#Fact Check: Old Photo Misused to Claim Israeli Helicopter Downed in Lebanon!

Introduction

In todays time, we can access any information in seconds and from the comfort of our homes or offices. The internet and its applications have been substantial in creating an ease of access to information, but the biggest question which still remains unanswered is Which information is legit and which one is fake? As netizens, we must be critical of what information we access and how.

Influence of Bad actors

The bad actors are one of the biggest threats to our cyberspace as they make the online world full of fear and activities which directly impact the users financial or emotional status by exploitaing their vulnerabilities and attacking them using social engineering. One such issue is website spoofing. In website spoofing, the bad actors try and create a website similar to the original website of any reputed brand. The similarity is so uncanny that the first time or occasional website users find it very difficult to find the difference between the two websites. This is basically an attempt to access sensitive information, such as personal and financial information, and in some cases, to spread malware into the users system to facilitate other forms of cybercrimes. Such websites will have very lucrative offers or deals, making it easier for people to fall prey to such phoney websites In turn, the bad actors can gain sensitive information right from the users without even calling or messaging them.

The Incident

A Noida based senior citizen couple was aggreved by using their dishwasher, and to get it fixed, they looked for the customer care number on their web browser. The couple came across a customer care number- 1800258821 for IFB, a electronics company. As they dialed the number and got in touch with the fake customer care representative, who, upon hearing the couple’s issue, directed them to a supposedly senior official of the company. The senior official spoke to the lady, despite of the call dropping few times, he was admant on staying in touch with the lady, once he had established the trust factor, he asked the lady to download an app which he potrayed to be an app to register complaints and carry out quick actions. The fake senior offical asked the lady to share her location and also asked her to grant few access permissions to the application along with a four digit OTP which looked harmless. He further asked the kady to make a transaction of Rs 10 as part of the complaint processing fee. Till this moment, the couple was under the impression that their complaimt had been registred and the issue with their dishwasher would be rectified soon.

The couple later at night recieved a message from their bank, informing them that Rs 2.25 lakh had been debited from their joint bank account, the following morning, they saw yet another text message informing them of a debit of Rs 5.99 lakh again from their account. The couple immediatly understood that they had become victims to cyber fraud. The couple immediatly launched a complaint on the cyber fraud helpline 1930 and their respective bank. A FIR has been registerd in the Noida Cyber Cell.

How can senior citizens prevent such frauds?

Senior citizens can be particularly vulnerable to cyber frauds due to their lack of familiarity with technology and potential cognitive decline. Here are some safeguards that can help protect them from cyber frauds:

• Educate seniors on common cyber frauds: It’s important to educate seniors about the most common types of cyber frauds, such as phishing, smishing, vishing, and scams targeting seniors.
• Use strong passwords: Encourage seniors to use strong and unique passwords for their online accounts and to change them regularly.
• Beware of suspicious emails and messages: Teach seniors to be wary of suspicious emails and messages that ask for personal or financial information, even if they appear to be from legitimate sources.
• Verify before clicking: Encourage seniors to verify the legitimacy of links before clicking on them, especially in emails or messages.
• Keep software updated: Ensure seniors keep their software, including antivirus and operating system, up to date.
• Avoid public Wi-Fi: Discourage seniors from using public Wi-Fi for sensitive transactions, such as online banking or shopping.
• Check financial statements: Encourage seniors to regularly check their bank and credit card statements for any suspicious transactions.
• Secure devices: Help seniors secure their devices with antivirus and anti-malware software and ensure that their devices are password protected.
• Use trusted sources: Encourage seniors to use trusted sources when making online purchases or providing personal information online.
• Seek help: Advise seniors to seek help if they suspect they have fallen victim to a cyber fraud. They should contact their bank, credit card company or report the fraud to relevant authorities. Calling 1930 should be the first and primary step.

Conclusion

The cyberspace is new space for people of all generations, the older population is a little more vulnerble in this space as they have not used gadgets or internet for most f theur lives, and now they are dependent upon the devices and application for their convinience, but they still do not understand the technology and its dark side. As netizens, we are responsible for safeguarding the youth and the older population to create a wholesome, safe, secured and sustainable cyberecosystem. Its time to put the youth’s understanding of tech and the life experience of the older poplaution in synergy to create SoPs and best practices for erradicating such cyber frauds from our cyberspace. CyberPeace Foundation has created a CyberPeace Helpline number for victims where they will be given timely assitance for resolving their issues; the victims can reach out the helpline on +91 95700 00066 and thay can also mail their issues on helpline@cyberpeace.net.

Introduction

In the labyrinthine world of digital currencies, a new chapter unfolds as India intensifies its scrutiny over the ethereal realm of offshore cryptocurrency exchanges. With nuance and determination that virtually mirrors the Byzantine complexities of the very currencies they seek to regulate, Indian authorities embark on a course of stringent oversight, bringing to the fore an ever-evolving narrative of control and compliance in the fintech sector. The government's latest manoeuvre—a directive to Apple Inc. to excise the apps of certain platforms, including the colossus Binance, from its App Store in India—signals a crescendo in the nation's efforts to rein in the unbridled digital bazaar that had hitherto thrived in a semi-autonomous expanse of cyberspace.

The directive, with ramifications as significant and intricate as the cryptographic algorithms that underpin the blockchain, stems from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, which has cast eight exchanges, including Bitfinex, HTX, and Kucoin, into the shadows, rendering their apps as elusive as the Higgs boson in the vast App Store universe. The movement of these exchanges from visibility to obscurity in the digital storefront is cloaked in secrecy, with sources privy to this development remaining cloaked in anonymity, their identities as guarded as the cryptographic keys that secure blockchain transactions.

The Contention 

This escalation, however, did not manifest from the vacuum of the ether; it is the culmination of a series of precipitating actions that began unfolding on December 28th, when the Indian authorities unfurled a net over nine exchanges, ensnaring them with suspicions of malfeasance. The spectre of inaccessible funds, a byproduct of this entanglement, has since haunted Indian crypto traders, prompting a migration of deposits to local exchanges that operate within the nation's regulatory framework—a fortress against the uncertainties of the offshore crypto tempest.

The extent of the authorities' reach manifests further, beckoning Alphabet Inc.'s Google to follow in Apple's footsteps. Yet, in a display of the unpredictable nature of enforcement, the Google Play Store in India still played host to the very apps that Apple's digital Eden had forsaken as of a nondescript Wednesday afternoon, marked by the relentless march of time. The triad of power-brokers—Apple, Google, and India's technology ministry—has maintained a stance as enigmatic as the Sphinx, their communications as impenetrable as the vaults that secure the nation's precious monetary reserves.

Compounding the tightening of this digital noose, the Financial Intelligence Unit of India, a sentinel ever vigilant at the gates of financial propriety, unfurled a compliance show-cause notice to the nine offshore platforms, an ultimatum demanding they justify their elusive presence in Indian cyberspace. The FIU's decree echoed with clarity amidst the cacophony of regulatory overtures: these digital entities were tethered to operations sequestered in the shadows, skirting the reach of India's anti-money laundering edicts, their websites lingering in cyberspace like forbidden fruit, tantalisingly within reach yet potentially laced with the cyanide of non-compliance.

In this chaotic tableau of constraint and control, a glimmer of presence remains—only Bitstamp has managed to brave the regulatory storm, maintaining its presence on the Indian App Store, a lone beacon amid the turbulent sea of regimentation. Kraken, another leviathan of crypto depths, presented only its Pro version to the Indian connoisseurs of the digital marketplace. An aura of silence envelops industry giants such as Binance, Bitfinex, and KuCoin, their absence forming a void as profound as the dark side of the moon in the consciousness of Indian users. HTX, formerly known as Huobi, has announced a departure from Indian operations with the detached finality of a distant celestial body, cold and indifferent to the gravitational pull of India's regulatory orbit.

Compliances

In compliance with the provisions of the Money Laundering Act (PMLA) 2002 and the recent uproar on crypto assessment apps, Apple store finally removed these apps namely Binance and Kucoin from the store after receiving show cause notice. The alleged illegal operation and failure to comply with existing money laundering laws are major reasons for their removal. 

The Indian Narrative 

The overarching narrative of India's embrace of rigid oversight aligns with a broader global paradigm shift, where digital financial assets are increasingly subjected to the same degree of scrutiny as their physical analogues. The persistence in imposing anti-money laundering provisions upon the crypto sector reflects this shift, with India positioning its regulatory lens in alignment with the stars of international accountability. The preceding year bore witness to seismic shifts as Indian authorities imposed a tax upon crypto transactions, a move that precipitated a downfall in trading volumes, reminiscent of Icarus's fateful flight—hubris personified as his waxen appendages succumbed to the unrelenting kiss of the sun.

On a local scale, trading powerhouses lament the imposition of a 1% levy, colloquially known as Tax Deducted at Source. This fiscal shackle drove an exodus of Indian crypto traders into the waiting, seemingly benevolent arms of offshore financial Edens, absolved of such taxational rites. As Sumit Gupta, CEO of CoinDCX, recounted, this fiscal migration witnessed the haemorrhaging of revenue. His estimation that a staggering 95% of trading volume abandoned local shores for the tranquil harbours of offshore havens punctuates the magnitude of this phenomenon.

Conclusion 

Ultimately, the story of India's proactive clampdown on offshore crypto exchanges resembles a meticulously woven tapestry of regulatory ardour, financial prudence, and the inexorable progression towards a future where digital incarnations mirror the scrutinised tangibility of physical assets. It is a saga delineating a nation's valiant navigation through the tempestuous, cryptic waters of cryptocurrency, helming its ship with unwavering determination, with eyes keenly trained on the farthest reaches of the horizon. Here, amidst the fusion of digital and corporeal realms, India charts its destiny, setting its sails towards an inextricably linked future that promises to shape the contour of the global financial landscape.

References 

• https://www.business-standard.com/markets/cryptocurrency/govt-escalates-clampdown-on-offshore-crypto-venues-like-binance-report-124011000586_1.html
• https://www.cnbctv18.com/technology/india-escalates-clampdown-on-offshore-crypto-exchanges-like-binance-18763111.htm
• https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/technology/centre-blocks-web-platforms-of-offshore-crypto-apps-binance-kucoin-and-others/articleshow/106783697.cms?from=mdr

Introduction  

The ‘Barbie’ fever is going high in India, and it’s hype to launch online scams in India. The cybercriminals attacking the ‘Barbie’ fans in India, as the popular malware and antivirus protection MacAfee has recently reported that India is in the top 3rd number among countries facing major malware attacks. After the release of ‘barbie’ in theatres, the Scams started spreading across India through the free download of the ‘Barbie’ movie from the link and other viruses. The scammers trick the victims by selling free ‘Barbie’ tickets and, after the movie’s hit, search for the free download links on websites which leads to the Scams.

What is the ‘Barbie’ malware?

After the release of the ‘Barbie’ movie, trying to keep up with the trend, Barbie fans started to search the links for free movie downloads from anonymous sources. And after downloading the movie, there was malware in the downloaded zip files. The online scam includes not genuine dubbed downloads of the movie that install malware, barbie-related viruses, and fake videos that point to free tickets, and also clicking on unverified links for the movie access resulted in Scam. It is important not to get stuck in these trends just because to keep up with them, as it could land you in trouble.

‍Case: As per the report of McAfee, several cases of malware trick victims into downloading the ‘ Barbie’ movie in different languages. By clicking the link, it prompts the user to download a Zip file, which is packed with malware

Countries-wise malware distribution

Cyber Scams witnessed a significant surge in just a few weeks, with hundreds of incidents of new malware cases. And The USA is on the top No. Among all the countries, In the USA there was 37 % of ‘Barbie’ malware attacks held per the, while Australia, the UK, and India suffered 6 % of malware attacks. And other countries like Japan, Ireland, and France faced 3% of Malware attacks.

What are the precautions?

Cyber scams are evolving everywhere, users must remain vigilant and take necessary precautions to protect their personal information. The user shall avoid clicking on suspicious links, also those which are related to unauthorised movie downloads or fake ticket offers. The people shall use legitimate and official platforms to access movie-related content. Keeping anti-malware and antivirus will add an extra layer of protection.

Here are some following precautions against Malware:

• Use security software.
• Use strong passwords and authentication.
• Enforce safe browsing and email.
• Data backup.
• Implement Anti-lateral Movement.

Conclusion  

Cyberspace is evolving, and with that, Scams are also evolving. With the new trend of ‘Barbie’ Scams going on the rise everywhere, India is on top 3rd No. In India, McAfee reported several malicious attacks that attempted to trick the victims into downloading the free version of ‘Barbie’ movie in dubbed languages. This resulted in a Scam. People usually try to keep up with trends that land them in trouble. The users shall beware of these kinds of cyber-attacks. These scams result in huge losses. Technology should be used with proper precautions as per the incidents happening around.