Cyber Crimes and Provisions applicable

List of cyber crimes and provision under IT ACT for the cybercrime 

• Harassment via a fake public profile on social networking site: 

A fake profile of a person is created on a social networking site with the correct address, residential information or contact details but they are labeled as a ‘prostitute’ or a person of ‘loose character’. This leads to harassment of the victim.
Provisions applicable: 
Sections 66A, 67 of IT Act and Section 509 of the Indian Penal Code, this section are applicable for Harassment

• Online hate community: 

An online hate community is created inciting a religious group to act or pass objectionable remarks against a country, national figures, etc.
Provisions applicable: 
Section 66A of IT Act and 153A & 153B of the Indian Penal Code.

•  Email account hacking:

 If the victim’s email account is hacked and obscene emails are sent to people in the victim’s address book.
Provisions applicable: 
Sections 43, 66, 66A, 66C, 67, 67A and 67B of IT Act.

•  Credit card fraud:

Unsuspecting victims would use infected computers to make online transactions.
Provisions applicable: 
Sections 43, 66, 66C, 66D of IT Act and section 420 of the IPC.

• Web defacement: 

The homepage of a website is replaced with a pornographic or defamatory page. Government sites generally face the wrath of hackers on symbolic days.
Provisions applicable: 
Sections 43 and 66 of IT Act and Sections 66F, 67 and 70 of the IT Act also apply in some cases.

• Introducing viruses, worms, backdoors, rootkits, trojans, bugs: 

All of the above are some sort of malicious programs that are used to destroy or gain access to some electronic information.
Provisions applicable:
Sections 43, 66, 66A of IT Act and Section 426 of Indian Penal Code.

Cyber terrorism:
Many terrorists are using virtual (G-Drive, FTP sites) and physical storage media (USB’s, hard drives) for hiding information and records of their illicit business.
Provisions applicable: 
Conventional terrorism laws may apply along with Section 69 of the IT Act.

•  Online sale of illegal articles: 

Applicable when the sale of narcotics, drug weapons and wildlife is facilitated by the internet.
Provisions applicable:
Generally, conventional laws apply in these cases.

• Cyber pornography: 

This is among the largest businesses on the internet. Pornography may not be illegal in many countries, but child pornography is.

Provisions applicable: 
Sections 67, 67A and 67B of the IT Act.

• Phishing and email scams: 

Phishing involves fraudulently acquiring sensitive information through masquerading as a trusted entity. (E.g. Passwords, credit card information)
Provisions Applicable:
Section 66, 66A and 66D of IT Act and Section 420 of IPC

• Theft of confidential information: 

Many business organizations store their confidential information in computer systems. This information is targeted by rivals, criminals and disgruntled employees.
Provisions applicable: 

Sections 43, 66, 66B of IT Act and Section 426 of Indian Penal Code.

• Source code theft: 

A source code generally is the most coveted and important “crown jewel” asset of a company.Provisions applicable: 
Sections 43, 66, 66B of IT Act and Section 63 of the Copyright Act.

•  Tax evasion and money laundering: 

Money launderers and people doing illegal business activities hide their information in virtual as well as physical activities.Provisions applicable: 
Income Tax Act and Prevention of Money Laundering Act. IT Act may apply case-wise.

• Online share trading fraud: 

It has become mandatory for investors to have their Demat accounts linked with their online banking accounts which are generally accessed unauthorized, thereby leading to share trading frauds.
Provisions applicable: 
Sections 43, 66, 66C, 66D of IT Act and Section 420 of IPC.