*C.Ani Chandra and ** Dr. Revathy Thomas
Abstract
The rapid development in Computer and Internet technology has brought forth tremendous influence in modern societies. Each country endeavours to give more importance to science advancement for getting the first place in the world. Scientific invention is very prominent to improve the living standards of people. Technologies have not only changed everyday life but also affected the nature of crime by providing new opportunities for conventional crimes and creating new crimes of cyber crime.
*Ph.D.Scholar, M.S.University,Tirunelveli.
**Associate Professor, Women’s Christian College, Nagercoil.
Introduction
Computer is essential for all working areas. Now-a-days without computer one cannot do anything. Almost everybody is making extensive use of computers. The giant companies and even small companies firms also invest millions of rupees in sophisticated information systems. These institutions which are computerised have many department institutions which are trying to achieve the goal “fully computerised” when all computers are interconnected it is called network. Anybody can contact or get anywhere within a fraction of seconds by Internet connection. Internet is used in many ways such as banking, dating shopping into activities in which individuals interact with others but neither leave the house nor physically meet people. And also one can do their work easily by Internet as well as get any information. Especially with the development in the computer technologies and increase in Internet usage a new crime phenomenon has emerged cyber crime . Any person who commits an unlawful act with a guilty intention or commits a crime is called cyber crime. Cyber Criminals might be a friend, a stranger, a lover, an ex-lover, an ex-husband, co-worker, a colleaque, a neighbour, a relation, or a commercial advisor. They take revenge for love-failure, divorce, motives and jealousy and business competition. When cyber crime are committed to an individual it causes a lot of problems for them victims suffer from psychological, financial and physical impact.
Cyber Stalking
Cyber stalking is one of the most talked about net crimes in the modern world. Cyber stalking usually occurs with women who are stalked by men or children who are stalked by adult predators or paedophiles. Typically the cyber stalkers victim is new on the web and in experienced with the rules of correct or polite behaviour among people using the Internet. Their main target are the mostly female, children emotionally weak or unstable etc. It is believed that over 75% of the victims are female. The motives behind cyber stalking have been divided i to four reasons, namely for sexual harassment, for obsession of love, for revenge and hate and for ego and power trips. Cyber stalkers target and harass their victims are websites , chat rooms, discussion forums open publishing websites including e-mail, social networking sites such as face book, twitter and Google searches etc, and website space as well as the anonymity provided by these chat rooms and forums has contributed to the increase of cyber stalking as a form of harassment.
Cyber Bullying
Cyber Bullying could be limited to posting rumours or gossips about a person in the internet bringing about hatred in others minds or it may go to the extend of personality identifying victims and publishing materials severely defaming and humiliating them with the increase in use of these technologies. Cyber bullying has become increasingly common, especially among teenagers. National Crime Prevention Council has said when the internet,cellphones or other devices are used to send or post text or images intended to hurt or embarrass another person.
Cyber Pornography
Cyber Pornography is one of the worst crimes among all the cyber related crimes. Cyber Pornography is rising nowadays. It may include seeing and sending hard core pornography images, erotic photos, cartoon pornography video clips and sexual messages. The new technology is not merely an extension of the existing forms like text, photographs and images. Apart from still pictures and images full motion video clips and complete movies are also available. By this crime a photo is taken in a nude posture and spread in the net. The videos of the intercourse between a husband and a wife can be taken without their consent and uploaded in the net and send far and wide. Most of the people are suffering by this heinous crime. The worst sufferers are children married women and adolescent girls and sexual exploitation through the Internet paedophiles use the Internet to send photos of illegal child pornography to targeted children so as to attract children to such fun, later they are sexually exploited.
Cyber Defamation
Cyber Defamation is another common crime against women in the net. It may include the obscene messages and vulgar pictures sending the women and teenage girls.In this crime women are affected psychologically.
Morphing
Morphing is editing the original picture by unauthorised user or fake identity. It was identified that female’s pictures are downloaded by fake users and again re-posted or uploaded on different websites by creating fake profiles after editing it.
E-mail Spoofing
E-mail spoofing the mails seems to be originating from the owner, but they are not. The owner’s identity is simply stolen and the messages are sent under his name. So the owner has to take the responsibility and endure the suffering caused by the unknown. The more common method used by men is to e-mail vulgar photographs of themselves to women, praising their beauty and asking them for a date or inquiring how much they charge for services. Besides sending explicit messages via e-mail, sms and chat many also morphing photographs placing the victims face on an another usually nude body.
Conclusion
When cyber crimes are committed to the women, they will cause a lot of problem such as getting angry or annoyed, or getting irritated, feeling distressed or upset or feeling ashamed or getting shocked or getting confused. The most common psychological problems including fear, anxiety, nervousness, self-blame, anger, shame and sleeplessness. In cybercrime psychological impact effect a person women and children are affected badly. But the Indian Government has introduced the Information Technology Act 2000 protecting the women related the offences of cyber crime.
References
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4. R.C.Mishra, Cyber Crime Impact in the Millennium, Delhi, 2002.
5. Harish Goel, Cyber Crime, New Delhi, 2007.