing its rounds or when there is a major security issue, the police can perform undercover operations online, just as in reality."
Police uses this method to gather information or intelligence to address security challenges mostly, and gather enough evidence and leads, Al Shemmari said on the sidelines of the third International Cyber Crimes Conference, yesterday.
Al Shemmari pointed out that the lack of transparency in financial sector seriously hinders the fight against cyber crimes. "Transparency from financial sector institutions such as banks is not as good as it should be. They don't often go public with cyber crime for fear of negative media attention and subsequent loss of customers."
"Cyber crime is an increasing challenge. Those who deal with electronic property, like those in the financial sector, need to be more transparent in auditing, protecting and reporting any security breaches."
According to 2007 statistics, the GCC is estimated to lose $550 million (Dh2 billion) to $735 million annually due to reported cases of cyber crimes, he said.
"Many cases could be going unreported as corporate organisations fear further damages, apart from what they have lost, by making the cases public."
Meanwhile, Major General Ahmad Nasser Al Raisi, Director General of Central Operations at Abu Dhabi Police said the police are increasing efforts to raise public awareness about e-scams. "People must be wary of suspicious e-mails and text messages they receive and must not fall into the trap of criminals."
Why criminals choose cyber crime?
- Internet crime does pay
- Anonymous and low risk
- Digital data easy to transfer hide and encrypt
- Borderless 24/7 nature of Cyberspace
- In a virtual world crime is legitimised
Lack of awareness: How computers are used to commit crime
- Child porn, threatening email, assuming someone's identity, sexual harassment, defamation, spam, phishing
- Computer as a target of crime
- Blackmail, malware, Industrial espionage, hacking/hacktivism
(Source : Abdul Aleem Sayed, Chief Information Security architect at Abu Dhabi Police)
