Question: What is the role of FIA in combating cyber crimes?

Answer: In recent past it has been observed that criminals are using latest tools to execute their plans. These criminals are involved in financial matters, information stealing and at times even in terrorism. To counter their activities it was considered necessary that there must be an organization in the country that should be able to monitor, track and catch all such criminals. Keeping this in view, National Response Center for Cyber Crimes (NR3C) was formed in FIA HQ.

Question: What is the working of National Response Center for Cyber Crimes (NR3C)?

Answer: National Response Center for Cyber Crimes (NR3C) is providing single point of contact for all local and foreign organizations on matters related to cyber crimes. It is imparting trainings and related security education to persons of government/semi-government and private sector organizations. For this purpose a number of seminars in different cities have been conducted to educate sensitive government organizations regarding cyber attacks on their information resources, information breach and to make their systems secure against all such threats. Also cases are being registered against those who are involved in such activities under ETO-2002.

Question: What sort of cyber crimes do you encounter in Pakistan?

Answer: Unauthorized accesses to the information systems are on the rise in terms of frequency. DoS attacks and hacking of web sites are also on an increase. Then there have been cases of threatening emails.

Question: How can any one approach you to register a complaint?

Answer: Anyone who wishes to register a complaint at NR3C can visit NR3C website, http://www.nr3c.gov.pk or can send their complaints directly to the office of Project Director, NR3C FIA-Headquarters, Islamabad. (Tel No. 051-9261233)

Question: What do you think could be the intention of criminals in the cyber space?

Answer: Information technology is reshaping the logic of everything from home users to complex business applications. It's also reshaping the logic of crime: what it looks like, how it takes place, and how we as a society choose to fight it. As we are becoming a cashless society, electronic banking will no doubt make our financial lives simpler, but it will also make it easier for criminals to access our bank accounts. The 'Willie Sutton Principle' still applies: Criminals go where the money is. Apart from this other motivations are for fun or to prove their knowhow in cyber space.

Question: What methods and expertise do you use to identify cyber criminals?

Answer: Whenever you log on to the Internet, you are bound to leave your footprints and a record of your activities. These footprints include a telephone number, IP address, and router log, etc. The technology of tracing cyber crimes using such identification is now very mature. We can find out that a certain crime originated in which country, which city, through which ISP, in which office or building and from which machine. Currently a large number of tools are available to track the footprints or to monitor the activities of hackers.

Question: Do you think there is a need for specialized educational program in this field?

Answer: Oh Yes. Banks and multinational companies are already convinced that they should have Information security officers. There is an acute shortage of information security specialists in Pakistan. There is an urgent need to introduce international certification like CISSP etc. Recognized universities should also introduce bachelor and post graduate degrees in the area of information security. We can also send such skilled manpower abroad.


Question: What needs to be done to counter this rising menace?

Answer: I think there is an urgent need to create awareness in the general public on the threats of Cyber Crimes and also to finalize the relevant laws, so that punishment may be given to all those who are involved in Cyber Crimes.

Question: Is there any law for cyber crime cases?

Answer: Government of Pakistan is committed to pass cyber crime laws as soon as possible. A very senior team of lawyers is working exclusively on this project. They have made a comprehensive draft and it is expected that Government will pass it shortly, till then Electronic Evidence Act 2000 is being used to register cases against cyber criminals.

Question: Do you have any liaison with other international organization for combating cyber crimes?

Answer: Cooperation among governments and between government and industry is the key to combating crime in cyberspace and making the Internet a safe and secure environment for e-commerce and communications. The National Response Center for Cyber Crimes (NR3C) has played an important role in fostering such cooperation. An effort is being made to develop a working liaison with International organization especially against plastic money frauds and other financial crimes. In this regard NR3C has initiated to establish SAARC/CERT. We are also planning to work with Muslim Countries under OIC-CERT.

We can find out that a certain crime originated in which country, which city, through which ISP, in which office or building and from which machine