Cyber Crime
Frontline Fighters Against Cybercrime Unite: Highlights from FutureCrime Summit 2024
NEW DELHI: India’s brightest minds in cybersecurity, digital forensics, and financial crime prevention united at the FutureCrime Summit 2024, held February 8-9 in New Delhi. This landmark event, co-organized by The Future Crime Research Foundation (FCRF) and IIT Kanpur’s AIIDE Centre of Excellence (CoE), served as a “Maha-Kumbh” for experts to collaborate and address the evolving challenges posed by cybercrime.
Setting the Stage: Eminent Speakers Address Key Issues
Chief Guest S. Sundari Nanda, IPS, Special Secretary (Internal Security) at the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, emphasized the need for heightened vigilance against evolving threats during her inaugural address. The summit featured a distinguished lineup of speakers, including Lt. Gen. Vinod G Khandare, Lt. Gen. MU Nair, Santosh Mehra, Dr. Nikhil Agarwal, AVM (Dr.) Devesh Vatsa VSM (Retd.) Advisor, DSCI, Dr. Vikram Singh, Sanjay Kundu, Rakesh Asthana, and Ashok Kumar. Topics ranged from Building Cyber Defenses for India’s Critical Sectors to Predictive Policing and the challenges posed by evolving technologies like Artificial Intelligence.
On Day 2 of the FutureCrime Summit 2024, attendees were treated to a lineup of insightful sessions focusing on the evolving landscape of cyber threats and the strategies needed to combat them effectively. Lt. Gen. (Dr.) Rajesh Pant, Chairman of the Cyber Security Association of India, delivered a compelling presentation on “Next-Gen Cyber Attacks: What to Expect and How to Prepare,” providing valuable insights into the future challenges of cybersecurity. B. Shanker Jaiswal, Joint Commissioner of Police for Technology, Cyber, and Licensing at Delhi Police, shed light on “Emerging Threats: A Glimpse into the Future of Cyber Crime,” offering a glimpse into the potential risks on the horizon. Dr. Sanjay Bahl, Director-General of CERT-In, shared his expertise on emerging threats, highlighting the importance of staying vigilant in the face of evolving cyber dangers.
Mahaveer Singhvi, Joint Secretary of the NEST Division and an Indian Foreign Service officer, delved into the topic of “AI in Cybercrime: The Double-Edged Sword,” exploring the complex interplay between artificial intelligence and cybercriminal activities. These sessions provided attendees with valuable insights and actionable strategies to navigate the ever-changing landscape of cybersecurity.
Acknowledging Excellence
A highlight of the summit was the presentation of the Future Crime Awards, recognizing outstanding achievements across various domains related to cybercrime, forensics, investigations, policing, and awareness. The awards were presented by Arun Kumar, a distinguished IPS officer known for his pioneering use of technology in policing and investigation.
The FutureCrime Summit 2024 recognized exemplary contributions and achievements in various facets of cybersecurity and digital crime prevention. Among the distinguished awardees were:
- Excellence in Cyber Initiative – Odisha Police
- Excellence in Cyber Law Enforcement – Special Task Force (STF), UP Police
- Excellence in Cyber Policing – Ankush Mishra, DSP, Uttarakhand Police
- Excellence in Cyber Initiative – Dept. of IT & Electronics, Gov. of WB
- Excellence in Cyber Strategy – Dr. J.M. Vyas, VC, National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU)
- Excellence in Artificial Intelligence Research – AIIDE Centre of Excellence, Noida
- Excellence in Cyber Strategy – Dr. Gulshan Rai, Former NCSC
- Excellence in Cyber Law Practice – Dr. Karnika Seth, Advocate, Supreme Court of India
Collaborative Support
The success of the summit was made possible by the support of esteemed partners including the Centre for Marketing in Emerging Economies (CMEE) at IIM Lucknow, Dr. Ram Manohar Lohiya National Law University, and the National Forensic Sciences University. Their collaborative efforts underscored the collective commitment to shaping a safer digital future.
Industry Sponsorship
The summit was supported as sponsors by leading organizations such as ProDiscover Forensics, Exterro, Trinexia, ReSecurity, eSecForte, Innefu Labs, Forensics Care, MSAB, TechDefence, mFilterIT, Nangia Andersen India, and Armantech. Their support played a pivotal role in facilitating meaningful discussions and knowledge exchange throughout the event.
A Convergence of Expertise
More than just a conference, the FutureCrime Summit 2024 served as a convergence of expertise from diverse sectors including cybersecurity, digital forensics, legal, and BFSI. Attendees had the opportunity to engage with top speakers and thought leaders, gaining valuable insights into emerging trends and technologies shaping the future of crime prevention.
Addressing Contemporary Challenges
The summit delved into pressing issues such as Web 3.0 law enforcement, predictive policing, crypto crimes, and blockchain forensics, reflecting a commitment to tackling the most sophisticated challenges of the digital age. Discussions also encompassed topics like AI-powered attacks, NFT challenges, security vulnerabilities in the metaverse, cloud forensics, dark web investigations, deepfake crimes, and drone forensics, offering attendees insights into cutting-edge advancements and criminal methodologies.
As cyber threats continue to evolve, the FutureCrime Summit 2024 stands as a beacon of collaboration, innovation, and determination in the ongoing fight against digital crime. With stakeholders committed to staying ahead of the curve, the summit heralds a promising future in safeguarding digital spaces worldwide.