Akshita Wadhwa
Do you feel unsafe in the world of cyber attacks and online frauds? And now when the new headache has come in the market known as ‘digital arrest’, have you thought about what steps you can take to save yourself from cyber crimes?
With the advanced technologies like machine learning and artificial intelligence, tension of cyber threats has been increasing over a period of time now. Digital arrest, a relatively new concept where a scammer video calls a person, and falsely accuses the victim of illegal doings or risk of losing his/her savings. The victim is generally innocent and unaware of the scam.
The Internet was invented to connect people worldwide without any hindrances. It serves as a catalyst for work opportunities and the global market as a source of business and income generation. It assists in learning, education and research purposes. Moreover, it helps in the health sector. It also strengthens international relations. But, as the coin has two sides, the Internet too has drawbacks. These are malware and virus attacks, cybercrimes including online financial frauds, hacking, phishing. Excessive internet usage can impact our health through disruptions in sleep, sedentary lifestyle and vision problems. It also leads to social isolation.
The crime rate in the digital world is increasing day-by-day. According to the Indian Cyber Coordination Centre (14C), over 7,40,000 cases of cyber crimes were reported in India within the first four months of 2024 itself. However, by adopting a few safety measures, you can protect yourself and your close ones from falling into cyber crimes. 14C says to avoid pop up SMS and spam emails. It suggests avoiding clicking unknown links as those embed malware and a trap from fraudsters. It advises to build a strong password including uppercase and lowercase alphabets, symbols and numbers. Keep changing your password time-to-time. Furthermore, it suggests to install the updates and back up the files of your device timely.
Few self efforts can be taken to make the online world safe for everyone, as it is accessed by all ages including kids to elderly. It can be traumatizing for them and can affect their mental health to a greater extent. Being kind and respectful on platforms of the internet should always be prioritised. Parents can play a crucial role in it by having an open and honest conversation with kids and educating them on cyber safety measures such as refraining from sharing personal and sensitive information publicly. Parents and guardians should keep regular checks and monitor the activity of their children online.
While new technology is getting invented simultaneously, so do tactics of cyber fraudsters. However, just by staying alert, avoiding clicking unknown URLs and not sharing sensitive information such as bank details, OTP, location, etc, can help you safeguard yourself and your loved ones. Take a step today to protect your digital presence. Stay vigilant, stay safe!
(The author is a student of Indian Institute of Mass Communication, Jammu)
