Intl co-operation in cyber security should be enhanced: Prasad

International co-operation in cyber security should be enhanced and greater efforts should be made for plugging security breaches, Communications and IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said today.
"The need of the hour is to enhance international cooperation in cyber security, make greater efforts for plugging security breaches and bust cyber crimes," Prasad said in his keynote address during the Asia-Pacific ICT Ministerial Meeting in Brunei.
According to a statement by the Communication and IT Ministry, Prasad said imbibing security aspects in the information and communications technology (ICT) is critical.
He said India is committed to defeat the design of those handful of people who are trying to abuse ICT.

He said ICT has been misused for spreading violence, perpetrating hatred and making the society insecure.
"Terrorists have misused the SIM cards, satellite phones, internet telephony for terror strikes. Cyber attacks in various countries are an example of misuse of ICT for bringing down the financial systems, crippling power distribution, severing communication links and threatening the sovereignty of a nation," he added.

Prasad also shared some of the initiatives taken by the government in the field of cyber security.
"India has made it mandatory to test all telecom network equipment before putting it into actual use. The CERT-IN laboratory of India is a state-of-art facility for monitoring the potential cyber attacks. India has also agreed to be a signatory of Common Criterion Scheme to tackle security loopholes," he said.

Prasad also shared the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi with the dignitaries. He elaborated that the Prime Minister's vision of Digital India is an attempt towards empowering more the billion plus Indian population by harnessing the benefits of ICT.
Prasad also met Yasuo Sakamoto, Vice Minister for Policy Coordination (Internal Affairs) of Japan on the sidelines of the event.
He also held structured bilateral discussions with the representatives of Brunei, Bangladesh, Korea and Bhutan on issues of bilateral cooperation on the sidelines.