“India’s rapid digital growth, while beneficial, also exposes its citizens to various cyber threats. To effectively tackle these challenges, a multi-faceted approach is necessary. Secondly, common public too should not rely on others and update themselves technologically to protect from cyber frauds,” said Brijesh Singh, Principal Secretary and Director General of Department of Information and Publicity. While sharing his thoughts on cyber security with to ‘The Hitavada’, Brijesh Singh said, “For a common man to identify fraud, they should be vigilance about suspicious emails and messages. Be cautious of unsolicited emails or messages asking for personal or financial information. Vigilant about unusual transactions. Monitor account activity for unauthorised transactions or data modifications. Phishing attempts are made which should be recognised and clicking on suspicious links or downloading attachments from unknown sources should be avoided. Keep software and systems updated to protect against the latest security threats. Under digital communication safety, never share OTPs/passwords, even if caller claims to be bank official. Use AI-detection tools to verify suspicious images or videos or audio.”

 

 

 

Regular training sessions and awareness campaigns should be conducted to educate the public on recognising and reporting suspicious activities. Enhancing digital literacy among the general public can help in understanding and identifying potential cyber threats. Implementing strong security measures such as two-factor authentication, encryption, and regular software updates can significantly reduce the risk of cyber fraud. Leveraging advanced technologies like AI, machine learning, and blockchain can help in detecting and preventing cyber fraud. Double-check sender’s email address for subtle misspellings and verify requests through official channels, not given phone numbers, advised Brijesh Singh. Brijesh Singh pointed out, “Government has formed legal and regulatory frameworks ensuring that organisations comply with existing regulations such as the IT Act and RBI guidelines can help in protecting sensitive data and preventing cyber fraud. Conducting regular audits and updates to maintain a resilient system can help in identifying and rectifying potential weaknesses.”

 

Initiatives like the Bharat National Cybersecurity Exercise (Bharat NCX) 2024, which emphasises collaboration between government and private sectors, can equip critical sector organisations with skills to combat advanced cyber threats. Implementing national cybersecurity frameworks and training programs can help in structured cybersecurity governance and advanced research. Implementing additional security measures like device binding and periodic transaction tracking can prevent fraudulent transactions, remarked Brijesh Singh. Efforts are being made to educate police personnel on these legal provisions, including the IT Act, to improve their ability to investigate and prosecute cybercrimes, said Brijesh Singh.