Awareness programme on cyber crime held

FROM A REPORTER

SHILLONG, Aug 10: A Lecture on Cyber Threats in Digital World was on Wednesday organised by the Information and Communication Department at the U Soso Tham Auditorium, in Shillong. The function was attended by a number of school students who were acquainted on how to use the internet safely. Speaking at the function, Rakshit Tandon, Cyber Security Expert and Consultant – Internet and Mobile Association of India requested teachers of schools present at the function to start a WhatsApp page to connect with own students. According to him, Cyber hygiene and netiquettes is necessary as citizens need to be safe online. Highlighted on the major cyber crimes reported which included-cyber defamation, vanishing, stalking, Email-hacking, etc, he said, “We need to be careful on what we post online and not to share our persol experiences. Educated people also fall into traps laid by miscreants and the reason is the lack of cyber hygiene and netiquettes,” he said. He informed that India ranks 3rd in cyber bullying, while stating that here are laws which need to be observed

Referring to India’s law in dealing with cybercrime and electronic commerce, he pointed out the pelty involved in flouting these laws which can range from imprisonment, fines or in extreme cases of cyber crime it can involve life imprisonment.

Informing the children the basics to keep themselves safe while using the internet, he said, “Children are asked to report to the Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT) if they are victims of cyber crime.”

Expressing dismay at some school students using popular social media Facebook and WhatsApp, he said for Facebook children should not be below the age of 13+ and for WhatsApp children should be 16+. “It is time that children should divert attention to other activities especially outdoor activities. We should Stop, Think and post as nothing gets deleted in the internet,” Tandon said.