Agape India, a computer and mobile forensics specialist, plans to launch a special toll-free number to enable instant reporting of cyber crimes and mobile offences. The service will be activated on the 17th of this month.
Sufferers of cyber crimes such as online fraud, phishing, or even threat mails, and those affected by mobile related offences like unsolicited calls or pornographic MMS, can now call 1800 209 6789 and seek professional and individual assistance for free.
Agape has also launched the National Institute of e-Forensic (NIEF) in Mumbai. The purpose of this institute is to provide specialized computer and mobile forensic training programs to meet the growing demand of law enforcement agencies, corporates, individuals, and government bodies.
NIEF has set up 2 special e-Forensics training labs, while 3 more are expected to be set up in a year's time.
According to CERT IN (Indian Computer Emergency Response Team), hackers have become more active in India this year, breaking into over 2340 websites up to the end of May, as against 5200 in the entire year of 2006.
Sachin Pandey, CEO of NIEF observed, "With the growing market of PDAs and mobiles, related crimes in this sector have also witnessed an increase. Computer misuse has become so common that detection and effective monitoring of electronic activity as part of a solid computer usage and monitoring policy, should now be a cornerstone of any IT or personnel policy of the company."
The company said, NIEF will train students to combat various types of cyber crimes namely, credit card scams, e-mail related crimes like spoofing/ bombing, threat, defamation, fraud; and even phishing, software piracy, SMS hacking, cloning of mobiles, etc.
According to NIEF, the technology to combat these issues is present in the country, but there are very few people who are skilled to bring the existing technology in use.
Therefore, NIEF is offering a 1-year advanced course for imparting training in e-forensics. The cost of this course will approximately be Rs. 2.5 lakh; while short term courses will cost upwards of Rs. 15,000.
Presently, the institute has 6 trained cyber crime experts who will train the students at their Mumbai institute, but 3 more institutes have been planned to commence operation in the nation's metropolitans by the end of this financial year.
NIEF also has a mobile forensic lab that will travel across the length and breadth of India to educate the masses on cyber crime and make them aware of mobile malpractices.
