Groundbreaking Cybercrime Investigation Tool Developed to Track and Convict Cybercriminals Targeting Humans

In a forwarding stride towards combating cybercrime in India, a revolutionary investigation tool known as the TTP (tactics, techniques, and procedures)-based cybercrime investigation framework has been developed.

This innovative tool promises to efficiently track and classify cyberattacks targeting individuals, including insurance fraud, online matrimonial fraud, and other offenses.

Spearheaded by the I-hub NTIHAC foundation (c3ihub) at the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, with support from the Department of Science and Technology (DST) under the National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems (NM-ICPS), this breakthrough promises to reshape the landscape of cybercrime investigations.

Rising Cybercrime Incidents

Cybercrime incidents have been on the rise in India, causing staggering losses of approximately 1 crore per day in many states. This nefarious trend disproportionately affects vulnerable segments of society, including women, the elderly, and economically disadvantaged individuals, leading to the loss of life savings and emotional trauma.

However, the number of cybercrime investigations has been significantly lower than the number of reported cybercrime cases, highlighting a pressing need for more effective investigative tools.

Challenges in Investigating Cybercrimes

Investigating cybercrimes has been hampered by several challenges. Victims often have limited cyber literacy, and their initial reports may lack crucial details, potentially misleading or distracting investigators. Furthermore, victims frequently disengage after reporting an incident, making it even more challenging to track and solve these crimes.

The Birth of the TTPs-based Framework

Recognizing the need for a comprehensive framework to streamline cybercrime incident response, the I-hub NTIHAC foundation at IIT Kanpur embarked on a mission to develop a methodology and tool for apprehending cybercriminals’ modes of operation throughout the crime execution lifecycle.

This endeavor involved exhaustive literature studies, real-world case studies, framework construction, integration of pre-existing crime data into the framework, and the creation of an interactive framework navigator.

Features of the Cybercrime Investigation Tool

The developed tool can extract key points from victim reports, providing investigators with vital information to systematically categorize cybercrimes. It then guides investigators through a predefined path based on common crime patterns, mapping evidence to each step of the process.

Additionally, the tool can create an approximate crime execution path and suggest crime paths based on user-defined keywords. It facilitates the comparison of modus operandi used in different crimes and manages user roles while tracking activity for crime paths.

Precision and Rapid Conviction

What sets the TTPs-based investigation framework apart is its reliance on criminals’ tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs). Restricting the methods and forms of investigation to these TTPs, streamlines the process, ensuring a precise and rapid conviction of cyber criminals.

Ready for Deployment

Having completed its development phase, the cybercrime investigation framework and tool are now ready for deployment alongside law enforcement agencies. This groundbreaking technology promises to revolutionize the fight against cybercrime in India.

With its implementation, tracking and convicting cyber criminals will become significantly more efficient, ultimately reducing cybercrime activities across the nation.

As the nation grapples with an ever-evolving landscape of cyber threats, this development marks a pivotal moment in the battle against cybercrime, offering hope for a safer digital future for all citizens.