Fundamentals Of Cyber Law You Need To Know

Fundamentals Of Cyber Law You Need To Know

Updated on Dec 09, 2022 09:10 AM IST | #Cyber Law

Cyber law, as the name suggests, has to do with the regulation of the cyber space, and the prevention of and prosecution and punishment for the breaches and violations that take place on the internet or by way of infiltration of the computer system, computer network or the electronic data storage facility. To put it differently and more simply, where there is a crime involving computers, the internet or electronic data, there is cyber law providing the redress mechanism corresponding to the severity of the wrongful act committed and the loss caused to the victim(s).

Fundamentals Of Cyber Law You Need To Know
Fundamentals Of Cyber Law You Need To Know

Need For Cyber Law

With the advances in cyber technology, spurred by the diversity of usage, the internet has penetrated every aspect of our everyday existence. We find ourselves spending more and more time texting on WhatsApp, Telegram and Signal, connecting with people on Facebook, Instagram or the next new thing, and learning a great number of things from playing guitar and sitar to making all kinds of weird cold coffees; exotic dishes with unpronounceable names; skipping rope and sleepwalking through exams to top the class (not sure if that’s a thing yet), not to mention watching a cat competently deliver a flying kick to a dog’s growling face (that’s certainly a thing) with the dog looking more puzzled than offended at its undersized opponent’s foolhardy declaration of war.

The point is, every moment we spend on the internet with data packets flying back and forth, carrying valuable information about what we are interested in, how we like spending our time and what we would be willing to spend money on, we keep ourselves open to computer breaches because different aspects of our lives are differently valuable to different buyers and sellers of information. Everybody interested in our personal information is not looking to harm us, blackmail us or misuse the information to our detriment, but unauthorised access to personal information itself is illegal because every individual has an inherent right to decline to share any personal information he or she does not want to share for any reason or no reason at all unless they are legally bound to share it. That’s where cyber laws step in.

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With the rising number of internet users, the operation of the cyber law has also expanded manifold over the past couple of decades, which is also because wherever there are people, there are opportunities for the miscreants to take advantage of the situation and make the most of it for themselves at the cost of the unsuspecting victims. So the more the users, the more the miscreants; and the more the opportunities, the more creative the offenders get, which might explain that in 2019 alone, Indians lost in excess of Rs 1.2 trillion to cyber theft, according to a survey. So even if the survey is off by, say, 50%, it’s still a ton of money to lose. But cyber theft is just one of the several kinds of cyber crimes that are there.

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types of cybercrime, categories of cybercrime, cyber law notes, scope of cyber law, types of cyber law, cyber law jobs, jobs for cyber law, fundamentals of cyber law, cyber law types With The Rising Number Of Internet Users, The Operation Of The Cyber Law Has Also Expanded

Variety Of Cyber Crimes

There are a variety of cyber crimes that are committed either independently or as a precursor to or in conjunction with another crime, which may or may not be a cyber crime. That’s because we use computers and other electronic communication devices to do a variety of things; so those devices can also be misused by the offenders to their advantage at our cost in pursuance of all kinds of malevolent purposes. It would be beneficial to have a look at some of the common cyber crimes, most of which you might have already heard of, or been an unfortunate victim of.

Hacking

Hacking is among the commonest of cyber crimes and often the stepping stone for most cyber criminals. Hacking is nothing but unauthorised access to an electronic device such as computers, servers, mobile phone and the like through an electronic break-in, mostly performed remotely by manipulating the security protocols of the target electronic device. While hacking is a kind of unauthorised access, all instances of unauthorised access do not involve hacking, for your phone or computer can be used without authorisation, if someone with malafide intentions chooses to look into or download data from your phone or computer when it’s lying around unattended as you tend to other things in life. Breaking into someone’s computer by electronic means or otherwise with wrongful intent is a crime. What further crimes one might be guilty of depends upon what one does after gaining unauthorised access to an electronic device.

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Identity Theft

One of the commonest cyber crimes committed following a data break-in is identity theft, mostly for the purpose of making financial gains by fraudulent impersonation, for which purpose the offender obtains such personal information as might be needed to successfully identify himself or herself to the electronic device as the person to be impersonated. Once that security feature is compromised, it’s easy to siphon off money or to perform such other acts as might be needed to perpetrate wrongful gain to the attacker and wrongful loss to the attacked. Sometimes, the purpose of the attack is not money, which does not make identity theft any less of a crime or any less dangerous; only more in some cases.

Since identity theft might also involve the theft of biometric data, it may land the victim of the theft in far more serious trouble than losing money or access to his or her social media account(s) or the device targeted. One might even find oneself accused of serious crimes, and in the cases of high-profile people, the data might fetch a lofty price and may be misused to kick up scandals to make money or to gain some other kind of advantage over the victim.

Data Theft

It’s now a cliche to call data the “new oil”, but nothing quite captures the immense economic heft of data like that parallel. And that’s because data can be used in so many different ways to gain so many kinds of advantages that are directly or indirectly convertible into money, which is why a lot of online services are available for free because the data provided by the users by their merely acting as users is invaluable in terms of what it tells about the consumer behaviour in different segments and at different levels of purchase capability and in different demographies.

A much closer look at even more personal data than one shares on social media can be had by anybody who manages to gain access to your personal electronic devices and such data in sizable amounts is a goldmine of marketable information for the advertisers and advertising agencies and can be sold in the open digital market by the data thieves. That’s what drives data theft.

However, merely having someone’s personal data is by itself not a crime, for what determines whether or not one has committed a crime is the way such data is begotten in the first place, or the way it is used after having been legitimately procured for a certain purpose.

Other Offences

There are several other offences that fall within the description of cyber crimes, but they are mostly perpetrated by committing the offences listed above, and each of those constituent offences is separately punishable. There are some offences for the commission of which computers are infiltrated or available data is abused or manipulated, or some other cyber crime is committed, in which case all instances constituting offences -- cyber crimes and others -- are separately punishable in a single trial as far as all crimes are part of the same transaction. Some of the wrongful and/or criminal acts that might have a cyber crime component are copyright and trademark infringement, industrial espionage, credit card fraud, child pornography etc.

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types of cybercrime, categories of cybercrime, cyber law notes, scope of cyber law, types of cyber law, cyber law jobs, jobs for cyber law, fundamentals of cyber law, cyber law types Hacking Is The commonest Of Cyber Crimes And Often The Stepping Stone For Most Cyber Criminals

Cyber Law Practice

Legal practice in cyber law is a mixed practice in civil and criminal streams of law, and generally the lawyers specialising in cyber law take one of the two streams and specialise in a segment within the stream. What makes cyber law practice a bit complicated is that a single transaction may involve the commission of a punishable cyber crime as well as a civil breach, and the remedies available under the law could be a mixed bag, which means that the victim can invoke both civil as well as criminal remedies against the offender. And such simultaneous legal actions may require two different teams of lawyers to take care of the two kinds of litigation arising out of the same transaction.

For instance, corporate espionage may or may not require infiltration of computer systems or data reservoirs because the target information relating to trade secrets, practices and processes may be stored offline the old-fashioned way, but that’s generally not the case because non-digital storage consumes time as well as space and is expensive to maintain for that reason, apart from being difficult to handle, transmit and hard to search through.

Although modern corporate espionage cannot do without breaking into the electronic devices, it’s still conceivable for a rival company to only require a single paper file that was never digitalised or transmitted electronically and it’s also possible that the same physical file was physically stolen and delivered to the rival company by someone working at its behest. In such a case, it’s corporate espionage all the same but does not involve a cyber crime although other offences, such as theft and break-in etc., might have been committed in the process, many of which acts might be punishable offences.

However, if a computer break-in or unauthorised data access is committed in pursuance of corporate espionage, as is most likely in this day and age of digital preeminence, what crimes apart from the data breach -- punishable under Section 72 of the Information Technology Act, 2000 (IT Act) -- are committed will depend upon what is done with or to the data so accessed. And then it would be up to the victim of the crime to decide whether to claim monetary damages only, seek punishment, or do both.

Cyber law, therefore, is not just one law with civil or criminal consequences but is a set of laws prescribing different remedies for different kinds of breaches, which means that there is a greater scope of specialisation and super-specialisation in the field than in many other fields. But it’s a growing area of law practice and is dominated by a relatively small clutch of law firms. So there is indeed a bit of competition here, but there is also sufficient space for the newcomers.

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HemRaj Singh is a Delhi-based trial lawyer, specializing in both civil and criminal trials, and writes mainly on law, policy, diplomacy, and international relations. Apart from writing for magazines and websites, including Careers 360, practicing law and teaching Legal Reasoning and Critical Reasoning, he is Editor-at-Large with Lawyers Update, a monthly magazine on law and legal affairs, and was Legal Editor with Universal Law Publishing Company before he started practising law.

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Questions related to Cyber Law

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Hi aspirant,

The Mahipal Institute of Law Education (MILE) in Bulandshahr primarily provides high-quality legal education to equip students for a variety of legal jobs. While their primary focus is on academics and the development of practical legal abilities, their "About Us" website cites the goal of preparing law graduates for potential placement in national and multinational corporations, as well as employment at the bar and in judicial or civil services. However, no specific information on dedicated placement cells or official placement campaigns for LLM students is available on the website. It is best to contact the institute directly for further information on placement aid for their LLM degree.

Mahipal Institute of Law Education

You can refer to this link for more information on the institute.

All the best!

Hello,

The application for the 3-year law course at Government Law College usually opens around May or June. But it can change each year. It’s best to check the official college website or the state’s law admission portal for the exact dates.

Hope it helps !

Here is a list of private, relatively affordable colleges in South India for Law and Mass Communication. Please note that "affordable" can be subjective, so I've tried to include options with varying fee structures that are generally considered less expensive compared to top-tier private institutions.

Law Colleges:

Tamil Nadu:

  • Theni College of Arts and Science, Theni: While perhaps lesser-known, this college has been reported to have relatively low fees for its law programs. You would need to verify the specific courses and current fee structure.
  • Government Law Colleges (Private Aid): Some government-affiliated private law colleges might have lower fees compared to fully private institutions. You would need to research specific colleges in different parts of Tamil Nadu.
  • Affiliated Colleges of Tamil Nadu Dr. Ambedkar Law University: Explore the various private self-financing colleges affiliated with TNDALU. Some of these might have more affordable fee structures. You'll need to check their individual websites for fee details.

Karnataka:

  • KLE Society's Law College, Bangalore: This college is listed with relatively lower fees compared to some other private law colleges in Bangalore. They offer BA LLB and BBA LLB programs.
  • SDM Law College, Mangalore: While reputable, some of the colleges in the Mangalore region might have slightly more affordable fee structures than those in Bangalore.

Andhra Pradesh & Telangana:

  • Affiliated Colleges of State Universities: Similar to Tamil Nadu, private law colleges affiliated with state universities in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana might offer more affordable options. Look into colleges associated with universities like Osmania University, Andhra University, etc.
  • Smaller Private Colleges in Tier-II and Tier-III Cities: Colleges located outside the major metropolitan cities like Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam might have lower fees.

Kerala:

  • Private Self-Financing Law Colleges: Explore the list of private self-financing law colleges in Kerala affiliated with universities like the University of Kerala, Mahatma Gandhi University, and Cochin University of Science and Technology. Some of these might have relatively affordable fees.

Mass Communication Colleges:

Tamil Nadu:

  • Madras Christian College (MCC), Chennai: While well-reputed, MCC's fees for its Mass Communication programs are often cited as being relatively affordable compared to other top private colleges in Chennai.
  • Loyola College, Chennai: Similar to MCC, Loyola College's Mass Communication department is highly regarded and may have a more reasonable fee structure than some other private institutions.
  • Dr. M.G.R. Educational and Research Institute, Chennai: This institute offers B.Sc. Broadcast Media with fees that might be in the affordable range for some.
  • SRM Institute of Science and Technology (SRMIST), Chennai (various campuses): While SRM has a strong reputation, its fees can vary across campuses and programs. Some Mass Communication programs might be relatively more affordable. Check specific program fees.
  • Rathinam College of Arts and Science, Coimbatore: This college offers Mass Communication programs with fees that appear to be in a moderate range.
  • Periyar University, Salem (Affiliated Colleges): Explore the private arts and science colleges affiliated with Periyar University in and around Salem. Some of these might offer Mass Communication courses with lower fees.
  • Srimad Andavan Arts and Science College, Tiruchirappalli: This college is listed with relatively low first-semester fees for a BA in Mass Communication.
  • Fatima College, Madurai: This women's college offers Mass Communication with a moderate first-semester fee.

Karnataka:

  • Nitte Institute of Communication (NICO), Mangalore: While considered a good institute, its fees might be relatively affordable compared to Bangalore colleges.
  • School of Social Work Roshni Nilaya, Mangalore: This institution offers programs that might align with Mass Communication, and fees in such colleges are sometimes more affordable.
  • Srinivas University, Mangalore: This university offers Mass Communication programs with relatively lower first-semester fees.
  • Affiliated Colleges of State Universities (Bangalore, Mysore, etc.): Look into private colleges affiliated with state universities in Karnataka, as some might have more affordable Mass Communication programs.

Andhra Pradesh & Telangana:

  • Government College (Autonomous), Rajahmundhry: This government-affiliated autonomous college has very low first-semester fees for a BA in Mass Communication.
  • Telangana Mahila Viswavidyalayam, Hyderabad: This women's university has relatively low first-semester fees for Mass Communication.
  • Affiliated Colleges of State Universities (Hyderabad, Visakhapatnam, etc.): Explore the numerous private colleges affiliated with state universities that offer Mass Communication. Fees can be lower in these institutions.

Kerala:

  • St Joseph's College Devagiri, Calicut: This college has a relatively moderate first-semester fee for its Mass Communication program.
  • Little Flower College Guruvayoor, Thrissur: This college has a very low first-semester fee for a BA in Mass Communication.
  • Mar Ivanios College, Thiruvananthapuram: This college offers Mass Communication with a very low first-semester fee.
  • Majlis Arts and Science College Puramannur, Malappuram: This college has a low first-semester fee for Mass Communication.
  • M.E.S. Asmabi College, Kodungallur: This college also has a low first-semester fee for Mass Communication.
  • Affiliated Colleges of Universities in Kerala: Investigate the various private aided and self-financing colleges affiliated with universities across Kerala, as many offer Mass Communication programs with varying levels of affordability.

The best way to get accurate information and up to date fees information visit the respective college websites or contact their admissions offices directly.

Hope This Helps!


Hii,

For law integrated courses like BA LLB , BBA LLB , and others, here are some of the best universities:

Top Law Universities in India:

  1. National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bangalore

    • Known as the pioneer of National Law Universities (NLUs), NLSIU consistently ranks at the top for legal education.

  2. National Academy of Legal Studies and Research (NALSAR), Hyderabad

    • NALSAR offers excellent academic quality and campus life, with a highly reputed law program.

  3. National Law University, Delhi (NLU Delhi)

    • Known for its rigorous academic structure, NLU Delhi offers a global perspective on legal education.

  4. National Law University, Jodhpur (NLU Jodhpur)

    • NLU Jodhpur offers both an integrated law course and a specialized focus in fields like corporate law.

  5. The West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences (WBNUJS), Kolkata

    • Known for producing top law professionals, WBNUJS is one of the top NLUs in India.

  6. National Law University, Odisha (NLUO)

    • A growing law university known for its quality education and research initiatives.

Top Five NLUs (National Law Universities):

  1. National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bangalore

  2. National Academy of Legal Studies and Research (NALSAR), Hyderabad

  3. National Law University, Delhi (NLU Delhi)

  4. National Law University, Jodhpur (NLU Jodhpur)

  5. The West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences (WBNUJS), Kolkata


Law: Ideal for people who enjoy reading, arguing, and solving legal issues. After LLB, you can become a lawyer, judge, or corporate advisor. Growth is slow initially but can be highly rewarding later.


GNM: Suits those who like patient care and medical service. Offers quick employment in hospitals or abroad. Stable, respected career, but physically and emotionally demanding.


Tip: Choose law if you like logic and justice; GNM if you’re empathetic and patient-focused.


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