Get One Step Closer to be A Smart Netizen

Cyberspace has become the nervous system of the globe. But due to lack of knowledge and understanding of entire cybersecurity landscape, most of us are vulnerable to cybercrimes. Let’s pay attention to some pointers that can help us curb the risks-

• In the era of digital literacy, when children are spending most of their time on gadgets, the propagation of child abuse material on messaging platforms like WhatsApp and Telegram has gained momentum. Many groups/sites that have been ‘flagged’ by cyber agencies for such objectionable material are still operational. Parents are advised to closely monitor children’s online activities and report any sort of crimes to local cyber cell including cyberstalking, cyberbullying etc., if noticed.
• Sharing seemingly harmless information on social media may involve severe privacy-related consequences. You actually leave a trail behind for the cyber criminals to exploit. So think before you share your personal information online, especially your current location that makes you easily traceable. 
• Posting your pictures on social media might be addictive, but is equally unsafe. Those picture can be easily morphed for cybercrimes like deepfake, personification etc. to defame someone. Avoid posting them, especially the close-up angles. 

Source:dreamstime.com 

• These days, some fake organizations/ individuals are soliciting contributions through fundraisers, claiming to extend financial help to Ex-Servicemen, dependent of Battle Casualties, Cancer patients etc. Even some cases of fake UPI handles claiming to be associated with PM CARES Fund have come into light during Corona period. Guard yourself against such claims and do not click on any such links to avoid potential cyber thefts as they might hack your linked bank account/e-wallet through which you paid. 
• During past months, several cases of hacking Facebook (or Twitter) accounts and reaching out to friends/followers asking for monetary help have been observed. Firstly, do not send money to someone unless you have confirmed it’s the same person seeking help. And if they send you any suspicious link imitating to be a trusted link from established websites, look for any random numbers/letters/symbols in the URL that hint a scam.  
• Refrain from downloading phone apps from unknown URLs that offer free health checkups, online KYC through fingerprint, face recognition or iris scan. Such apps might steal and clone your biometric information for wrong deeds. Remember, despite all the advancements, biometric data is still largely unprotected in most apps.

Having said that, I intend to highlight that each of us is an attractive target for cyber criminals. Cyber agencies are certainly acting as great help, but all of us need to prioritize preventive measures to address the loss of our sensitive information. So, be a Smart Netizen and follow cyber ethics to stay safe online.

This post is a part of Blogchatter Half Marathon.