India must stop terrorist financing with cryptocurrencies

New Delhi, Nov 15, : .

According to cyber experts, the use of cryptocurrency on the dark web for terrorist acts and drug trafficking is a serious threat to Indias national security.

Cryptocurrencies have emerged as the most advanced methods of terror financing and when it is being transacted on the dark net like TOR, Freenet, Zeronet and Perfectdark, it becomes untraceable for the security agencies.The most sophisticated methods of terror financing have been made possible by cryptocurrencies.

When its being transacted over the dark net, such as TOR, Freenet or Zeronet, it becomes impossible for security agencies to trace it.Money launderers, cyber criminals and terrorists find cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Monero, Ripples and Zcash highly convenient because they offer anonymity and non-traceability.Because they are anonymous and non-traceable, cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Ripples, Bitcoin Cash, and Zcash can be a great option for terrorists, money launderers, and cyber criminals.

The dark net is a deep under variable link in the area of internet where one cannot find the identity of the users as the router browser keeps complete anonymity on the identity of the users.Dark nets are a hidden, under-utilized link in the internet that cannot be identified by users.

The router browser maintains complete anonymity about the identities of users.It keeps the user anonymous with whom he or she is interacting with because of the end-to-end encryption, cyber expert Pawan Duggal said.

The end-to-end encryption keeps the user anonymous when interacting with them, according to Pawan Duggal, a cyber expert.In both cases, the anonymity creates real challenges for the law enforcing agencies in India and it has created a unique "cybercrime economy" on the dark net where all kinds of cyber crimes and services are now increasingly being offered, he added.

Both cases present real challenges to the Indian law enforcement agencies.It has also created a unique "cybercrime industry" on the dark web where many cyber crimes are being committed and services are offered.

The security agencies need to be trained to penetrate these online systems to trace the sources of funding and purpose so that the preventive steps can be taken, Duggal further said.Duggal said that security agencies must be trained to hack these online systems in order to track the source of funding and the purpose, so preventive measures can be taken.

A senior official in the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) said that the use of this platform is not only confined to drug trafficking or narco trade but this has been of late being used by many terror organisations across the world.According to a senior official at the Narcotics Control Bureau, (NCB), this platform isnt just used for drug trafficking and narco trading.

It has also been used recently by terror groups around the globe.The NCB has been constantly combating the drug peddlers opting for Dark Net and it has collaborated with international agencies to control the menace.

The NCB has been fighting drug peddlers who prefer Dark Net, and has partnered with international agencies to combat the problem.The dark net also provides self-destructive mailboxes and proxy servers where people can use fake IDs.Dark net also offers self-destructive mailboxes as well as proxy servers that allow people to use fake IDs.It definitely makes it difficult to prove a particular charge and there is a requirement for amendment to the Information Technology Act and Evidence Act, Duggal further said.Duggal stated that it makes it very difficult to prove a specific charge.

He also said that amendments to the Information Technology Act (and Evidence Act) are required.The TOR software, Freenet, Zeronet, Perfect dark, are some popular dark net browsers and these can be accessed only through the specialised software.

These popular dark net browsers include TOR, Zeronet and Freenet.They can only be accessed through specialised software.The TOR, the most popular with over two millions daily users, uses the onion routing method which is a layered technology that routes traffic through the established layers to conceal the identities of the users.

The most widely used TOR protocol, with more than two million daily users, is the onion routing.This is a layered technology that route traffic through established layers to hide the identities of users.

Despite all, the encrypted and concealed identities of the deep web, the cyber experts said that the law enforcing agencies are now able to infiltrate in these browsers through honey pots (posing as seller or buyer on these browsers).Despite the hidden identities and encrypted nature of the deep internet, cyber experts stated that law enforcement agencies can now infiltrate these browsers using honey pots (posing to be seller or buyer) "In most of the cases, the crypto currencies have been used for narco- trade and money laundering and terrorists do not use this virtual currency as this is traceable by the agencies," a counter-terror expert Rituraj Mate said.

Rituraj Mate, a counter-terror expert, stated that most cases involved crypto currencies being used for money laundering and narco-trade.However, terrorists are not allowed to use the virtual currency because it is traceable by the authorities.

He also said that crypto currency can be used by the terror organisations once it is legitimised in India.He said that terrorist organisations can use crypto currency once it has been legalized in India.

Once it gets official permission, it is apprehended that the ultras may use somebodys account for terror funding.It is possible that ultras could use someones account to fund terror funding once it has been granted official permission.

As far as dark net is concerned, Mate also said that the browser like TOR are also tractable and the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has mastered the art of infiltrating dark net groups and collecting information, evidence to prosecute cyber crimes.Mate said that dark nets like TOR can also be accessed using a browser, and the US Central Intelligence Agency has mastered infiltrating darknet groups and gathering evidence to support cyber crime prosecutions.

Interpol has also started training program on the dark net related crime for the law enforcement agencies of the world, he added.He also said that Interpol has started a training program for law enforcement agencies around the world on dark net-related crime.

The Indian agencies have a tie-up with international agencies like the CIA, FBI and Interpol for exchange of information on a regular basis whereas Indian agencies also have capabilities to track the identities of the users on these browsers, Mate further added.Mate added that the Indian agencies have a close relationship with international agencies such as the FBI, CIA and Interpol to exchange information on a frequent basis.

Indian agencies also have the capability of tracking the identities of users of these browsers.On November 13, the issue was comprehensively discussed in a high-level meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi with all stakeholders, and it was learnt that the government is mulling to introduce a bill in the winter session of Parliament to regulate the dealing of cryptocurrencies in India.

The issue was discussed at a high-level meeting held by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and all other stakeholders on November 13.It was learned that the government was considering introducing a bill to regulate Indian cryptocurrency trading in the winter session.Officials have however said that Indian agencies are technically sound and skilled to penetrate into the dark net browsers and they have successfully tracked many cases of narco trade and hawala transactions.

Officials claim that Indian agencies have the technical skills and expertise to access the dark web browsers.They have been successful in tracking many cases of hawala and narco trading "We are capable of tracking and nabbing the criminals on the dark net and have enough manpower to handle this issue but we need to increase our infrastructures like high configuration servers and better coordination in sharing information with foreign law enforcing agencies," a senior official said on the condition of anonymity.

A senior official spoke on condition of anonymity to say that "we are capable of tracking down and nabbing criminals on dark net and have sufficient manpower to handle the issue but we need increase our infrastructures like high-config servers and better coordination when sharing information with foreign law enforcement agencies." ams/svn/ksk #India #terrorist #Delhi.