SHILLONG, Oct 31: Experts on Wednesday came together for a panel discussion on cybersecurity, which was conducted by Akashvani Shillong at Jazz Studio here.
During the panel discussion, which was held on ‘Cyber Security: How to educate people about Cyber Frauds’, the speakers called for caution and awareness amid rising cybercrimes.
Speaking at the programme, Superintendent of Police (Cyber), Pankaj Kumar Rasgania, shared that several initiatives are already in place to combat cybercrime, in response to the growing digital landscape.
Urging people to be cautious and advising them not to share personal information on social media, he said, “Technology has made life easier, but it has also made us vulnerable to cybercrimes. We’re seeing new trends, like criminals using tools such as digital arrest to extort money.”
He informed that the public can call 1930 for online fraud assistance and appealed to the people of Meghalaya to report incidents to cybercrime.gov.in.
Rasgania also pointed out that artificial intelligence (AI) poses both challenges and solutions in combating cybercrime.
While AI can be misused for crimes like deep fakes, it also aids in detecting fraudulent transactions and educating the public through AI-based tools.
On the other hand, National Informatics Centre (NIC) Additional State Informatics Officer, Benos Lyngskor, warned of global cyber threats and emphasised that children are especially vulnerable.
He encouraged parents to monitor their children’s internet use and advised that using the internet only as needed can help prevent cybercrime traps.
He also cautioned against ransomware, a type of malware that blocks access to personal data until a ransom is paid.
Meanwhile, State Bank of India AGM (Digital), Choppy Roy, reassured the public of SBI’s robust security for digital transactions, implementing multi-layered security to safeguard depositor funds.
Roy explained that SBI uses end-to-end encryption to protect customer data during digital transactions.
Similarly, Advocate Anis Kharsohum raised concerns about inadequate legal measures against cybercrime, noting that some existing laws are outdated and ineffective in addressing crimes like cyberbullying, sexual exploitation and cyber-enabled human trafficking.
He also observed that social stigma deters people from reporting cybercrimes, though courts are increasingly considering digital evidence.
The panel discussion, moderated by Mrinal Paul from North Eastern Service, Akashvani Shillong, was attended by officers of Akashvani Shillong and students from St. Anthony’s College and St. Mary’s College.
