Your email IDs, passwords on sale online

From The Economic Times

17 SEP, 2010, 06.15AM IST,ET BUREAU 

There’s a full-fledged underground marketplace on the Web for all things considered most secure: your email IDs and banking and passwords, online banking passwords, mobile numbers and related authentication details. And what’s more the ‘merchandise’ can be custom-ordered too. ET gives the ‘product’-wise rate list: credit card CVVs; dates of birth and fraudulent phone call service; flooding software, and a full trojan making set. 
The underground e-Commerce crackers’ marketplace 

CVV2 Data Sets 

$1.50 - $3.00 

The CVV2 data set consists of a credit card’s 16-digit PAN, CVV2 code, expiration date, billing address and embossed name. 


SSN (Social Security Number) 
DOB (Date of Birth) 

$1.50 - $3.00 per query 
SSN: $1.00 -$3.00 
DOB: $1.00 -$3.00 

These personal details are very often used by banks to authenticate an individual’s identity. 

Online Banking Logins 

$50 - $1,000 per account, depending on the account balance 

After obtaining these credentials, fraudsters would normally attempt to cash the account out by completing wire transfers to accounts. 

‘Fulls’ Data Sets 

$5.00 - $20.00 per set 

‘Fulls’ information includes the full details, username and password), mailing address, card number, CVV2 code, card’s expiration date, MMN, DOB, SSN. 

Fraudulent Phone Calls 

$10.00 - $15.00 per call (Prices vary according to the destination of the call) 

Completed by Fraudster Call Centers, fraudulent phone services are offered to cybercriminals as a means to overcome language barriers for those who need to impersonate the account holder. 

SMS or Phone-Flooding Services (aka Telephony DoS/ TDoS) 

$25.00 - $40.00 per 24 hours of phone-flooding 

Phone-flooding is usually performed in order to render a consumer’s mobile phone unavailable for incoming authentication calls or SMS text messages sent from the bank. 

DDoS Attack Service 

$50.00 per 24 hours of website-flooding. 

A ‘Distributed Denial of Service’ attack is an attempt to make a computer resource unavailable to its intended users by overloading, or “flooding” its bandwidth with an overwhelming volume of web traffic. 

CC Checking/ Verification 

$0.40 per check 
Prices may vary widely. 
$20.00 for 50 checks 

CC (credit card) checkers are used by cybercriminals to verify the validity of the compromised payment cards. 

Bulletproof Hosting 

$87-$179 per month 

Bulletproof hosting is a hired service used by cybercriminals to host malicious content on web. Bulletproof sites are much harder for law enforcement to take down. 

Track 2 Data (aka “Dumps”) 

Classic/ Standard cards: $15 - $20 
Gold/ Platinum cards: $20 - $80 
Worldwide/ Business/ Corporate/ Signature: $30 - $40 

‘Track-2’ information is found on a payment card’s magnetic stripe. By purchasing ‘dumps’, fraudsters can produce counterfeit payment cards that can be used in stores. 

Zeus Trojan Kit 

Backconnect $1,500 
Firefox form grabber $2,000 
Jabber (IM) chat plug-in $500 

It is one of the most pervasive banking Trojans with an infection rate of thousands of computers per day. Zeus Kit: $3K - $4K 

SpyEye Trojan Kit 

Basic kit- $1,000 
Firefox Injection tool $1,000-$2,000 

One of the most advanced Trojans. It has its own IE and Firefox HTML injections, pre-defined bank triggers and a growing list of unique features. SpyEye has been 2010’s biggest Trojan innovation. 


Source: RSA'S fraud action intelligence team; Online Fraud Report 2010

Smuggling, trafficking key issues on India-Bangladesh border

From The Economic Times

DINAJPUR: Smuggling and human trafficking are the "key issues that sometimes create problem in the border areas of Bangladesh and India", the country's border guard chief has said. 

"Borders of the two countries generally remain calm, but smugglers of drugs and other goods and human traffickers, who are always active across the borders, often create problem," Director General of Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) Major General Rakibul Islam Wednesday said. 

The top official recently held an informal meeting with India's Border Security Force (BSF) officials. 

Thanking the BDR and the BSF for their efforts to maintain peace on the India-Bangladesh border, Islam said: "We wear different uniforms, but we are human beings and it is our duty to save our motherland from any culprits." 

He urged civilians of the two countries to help border guards to check smuggling, The Daily Star reported Thursday. 

He expressed hope that his forthcoming visit to India "will help to strengthen brotherhood between the two countries". 

"Last month high officials of BDR and BSF held a meeting in Kolkata on the border situation. Another meeting will be held Sep 22 and it will focus on maintaining peace at the border," he said. 

Bangladesh and India share a 4,300-km riverine border that has witnessed clashes between border guards and smugglers.

Appeal to the Nation

          Press Information Bureau 

Government of India
Prime Minister's Office 

16-September-2010 18:41 IST

Appeal to the Nation

          Union Cabinet passed a resolution in its meeting today on the High Court judgement on the Ram-Janam Bhumi-Baabri Masjid title suit expected on 24.9.2010. Following is the text of the appeal:

          “The High Court judgement on the Ram-Janam Bhumi-Baabri Masjid title suit is expected on 24.9.2010. The Judgment will be the outcome of a long judicial process.

          It goes without saying that the judgement needs to be treated with the utmost respect. At the same time, we must remember the fact that the judgement, at this stage, is one step in the judicial process. The determination of the issues need not necessarily end with this judgment unless it is accepted by all parties. In case any of the parties feels that further judicial consideration is required, there are legal remedies available which could be resorted to.

          Keeping this in mind, it is necessary for all sections of the people of India to maintain equanimity and tranquility in the aftermath of the judgment. There should be no attempt whatsoever made by any section of the people to provoke any other section or to indulge in any expression of emotion that would hurt the feelings of other people.

          The Cabinet appeals to all the people of India to ensure that the delivery of the judgment is seen in its proper perspective as part of a judicial process. The Cabinet further appeals to all sections of society to maintain peace and order after the delivery of the judgment. It is important for all to ensure that the highest traditions of Indian culture and respect for all religions are fully maintained. India is firmly and resolutely on the path of inclusive growth. This is recognized all over the world. Nothing must be said or done and nothing must happen that may cause us to deviate from our goals and our objectives.

          The Union Cabinet passed the above resolution at its meeting on 16.09.2010.” 

***

AKT/SH/SKS

Govt raises DA by 10%: From 35% to 45%

From ZEENEWS
Updated on Thursday, September 16, 2010, 15:02


New Delhi: Ahead of the festive season, the central government today raised Dearness Allowance by 10 percentage points to 45 per cent of basic pay, benefiting about 88 lakh employees and pensioners.
     
The decision to provide higher DA to employees will cost the exchequer an additional Rs 9,303.2 crore per annum, an official spokesperson said after a meeting of the Union Cabinet, where it was decided to raise the allowance.
     
The new DA will be paid to central government employees and pensioners with effect from July 1, 2010, and the burden during the current fiscal has been estimated at Rs 6,202.1 crore.
     
"Increase in DA is in accordance with the formula based on the recommendations of the Sixth Pay Commission," the spokesperson added.
     
The existing rate of DA, which is paid as percentage of basic pay to compensate employees for the rising cost of living, is 35 per cent.
     
Inflation stood at 8.5 per cent in August, while food inflation is hovering above 15 per cent, according to the new WPI indices.
     
The increase in DA comes ahead of the Dussehra and Diwali festivals in October and November, respectively. The decision will benefit about 50 lakh central government employees and about 38 lakh pensioners. 

PTI 

16 Vaishnodevi pilgrims, 5 BSF jawans injured in JK mishap

From Indian ExpressPosted: Wed Sep 15 2010, 12:04 hrsJammu:

Sixteen Vaishno Devi pilgrims and five BSF jawans were injured in two separate road mishaps in Jammu and Ramban districts.

A vehicle carrying Vaishno Devi pilgrims skidded off the road and rolled down into a 100-feet deep gorge at Bahu fort area in the city early Thursday morning, they said.

In the mishap, 16 pilgrims, who were returning after paying obeisance at the shrine, were injured, they said. The injured included six women and three children.

In another mishap, a BSF vehicle rolled down into a gorge at Banihal area of Ramban district yesterday in which five BSF jawans were injured, they said, adding that they have been hospitalised.

Smuggling, human trafficking create border problems

From starnews Bangladesh

Says BDR DG after talks with BSF officials

Our Correspondent, Dinajpur

Director General of Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) Maj Gen Rakibul Islam yesterday said cross border smuggling and human trafficking are the key issues that sometimes create problem in the border areas of Bangladesh and India.

"Borders of the two countries generally remain calm, but smugglers of drugs and other goods and human traffickers, who are always active across the borders, often create problem" he said at a press briefing after an informal meeting with BSF officials at zero line of India-Bangladesh border at Hili of Hakimpur upazila in Dinajpur.

He urged the civilians of the two countries to help border guards to check smuggling.

Thanking BDR and BSF for their efforts to maintain peace in the border area of Bangladesh and India, he said, "We wear different uniforms, but we are human being and it is our duty to save our motherland from any culprits."

He expressed hope that his visit to India through the border of Hili land port will help to strengthen brotherhood between the two countries.

"Last month high officials of BDR and BSF held a meeting in Kolkata on different agenda regarding the border situation. Another meeting will be held on September 22 and it will focus on maintaining peace at the border," he said.

Earlier, Umesh Kumar Nayal, DIG of Maldah BSF of India, welcomed the BDR DG as he arrived at zero line in Hili Port area yesterday afternoon.

They also exchanged flowers and gifts.

Other officials including Col Saleh Ahmad of Dinajpur Sector and Lt Col Md Abdullah Al Mamun of Joypurhat 3 Battalion were present.

The BDR DG also visited the BSF camp of Hili in South Dinajpur of India and held a cordial meeting with the officials of BSF. Half an hour later he returned to Bangladesh.

BDR, BSF meet on Sep 22

From BD News, Bangladesh Dinajpur, Sep 15 (bdnews24.com)—Chiefs of the border forces of Bangladesh and India will be meet on Sep 22 to thrash out differences. Bangladesh Rifles director general Maj Gen Rafiqul Islam spoke of the meeting with journalists of the two countries at the Hili land port's zero point on Wednesday. He claimed that there are currently no conflicts about the border between Bangladesh and India. The BDR chief continued, "The little conflict that we have amongst us is over drug-trafficking and smuggling, which BDR and BSF [Border Security Force of India] cannot address. Everyone will have to come forward locally for this end." Following the tour of the BDR Check Post (CP) camp at the land port, Islam went to the BSF Hili camp for a courtesy visit with the officials there. He was greeted by the Hili BSF camps deputy inspector general Umesh Neyal at the zero point. The current year has seen major disputes between the two forces over the border, with a number of Bangladeshi citizens killed and many more injured from fire from the Indian border forces. Sylhet's Tamabil, Jaintapur and Goainghat border areas saw major chunks of the conflict with repeated trespassing by Indian citizens. A major shootout occurred on June 15 with Bangladesh and Indian border forces exchanging 2000 rounds of gunfire at Tamabil border at Jaintapur Upazila. The clash arose over Indian Khashia farmers entering Bangladesh. The BSF and BDR on Aug 3 sat in a meeting at Tamabil border's Indian side for resolving the border dispute at Jaintapur and Goainghat border areas. However, the two sides failed to reach any agreements on the solution to the problems. They discussed Khasia people's intrusion into Bangladesh at Jaintapur and Goainghat frintiers and abduction of Bangladeshi stone workers by the BSF. bdnews24.com/corr/ans/rn/2153h

Statement Issued at the end of the all Party Meet on Jammu and Kashmir

EPF rates increased

Government has increased EPF rates by 1% to 9.5%. Can we expect corresponding increase in GPF and CPF too? From 8% to 9%?

NPS returns make case for investing PF funds in equity

From The Economic Times
14 SEP, 2010, 04.17AM IST, VIKAS DHOOT,ET BUREAU

 

NEW DELHI: THE few thousand citizens who have opted for equities under the New Pension Scheme (NPS) have earned an impressive average return of 19.5% in its 13 months of existence, lending credence to the finance ministry’s pitch for routing some provident fund money to the stock market. 

Four of the six fund managers in charge of citizens’ pension savings have, in fact, delivered more than 20% returns. UTI delivered the best returns on the equity scheme at 24.6% by June 30 this year. The NPS equity scheme allows up to 50% exposure to stocks. 

The New Pension Scheme was kicked off for new civil servants in 2004 and opened to all citizens in May 2009. Citizens have a choice of six fund managers — each offering three schemes: E (equities), C (corporate bonds) and G (government securities). 

Average returns in the first 13 months from the corporate bonds scheme were 9.93%, while the zero-risk G option returned an average 6.75%. The equity market bellwether, BSE Sensex rose 45% in the same period — May 1, 2009 to June 30 this year. Just about 12,000 citizens have joined the NPS so far. 

The NPS trust, led by former Rajya Sabha secretary general Yogendra Narain, has also reviewed fund managers’ performance with regard to civil servants’ pensions. State government employees have earned an average return of 10.3% in their first full year under the NPS. Their corpus was transferred to the fund managers on June 25 last year. 

Central government servants, whose funds have been invested since April 2008, have earned an average of 12% on their corpus till June 30, 2010. Civil servants’ pension money is invested as per an investment pattern spelt out for non-government provident funds by the finance ministry in 2008, which allows up to 15% investment in equities. 

NPS has, so far, not seen too many takers. However, the scenario is likely to change once the direct taxes code (DTC) comes into effect. NPS has been included in the list of investments that are eligible for tax deduction under Section 80C. 

Though equity investments by provident funds were first allowed in 2005, dissent from the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) board has prevented the labour ministry from accepting the new investment norms. EPFO is the mandatory social security provider for 5 crore formal sector workers and regulates thousands of company-run PF trusts. 

Tired of the impasse over equity investments after years of listless debates in the EPFO board, finance secretary Ashok Chawla recently sent a strongly worded missive to the labour ministry asserting its right to regulate provident fund investments. Mr Chawla also invoked workers’ interest to say that a small beginning could be made towards stock market investments to earn better returns. 

EPFO has been paying 8.5% interest on workers’ retirement savings since 2005-06. Mr Chawla’s missive pointed out that new civil servants under the NPS earned 14.82% in 2008-09 by following the finance ministry’s investment diktat. Citizens’ earnings under the NPS may prove to be an even better argument for tapping India’s equity premium. 

The labour ministry could use its powers to circumvent the board in the interest of workers, the finance secretary had suggested. But the labour ministry has refused to yield and will discuss Mr Chawla’s missive with the EPFO board on September 15. The board’s finance committee is open to the idea of kickstarting stock market investments with top-rated public sector firms’ shares.

NEW DELHI: THE few thousand citizens who have opted for equities under the New Pension Scheme (NPS) have earned an impressive average return of 19.5% in its 13 months of existence, lending credence to the finance ministry’s pitch for routing some provident fund money to the stock market. 

Four of the six fund managers in charge of citizens’ pension savings have, in fact, delivered more than 20% returns. UTI delivered the best returns on the equity scheme at 24.6% by June 30 this year. The NPS equity scheme allows up to 50% exposure to stocks. 

The New Pension Scheme was kicked off for new civil servants in 2004 and opened to all citizens in May 2009. Citizens have a choice of six fund managers — each offering three schemes: E (equities), C (corporate bonds) and G (government securities). 

Average returns in the first 13 months from the corporate bonds scheme were 9.93%, while the zero-risk G option returned an average 6.75%. The equity market bellwether, BSE Sensex rose 45% in the same period — May 1, 2009 to June 30 this year. Just about 12,000 citizens have joined the NPS so far. 

The NPS trust, led by former Rajya Sabha secretary general Yogendra Narain, has also reviewed fund managers’ performance with regard to civil servants’ pensions. State government employees have earned an average return of 10.3% in their first full year under the NPS. Their corpus was transferred to the fund managers on June 25 last year. 

Central government servants, whose funds have been invested since April 2008, have earned an average of 12% on their corpus till June 30, 2010. Civil servants’ pension money is invested as per an investment pattern spelt out for non-government provident funds by the finance ministry in 2008, which allows up to 15% investment in equities. 

NPS has, so far, not seen too many takers. However, the scenario is likely to change once the direct taxes code (DTC) comes into effect. NPS has been included in the list of investments that are eligible for tax deduction under Section 80C. 

Though equity investments by provident funds were first allowed in 2005, dissent from the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) board has prevented the labour ministry from accepting the new investment norms. EPFO is the mandatory social security provider for 5 crore formal sector workers and regulates thousands of company-run PF trusts. 

Tired of the impasse over equity investments after years of listless debates in the EPFO board, finance secretary Ashok Chawla recently sent a strongly worded missive to the labour ministry asserting its right to regulate provident fund investments. Mr Chawla also invoked workers’ interest to say that a small beginning could be made towards stock market investments to earn better returns. 

EPFO has been paying 8.5% interest on workers’ retirement savings since 2005-06. Mr Chawla’s missive pointed out that new civil servants under the NPS earned 14.82% in 2008-09 by following the finance ministry’s investment diktat. Citizens’ earnings under the NPS may prove to be an even better argument for tapping India’s equity premium. 

The labour ministry could use its powers to circumvent the board in the interest of workers, the finance secretary had suggested. But the labour ministry has refused to yield and will discuss Mr Chawla’s missive with the EPFO board on September 15. The board’s finance committee is open to the idea of kickstarting stock market investments with top-rated public sector firms’ shares.

Avio to Upgrade Indian Helicopter's Integrated Dynamic System

From army-technology.com

 14 September 2010

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in India has selected Avio to improve the Dhruv advanced light helicopter's (ALH) integrated dynamic system (IDS), which transfers power from the Shakti engines to the helicopter rotors.

Under the contract, the Italian aerospace propulsion major will fix an engine snag that is limiting ALH's flying speed to 250km/h, which is short of the 270km/h that HAL had promised.

Avio will begin building a single HAL-designed IDS in its facilities in Italy after identifying the problem and it will then test-run the system for 400-500 hours.

In case the Avio-built IDS fails to meet the performance requirements during the test run, Avio will redesign the IDS, according to Business Standard.

The Indian Army and the IAF are planning to induct 31 new HAL-built Dhruv mk3 helicopters into service by 2010-end as part of a contract awarded to HAL last year for 159 Dhruv aircraft.

The final batch of aircraft is scheduled to be delivered by 2015.

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in India has selected Avio to improve the Dhruv advanced light helicopter's (ALH) integrated dynamic system (IDS), which transfers power from the Shakti engines to the helicopter rotors.

Under the contract, the Italian aerospace propulsion major will fix an engine snag that is limiting ALH's flying speed to 250km/h, which is short of the 270km/h that HAL had promised.

Avio will begin building a single HAL-designed IDS in its facilities in Italy after identifying the problem and it will then test-run the system for 400-500 hours.

In case the Avio-built IDS fails to meet the performance requirements during the test run, Avio will redesign the IDS, according to Business Standard.

The Indian Army and the IAF are planning to induct 31 new HAL-built Dhruv mk3 helicopters into service by 2010-end as part of a contract awarded to HAL last year for 159 Dhruv aircraft.

The final batch of aircraft is scheduled to be delivered by 2015.

Two smugglers arrested by BSF in Guwahati

From NDTV

Press Trust of India, Updated: September 14, 2010

Read more at: http://www.ndtv.com/article/cities/two-smugglers-arrested-in-guwahati-51971?cp


Guwahati:  The Border Security Force (BSF) have seized 112 cattleheads from smugglers while they were trying to enter Bangladesh since Monday night, official sources said.

Four cattleheads were seized from two Indian smugglers from Dhubri district on Monday, the sources said.

The duo, identified as Md Manwar Seikh and Sahabul Hussain, were nabbed at Sishumara border outpost. They were handed over to police.

BSF personnel have stepped up vigil and intensified operations on the international border to check illegal movement along the border, sources added.

Read more at: http://www.ndtv.com/article/cities/two-smugglers-arrested-in-guwahati-51971?cp