Delhi Police have seized CDs of spy software that records your every move without your knowledge
Delhi Police have seized CDs of spy software that records your every move without your knowledge
Twenty-six year old Mumbai-based Niketa Singh (name changed to protect privacy), was in for a shock when she walked into her office one day. 
A male colleague informed her that some of his acquaintances had told him about some videos that showed Niketa changing her clothes and indulging in other personal activities in her own house, at different times of the day. Shaken at this invasion into her privacy, she lodged a complaint with police.
Investigations brought in more shocking news. Technical experts told her that her day-to-day activities were being recorded by the web cam attached to her computer, even after she had shut down her home PC, courtesy a new spy software. Further investigation revealed that it was Niketa's own boyfriend who had planted the software in her house, and later sold the videos in the market for a handsome sum.
Traders dealing in such computer products in the Capital say 'auto-porn' recordings such as these have become commonplace in the porn CD market. Interestingly, the software is selling like hot cakes in Delhi. "Is software ko toh 5-6 mahine se zyaada ho gaya hai ab (It's been over 5-6 months since this software has been in the market)," said Sanjay, a tech store attendant at Palika Bazaar, when MiD DAY posed as a potential buyer. "Ab toh bina computer waala bhi aata hai (now, there are bugs that transmit the recordings over the Net even without the help of a computer)," he added.
Karan Nath, who operates from au00a0 pigeonhole shop in Nehru Place said, "Hum vaise toh nahi bechte, lekin special request par aa jayega, sirf do ghanton mein. Paisa toh lagega (we don't sell the stuff usually, but I can arrange it for you on special request in just two hours. But, it'll come at a price)." When we inquired about the cost, it was quoted as Rs 500 but on persistence he agreed to give it for Rs 200.
Delhi police says that though they have seized a large number of CDs with such softwares during recent raids, but there is little they can be done to curb the proliferation of such softwares whose origins are unknown and modes of propagation, many.
"Yes, in the last few months, our raids have revealed that many of the pornographic videos were shot with the aid of such softwares without the knowledge of the victims and we have seized huge number of CDs too. We are trying our best to make internet users more cautious, and investigating the matter," said a senior police official.
Cyber expert Vivek Vohra said, "There are different softwares in the market which automatically make your computer's webcam active even if it is switched off. All you need is to install it in the computer. It can either be done through CD or even by sending spam mails."
ADVERTISEMENT
| Fined for piracy |
| In November 2009, the Delhi High Court fined a company Rs 10 lakh for using pirated software for commercial purposes. The compensation was awarded to the plaintiffs, Adobe and Microsoft. This was the first ever judgment by the Delhi HC on damages against a corporate end-user company. As per an IDC-BSA Global Software Piracy Study in 2008, software piracy rate in India stood at a high 68 percent and the revenue loss due to software piracy in India in 2008 was estimated at USD 2.7 billion. The piracy rate in India has decreased at a slow place- by six percentage points over a period of five years. According to an economic impact study of software piracy conducted and published by IDC in 2008, reducing software piracy in India by 10 percentage points over a four-year period could generate an additional 43,000 new jobs, USD 3.1 billion in economic growth, and USD 200 million in tax revenues for the government. |
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
