CRAWLING OUT OF THE WOODWORK
Even as the Coronavirus pandemic has brought the world to a standstill, there has been a multiple-fold increase in cybercrimes and now India’s cybersecurity nodal agency, CERT has warned people to remain in alert against phishing attacks that could be used to steal personal and financial information under the disguise of official communication on coronavirus and dispensing Government-funded COVID-19 assistance initiatives. The nationwide lockdown (though we are in unlocking now) has turned out to be a golden period for online fraudsters. Due to the lockdown, everyone is at homes and accessing the internet like never before. On top of that, internet surfing during this lockdown period remained unsupervised. This shift has increased remote activities, thus creating perfect conditions for fraud schemes.
Often when we listen to funds and free coupons, we always tend to offer the data which we shouldn’t. People that sharing personal information online or visiting pages through suspicious
links could end in funds being siphoned off from their bank accounts. Fraudsters make websites with domain names that
look similar to payment gateways. People should exercise maximum caution while handling suspicious emails or links. We should always refrain from clicking on links or opening e-mail attachments from unreliable sources or sharing any sensitive information asked to be provided. Another primary issue that has emerged is fake news or rumours that are spreading rapidly across the country. Rumours and their side effects have resulted in untold destruction. It is essential to be cautious and responsible while sharing the data and handling information. Fighting cybercrime is a task for all of us. Consider it as a devoir to do your part in the battle against it. Following a couple of simple sensical steps will keep you and those around you from becomings victims. It also means reporting cybercrimes to relevant officials at the appropriate time as and when you encounter such misdemeanours. At a time when the world is already suffering, we must be wary of opportunistic vultures who seek to capitalise on our miseries. ..... RAVI TEJA KATHURIPALLI, TELANGANA via email