MHA studies tools to monitor Darknet by Law Enforcement Agencies

A Union Home Ministry think-tank is studying software solutions to help law enforcement agencies monitor the darknet, or a network of secret websites & encrypted networks, & track cybercriminals through digital footprints, people aware of the matter said.

The Bureau of Police Research & Development (BPRD) is also looking into an interactive web portal that will provide information on cyber crimes, their modus operandi, investigation techniques as well as digital solutions for tracing sources of voice over internet protocol calls, cracking passwords, & decrypting protected files.

Academia, start-ups/Incubation centres, & research & development (R&D) organisations are working on the project to find solutions for cybercrime investigation & digital forensic challenges.

Around eleven problem statements based on consultations with state police & central agencies have been identified & sent to 120 institutions & R&D organisations across the country as part of the project.

BPRD Chief V S K Kaumudi said that “It is a capacity-building measure for LEAs [law enforcement agencies] & an exercise to take cybercrime investigation tools to the cutting edge level".

According to a Bureau of Police Research & Development document, seen by the news agency, a solution for the darknet will help get inside hidden networks, gather threat intelligence, conduct profiling, analyse specific links & provide alerts regarding suspicious activity.

It says the interactive web portal will assist investigating officers with their queries regarding cybercrimes, fetch details of cybercrime investigations workflows, use artificial intelligence & machine learning techniques for on-time updates. It is planned to have an integrated online case management platform for financial fraud.

Tracking fake news & fake profiles on social media is another key objective of BPRD’s plan to ensure cybercriminals or specific groups, individuals don't run political or religious propaganda on a large scale against individuals, organisations or the Govt & create unrest in the country, according to the document.

The solution for fake profiles & fake news will involve assistance to investigators in tracing anonymous social media suspects. It will help them detect fake news, fake images, offensive videos as well as trace people posting them on social media.

Officials said the risk of cyberattacks has increased manifolds with the heightened dependency on digital infrastructure amid the Coronavirus pandemic that has prompted lockdowns globally. The Centre’s Computer Emergency Response Team has repeatedly warned over the last 2 months that cyberattackers may take advantage of the pandemic to target individuals & organisations. 

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