25 January,2011 07:35 AM IST | | Salil Urunkar
Cyber police to take action against end users of unsecured Wi-Fi connections as well as installation service providers for negligence
If you are found using an unsecured wi-fi connection, the police will arrest you. Even the Wi-Fi 'installation service providers' are being issued notices about ensuring highest levels of security while enabling Wi-Fi to their clients.
The legal action against end users and service providers will be taken under Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) section 144 (power to issue order in urgent cases of nuisance or apprehended danger) and Indian Penal Code section 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant).
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The person who fails to comply by these orders of the cyber police can be punished with an imprisonment for a term, which may extend from one to six months and/or with fine that may extend to one thousand rupees.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Cyber) Rajendra Dahale explained the need for his department to take such a serious action against ignorant users and service providers of wi-fi internet connections.
In the first step, action against the service providers will be taken and in the later stage if the end users are found to be negligent, they will also be prosecuted, he said.
"We have conducted awareness drives in different areas of Pune including housing societies, schools and colleges since the past three years. Still, last year 84 per cent of the connections were found unsecured.
If citizens are not sensitive enough, we will have to resort to legal options of taking penal action," DCP Dahale said.
"The service providers will be issued forms, which have to be duly filled by them while enabling connections to their clients. The forms should state that the user has been provided and informed about the need of highest levels of wi-fi connection security.
Having the customers signature on the form will be a must," Dahale added. Chetan Joglekar, general manager of Cyberage Systems, a provider of wi-fi installation services said, "It is high time that service providers as well as citizens realise their responsibility of securing their wi-fi connections. Generally the client is uninformed about the security settings.
As installation service providers, it is our duty to ensure maximum security. Open connections should not be installed in any situation," Joglekar added.
Despite efforts of creating awareness among citizens about ensuring better level of security while using
Wi-Fi internet connections, it has been observed that laxity on part of the citizens is high.
DCP Dahale said, "After the third Wardriving (the term used for surveying the unsecured wi-fi connections
in the city) conducted in December 2010, we have found that 84 percent of the connections were highly vulnerable to hacking. Earlier, only 75 percent connections in 2009 and 81 percent connections in 2008 were found to be unsecured."
According to the wardriving reports, several hotels and companies in the IT hub Hinjewadi were also found unsecured.
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