Cyber Security - The Need of the Hour

It’s a virus attack, literally!

The word ‘Virus’ is used in a specific context in the world of computers, software, and the internet. It is an unwanted set of commands designed to unsettle the operating system of users’ devices. No one knows who makes the viruses and what exactly the makers want in return. But anyone and everyone using electronic devices are under constant threat of a virus attack. Of course, there are several proactive and corrective measures that can be taken to minimise the damage; but none of them can promise a complete protection or complete recovery.

All of this now sounds relatable like never before. Despite centuries of research and advancement in medical science, humankind is still under the threat of some unknown virus attack. The recent outbreak of Coronavirus (COVID-19) has challenged our belief that we can predict the future and plan our own lives. This unwanted virus has unsettled the routine operations of every nation across the world. Not a single sector is left unaffected, thanks to this global health crisis. To be specific, all businesses and markets were abruptly shut down after the Government(s) decided to restrict human contact by declaring a nation-wide LockDown!

Schools, colleges, offices, and all other establishments were closed. Travel within and outside the cities, villages, and states was restricted, rather stopped for perhaps the longest duration in history. Public transport facilities such as buses, trains, and air travel were discontinued with immediate effect. Colonies and areas were sealed to contain the spread of Coronavirus. The world, it seems, was not at all prepared for such a virus attack.

The Health Crisis and The Internet

The outbreak of Coronavirus brought with it several surprises. The effects of COVID-19 were as unpredictable as the virus itself. For example, who would have imagined that a virus could change the way we use the internet in our routine life? Until recently, e-mails were considered to be a 'corporate' mode of communication; social media was considered to be youth’s domain; and even corporates and young executives were not so comfortable with virtual meetings for official purposes.

The sudden outbreak of Coronavirus and subsequent lockdown situation in a way forced people to rely on the internet like never before. The family members stuck at different locations in the country or world resorted to video calls for staying in touch with each other. The printing and distribution of newspapers came to a halt and people started accessing news portals and social media websites for latest updates and news. Schools and colleges were closed and the teachers had to conduct online sessions for the students who might be attending from locations as good as hundreds of miles away from each other. The local grocery shop started accepting orders on Whatsapp and the restaurants switched from dine-in to home delivery service facilitated by third party online platforms.

Changing Landscape of Cyber Security and Cyber Crimes

In the pre-COVID era, the corporates were too conscious about handling and security of their data. However, the Government-imposed restrictions on physical movement left them with no other option than allowing their employees to work remotely. The concept of 'Work From Home' (WFH) has become the order of the day as we sail through these Corona times. The businesses and individuals across the globe have become more dependent on the internet due to this Work From Home style of working.

The pandemic and the lockdown forced more and more people to use the internet for both personal and official purposes. Several people from all age groups and all sections of the society were suddenly exposed to the Cyber World during this period. There was no time or provision or resources available to train them on the goods and the bads of this world. Not surprisingly, these naive users became easy targets for the cyber criminals already laying traps on the web. These cyber criminals found a new way of targeting large organizations through their employees accessing the otherwise secure systems while working from home.

On one hand, the world at large was busy dealing with the unforeseen challenges posed by the pandemic, while on the other hand, the cyber criminals took the opportunity to develop and boost their attacks at an alarming pace. The unstable social and economic situation created fear and uncertainty among people, which were further exploited by the cyber criminals. Along with the working habits of people and businesses, the modus operandi of cyber-crime has also changed during this lockdown period. The increasing dependency of people upon the internet and online transactions is also creating new opportunities for the cyber criminals. With many businesses and individuals not ensuring their cyber defences, the Work From Home model is now becoming an opportunity for the cyber criminals to exploit people through e-mail scams, hacking passwords, phishing, ransom attacks, online sexual harassment, etc.

Cyber Crimes to Cyber Warfare - Everybody Is At Risk!

When we think about Cyber Security, the first thing that comes to our mind is Cyber Crimes. This is a global problem and its threat is growing immensely, especially during this pandemic and lockdown period. Before talking about Cyber Security, let's try to understand the what's and how's of Cyber Crime.

Although it is difficult to guess the number of ways cyber-crimes are committed, we can discuss a few common patterns here to start with. For example, some of the cyber criminals take advantage of unattended bugs to break into systems. When they use a new unknown bug, it is called a zero-day attack. In other cases, they break in using known bugs that the developers or users have not bothered to 'patch' or fix. Another example many of us might know (or might have even experienced) is that of cyber attackers simply tricking people into handing over login credentials or One Time Passwords (OTPs). In many cases, the cyber attackers break into the system by installing harmful software, known as malware, in the user's device.

Cyber criminals usually target individuals or companies, with an intention of stealing money or company secrets. But in a few cases, a cyber-attack might be targeted at a larger group - say, an entire country. In such cases, certain information and privacy are not the only things at risk. Some cyber-attacks are aimed at creating chaos and causing unrest among the public, leading to destruction and damage at a large scale. If some country directs such an attack at another country, it is considered to be an act of Cyber Warfare. This includes hacking the Government websites with an intention to malign the country's image on global level. Cyber warfare also aims at stealing confidential information, especially regarding the armed forces and defence strategies of the target country.

With the raging COVID-19 pandemic, an evident crisis of Coronavirus-related cyber-attacks has also proliferated since March 2020. Cyber attackers are exploiting the fears and uncertainties around the virus by spreading fake news and using click baits in the name of Coronavirus vaccine, Government schemes, etc. Phishing scams, Ransomware and Trojan attacks have seen a dramatic rise over the last six months, adding to the financial frauds and duping cases across the globe.

Cyber Security - The Need of the Hour

Every industry - from manufacturing to finance - and every entity in the market - from Government to private - are growing more and more dependent on Information Technology. The IT services encompass every aspect - from business communication to marketing to financial transactions - of any company. Cyber Security plays an important role in the field of information technology. Securing the information and transactions has emerged as one of the biggest challenges in the current times.

The use of the Internet has increased considerably over the past decade. From ordering food to shopping and from education to entertainment, everything has become online. While on one hand, this technological revolution has proved to be a boon, on the other hand, the internet and its users have become more vulnerable to cyber-attacks. This has indeed created a bigger need for cyber security awareness in order to protect the users from online frauds and cyber-crimes. These articles are intended to provide an introduction to the concept and create basic understanding of Cyber Security.

With the technological advancement in the field of the internet, Cyber Security is emerging as one of the most lucrative career options available today, and the demand for Cyber Security professionals is increasing day by day. Let's take this opportunity to grow personally and professionally while helping the society at large. Let's join hands to fight against the viruses - real as well as virtual - and make the internet space safer and more useful for now and forever!