Cybersecurity is an International concern because new security challenges lie ahead. So, You will find an essential talk with Dr. Divya Tanwar (Professor/ Director, Sanskriti University) about Cybercrime/ Cybersecurity on this page.
Also, you will look at how less knowledge of the technical language and lack of international law contribute to the problem. Please find more information about Dr. Divya Tanwar at the end of this talk.
“The present pace of technological advancements is leading human civilization into unchartered space. We need to be alert, and sensitive and regulate this evolution. Cybersecurity is one aspect of the entire gamut of technology advancements taking place.”
1. We see how we are progressing in the digital industry, and in a way, we are becoming more digitally dependent. Whenever various sources request data, and we provide it, the most considerable risk is data theft. So as the digital world is becoming a data-based world, so is its theft and misuse as a wrong side. According to the Cisco Cybersecurity Threat Trends report, cybercriminals launched a wave of highly coordinated, advanced cyber-attacks last year. So, the question is, how will cyber security work for a population that is little savvy in technology and is using digital platforms?
Dr. Divya: Addressing investors in the United States, Prime Minister Narendra Modi aptly used the phrase “Data is the new oil or new gold” in the 21st Century digitized world. Today, globally the data is fuel for e-commerce, state welfare programs, electoral politics, fighting against diseases like covid, etc.
In fact, every aspect of human life is now decided by data. Data powers transformative technology like artificial intelligence, automation, automation, and advanced predictive analytics. Data has transformed key business activities like advertising, customer acquisition, and consumer feedback into a new digitized format.
“The new data-driven digitized world has changed the dimensions of crime as well. International or state boundaries for crime are almost meaningless. The fast-growing cyberspace is flooded with financial frauds, identity thefts, digital piracy, drug trafficking, objectification of women, and even terrorism.”
Dr. Divya Tanwar
Director, Sanskriti University/ Prof.(Adj) Somaiya Vidya Vihar University, Mumbai.
Chairperson, Divey Foundation, New
Delhi.
Board of Directors of Centre for
NAMO Studies, (CNMS) New Delhi.
Cyberspace provides anonymity, non-local character, and an enlarged base of the vulnerable population much desirable by criminals. It’s no wonder that criminals from Nigeria or any other distant country are often heard defrauding consumers from the US or other countries. Similarly, India’s famous instance Jamtara region, tells how almost illiterate criminals from a remote & backward geography have committed financial frauds across India in cyberspace.
Cybersecurity is definitely a challenge for societies like India or similar developing countries, with a large population adopting the internet for e-commerce, digital financial transactions, or social media, without adequate knowledge about the threat of Cyber-crimes. Fast-evolving cyberspace is a recipe for criminals with law enforcement continuously in catchup mode. Read Cybersecurity Report at https://www.cisco.com/c/m/en_au/products/security/offers/cybersecurity-reports.html
“Creating mass awareness about cybercrimes, a dynamic legal framework, and effective law enforcement is a must. Upgrading investing skills of police officials and their better coordination across geographies is important to deter criminals from victimizing innocent citizens.“
2. Do you think language limitation could be one of the main reasons for various Cyber-crimes? This question is related to a lack of understanding of technical language guidance, which the larger users do not understand.
Dr. Divya: Definitely, a large section of the population is adopting social media, digital financial transactions, online purchases, or using internet apps without having an understanding of cyberspace.
Innocent users lack a basic understanding of even very common terminology like WWW, TCP/IP, HTML, Webpage/Website, URL, Internet Protocol, etc. They have no understanding of how it works, the kinds of crimes taking place, what precautions they need to take or what are legal remedies available in case they fall victim.
The fast-changing technical language of cyberspace is very conducive to crimes and poses challenges for common users.
3. In constant updates and modifications, software introduces new issues and vulnerabilities, leaving it vulnerable to various cyber-attacks. How can cyber security strategies help in this situation?
Dr. Divya: Technology has always been progressive. Updates or modifications are part of its nature. We are talking about living on Mars or preserving humans after death, anticipating making them live again because we expect science and technology will make it possible at later times.
Cyberspace is one part of technological advancement and will move forward, much faster than we can imagine or control. Cyber-attacks will always remain equal or more challenging and we must be continuously fighting them.
We just need to protect the most vulnerable sections from Cyber-crimes by continuously creating awareness about their emerging types, modus operandi, and precautions needed.
The users of cyberspace have to catch up for their own safety. We need to continuously update our legal framework and law enforcement. Read a true story at https://journals-times.com/2022/09/15/what-the-bank-did-to-save-her-from-a-job-scammer/
4. How do you see the future of Cybersecurity in a technology-driven environment?
Dr. Divya: Cybersecurity will continuously evolve with advancements in technology. Cyberspace has integrated the world with political boundaries less restricting crimes. More coordinated international efforts would be needed in fighting the threat of cybersecurity. Uncontrolled growth of technology has the potential to turn out like a Frankenstein Monster, with irreparable harm to society or mankind, its own creator.
The present pace of technological advancements is leading human civilization into unchartered space. We need to be alert, and sensitive and regulate this evolution. Cybersecurity is one aspect of the entire gamut of technology advancements taking place.
5. Could user education help combat malicious activities?
Dr. Divya: Definitely, user education and awareness are the most important preventive strategy to protect the masses and innocent victims from the menace of cybercrimes. For more serious cybercrimes, governments, corporates, institutions, etc., are better equipped with the knowledge, resources, or tools to meet the challenges.
When the masses are adversely affected, it questions the entire legitimacy of technology. Our priority should be to protect the masses against cybercrimes because the internet has immense benefits for mankind in every aspect of life.
6. What are the significant challenges in the cybersecurity field?
Dr. Divya: The most significant challenge in the field of cybersecurity is international coordination and rightful regulation to ensure that humanity is benefitted at large. Present-day corporations, responsible for technological advancement are at times blinded by greed for profits and an edge in competition.
Lack of international coordination helps them use geographies favorable to their designs. Understanding needs to fast evolve globally that cybersecurity is an international concern and threatens mankind, if not checked.
7. AI-based security products are growing due to the rise in cyberattacks, and there are also hackers who take advantage of them. How does the intelligence field face challenges?
Dr. Divya: The vulnerabilities of cyberspace are immense. Shifting of entire businesses, physical and social infrastructure, technology developments, environmental resources, health, education, or human data over the internet, poses an equal magnitude of challenges and threats.
Large organizations and governments are increasingly exploring AI-based security products to contain the threat of Cyber-crimes because it is not simply feasible to meet this challenge through human interventions.
Artificial intelligence is about self-learning programs, which anticipate threats and develop needed responses. Artificial intelligence faces challenges of data adequacy and interpretation.
8. Do you think the biometrics sector has huge potential to prevent Cyber-crimes through devices?
Dr. Divya: Biometrics like fingerprints, facial recognition, and retina scans are very effective tools against identity thefts, most often used in Cyber-crimes. Biometrics are way more secure than passwords against theft, guessing, or breaking with the use of algorithms. Biometrics provide much better security in financial digital transactions, particularly for an innocent and less educated section of users.
For comprehensive security, a combination of biometrics with passwords is advisable for less educated users.
9. In today’s modern age, cloud computing has revolutionized the way data is stored. Users-sensitive information is now stored in the Cloud by businesses of all sizes. Unfortunately, aside from reducing costs and increasing efficiency, it has also provided opportunities for data breaches. What kind of challenges are faced by the Cloud to keep data safe?
Dr. Divya: Cloud computing is a revolutionary advancement and at the same time the biggest threat to cybersecurity today. Huge and precious private data is stored in a web of servers across the world. One weak link in the entire chain endangers the safety of complete data. Responsibility for safety gets blurred.
Individual privacy is endangered. The threat is aggravated because law enforcement agencies have no mechanisms or jurisdictions over data theft and fixing responsibility. Now countries are increasingly demanding corporations store their data on local servers to fix responsibility for theft or misuse.
“Cloud computing is the best recipe for Cyber-crimes and hackers. There is an urgent need for coordinated international action in this regard otherwise the entire cyberspace technological progress can be hampered.“
10. In the field of cyber security, are there any differences between developed and developing nations in terms of crime and vulnerabilities?
Dr. Divya: Developed and developing nations differ significantly in terms of awareness, law enforcement capabilities, and vulnerabilities. Developing nations lack the safety mechanisms, tools, and resources to control cybercrimes.
They don’t have the technological infrastructure to store and secure their data locally and their data is often placed on servers in other countries. In the case of Cyber-crimes, it is very difficult for law enforcement to get forensic evidence, hence cybercrimes proliferate without being detected. Cybercrimes are complicated for smaller developing nations.
11. If you were to compare the cyber security-based sector in India with the fear of cyber-attacks, how would you describe it?
Dr. Divya: India has the advantage of a significantly advanced IT sector. Our corporations are IT solutions providers to the most advanced countries in the world. Technocrats of Indian origin are leading the world’s biggest corporations like Google and Microsoft.
India’s problem is not in terms of capability to handle cybercrimes. India’s challenge is its huge population, which lives in rural areas and is less educated. We have developed excellent telecom infrastructure and almost the entire population is using the internet. Our challenge is to protect innocent citizens against cybercrimes.
12. What message would you like to give us to prevent Cyber-crimes?
Dr. Divya: My message to prevent cyber-crimes is that “Cyberspace symbolizes one of the best creations of human mind and efforts. It has huge potential and benefits for the entire mankind, today and in times to come.
Appropriate international coordination is important to keep its progress in the right direction for the benefit of humanity. We need to protect innocent sections of society from falling victim to cybercrimes. The key to prevention of cyber-crimes lies in creating awareness amongst our most vulnerable sections of society and making them feel safe.”
Under cybersecurity, efforts are made to prevent the theft of sensitive personal and organizational information and data. It works against Cyber-theft. You should consider your data a valuable asset in the digital world, and cyber attackers are interested in stealing or destroying it. Read more about Cybersecurity at https://www.gartner.com/en/topics/cybersecurity#:~:text=Cybersecurity%20is%20the%20practice%20of,sensitive%20information%20from%20digital%20attacks.
