Rising cyber hacks expose critical gaps in digital security

Kurnool: Rapid technological advancements and the integration of smartphones with banking services have exposed critical digital security gaps, as cybercriminals increasingly target unsuspecting citizens.

Recent phone hacking incidents involving a police department employee in Nandyal and an auto driver in Kurnool have raised severe concerns regarding the effectiveness of existing preventive measures.

In Kurnool, auto driver Vinod Kumar fell victim to a cyberattack after opening a malicious WhatsApp APK file falsely claiming to provide RTO traffic challan details. Speaking to The Hans India, Advocates M Shyam Prasad and Meena Andela noted that both educated and uneducated citizens are suffering financial losses while facing complex processes to lodge police complaints.

The advocates emphasized that routine warnings against clicking suspicious links are insufficient to curb the growing menace. They urged law enforcement agencies to conduct specialised cybercrime investigations, track fraudulent accounts, and ensure better coordination with banks and telecom service providers to recover stolen funds.

Furthermore, they expressed concern over commercial establishments routinely collecting customers’ phone numbers without clear consent, warning that data misuse exposes consumers to heightened cyber risks.

Calling upon State and Central governments to bolster cybersecurity enforcement, the legal experts stressed that the responsibility for curbing digital crime cannot rest solely on citizens.

They urged police to move beyond issuing public advisories and adopt proactive surveillance, swift investigation of complaints, and stringent prosecution of cyber offenders to ensure technological progress does not facilitate the exploitation of innocent people.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Narendra Kr Varikuntla

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