Cyber experts worry over lack of security mechanisms in cyberspace

Chennai:

As the Netizens population has crossed above two billion in the globe, cyber security experts are worried over the lack of security mechanisms in cyber world and fear that next generation of threats would emerge out of cyberspace.

Speaking during a conference on Cyber Security organized by Confederation of Indian Industry here on Saturday, Vigilance commissioner R Sri Kumar, who has the distinction of setting up the first cyber police station in Bangalore, warned that no data is secure in the cyberworld and urged the cyber space users to keep themselves updated with information on cyberspace and cyberworld.

He said the biggest threat in cyberspace is from inside than outside. These include stealing of data and sabotage of the system.

While stressing on the need to encrypt and store data, the former police officer highlighted the importance of cloud computing in safeguarding the data. “Cloud computing is secure and it is easy for one to create a security apparatus around it so that it can’t be breached,” he said.

Kumar also stressed on the need for more investment besides human resources to ensure security. Interestingly, the threat is being felt worldwide. N Lt Gen V K Pillai, general officer commanding of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala area, said that globally around 50,000 companies a day are thought to have come under cyber attack with the rate estimated as doubling every year.

Pillai said that for defence networks in particular, since the level of security is to be of higher order, it is necessary to adopt measures like complete ownership of the network by the defence agencies, total network security, procurement of network equipment from reliable sources, multiplayer communication with matching redundancy for critical systems, computer security and encryption procedures.

He also said that several countries like Russia and China have been active in promoting the idea of an international convention on information security. He also highlighted that United States is in a unique position in this regard as it retains control over nine of the 11 route servers, which form the backbone of Internet.