INTERNET LAW - NICTER: Japan’s New Program for a Safer and Secure Internet Environment

Network Incident Analysis Center for Tactical Emergency Response (NICTER) is Japan's project seeking a safer and secure internet environment.  NICTER's main goal is to prevent the ‘unauthorized use of server programs; service obstruction (DoS attacks), data destruction or tampering, unauthorized publication of internal information, and actions leading to such activities (such as scanning).'  Prevention of these malicious activities will be achieved by earlier detection of these incidents and quick countermeasure response. 

According to Japan's Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications -MIC-, NICTER will target malicious users and computers infected with viruses or worms and its technology implementation plan engrosses four phases. 

The Macro-Analysis Phase is the first phase in the NICTER project.  It involves real- time and automated detection and collection of incidents through algorithms.    The second phase is called Visualization Process and entails human analysis of possible incidents.  A human team will visually assess the information obtained in phase one.  Then in the Micro-Analysis Phase, a code analysis is performed on sample viruses and worms to determine the behavior pattern.  The information collected in this phase is stored and used to develop vaccines to resist future viruses.  The final stage is the Incident Handling System.  After incidents have been collected and their pattern studied, the information is compared to identify possible solution to ongoing patterns.  Once countermeasures are obtained, they are communicated to government agencies, public offices, internet services providers and general users. 

Following, there is a chart of the NICTER process made by Japan's Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications -MIC.

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