Dark Web: How TS cops are dealing with advanced cyber attacks

Hyderabad: In January 2022, Hyderabad-based Mahesh Bank's server was hacked and a whopping Rs. 12 crore was swindled in a span of a few hours. As part of the investigation, the Hyderabad police spent Rs. 58 lakhs to probe AP Mahesh Co-operative Urban Bank's server hacking. More than 100 police officers traveled across the country for more than two months. In March, the police made significant progress and arrested 23 accused, including four Nigerians.

In view of the increasing number of cyber crimes involving banks, drugs, and weapons, the Indian police now have their skin in the game. A five-day Dark Web Investigators workshop is being held at the Telangana Police Academy. This course is being attended by police officers from all over the country as well as officials of Central and state government agencies.

"With the steep rise in cyber crimes and with cyber perpetrators resorting to sophisticated cyber attacks through Deep and Dark web, hacking, and crypto currencies, the cyber world has become a tough digital terrain for law enforcement agencies to investigate and apprehend perpetrators as most of the crimes are being committed from remote countries," said Hyderabad commissioner of police C.V Anand.

To deal with this alarming trend, the Telangana Intelligence department in association with Convergence Innovation Labs which collaborated with Mark Bentley, an ex-cop in the UK police and an expert trainer with 40 years of experience, to synergise the capacity-building programme of the police personnel in Telangana.

Addressing the trainees, CP Anand said the state government and the Telangana police are spearheading the digital initiatives in policing and has a record in training thousands of police officers. There are 15 types of cyber frauds, especially through loan apps, that have led to the suicide of three people in the last 10 days. It has become challenging to investigate and catch the perpetrators, Mr. Anand added.

"The recent detection of the Mahesh Bank hacking case and the Xsilica e-payment gateway hacking case show that it is possible to investigate these cases and requires special expertise and resources. Even narcotics are being trafficked through the Dark web," he said.

Mr. Anand continued, "Simulating real-world examples and incidents, materials, open source intelligence tools (OSINT), and exercises, the five-day workshop, and master class equip cyber investigators with the latest cutting-edge tools and investigation methodology."