News link for reference: Meta Help Center confirms that end-to-end encrypted messaging on Instagram is no longer supported from May 8, 2026. Khaleej Times also reported that Instagram has removed end-to-end encryption for direct messaging. – https://www.khaleejtimes.com/business/tech/meta-instagram-end-to-end-encryption-removed

Most of us treat private messages as safe spaces. We send photos, documents, addresses, school details, personal updates, emotional conversations, financial information, travel plans, screenshots, and sometimes even voice notes without thinking twice.

But Instagram has discontinued end-to-end encrypted messaging for Direct Messages from May 8, 2026. This means users must become far more careful about what they share inside Instagram DMs. A private chat is not automatically a protected space. Meta’s Help Center confirms that end-to-end encrypted messaging on Instagram is no longer supported from this date.

This matters because misuse does not always begin with hacking. Sometimes it begins with oversharing. A private photo can be saved. A personal document can be forwarded. A sensitive conversation can be screenshotted. A child can be manipulated into moving from comments to DMs. An account can be compromised, and years of personal messages can suddenly become a risk.

For children and teenagers, this risk is even higher. Many of them do not understand the difference between a public comment, a private message, a disappearing message, and a truly secure conversation. They may trust a gaming friend, a fan page, a classmate, an unknown follower, or someone pretending to be their age. One careless message can expose their identity, location, school, daily routine, family details, or private pictures.

Adults are also vulnerable. Many people send copies of IDs, bank details, business information, confidential screenshots, personal disputes, medical documents, and emotional conversations on social media DMs because it feels quick and convenient. Convenience cannot be the standard for digital safety. Sensitive information must never be shared casually just because a chat window feels familiar.

Please do not share Aadhaar, PAN, passport details, bank information, passwords, OTPs, school IDs, home addresses, travel plans, private photos, or deeply personal conversations through Instagram DMs.

Parents must explain this clearly to children. Private messaging is not a place for secrets with strangers. It is not a place to send personal pictures. It is not a place to continue conversations with unknown profiles, gaming friends, fake fan pages, or accounts that create emotional pressure.

Go through your old chats. Delete sensitive information where possible. Turn on two-factor authentication. Use strong passwords. Check login alerts. Teach children to take screenshots and report immediately if someone makes them uncomfortable.

Every digital space demands caution. Before you send anything online, ask yourself one simple question: can this harm me or my child if it is saved, forwarded, or exposed?

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ABOUT ‘AKANCHA SRIVASTAVA FOUNDATION’

The Akancha Srivastava Foundation is India’s leading social impact initiative dedicated to advancing cyber safety awareness and education. Established in February 2017, this not-for-profit Section 8 organization is a trusted voice in promoting safe online practices across the nation.

Distinguished Board of Advisors
Guided by an honorary advisory board of esteemed leaders:

• Former Special DGP RK Vij (Chhattisgarh Police)
• ADG Navniet Sekera (Uttar Pradesh Police)
• ADG Krishna Prakash (Maharashtra Police)
• Dr. Poonam Verma (Principal, SSCBS, Delhi University)

Our Mission

The Foundation is committed to educating, empowering, and building bridges between the public and authorities on critical cyber safety issues. Additionally, we specialize in forensics training for law enforcement, equipping them with the skills needed to tackle cybercrime effectively.

The post Instagram DMs Are Not Encrypted! #ASF appeared first on Akancha Srivastava Foundation.

The rapid rise of AI-generated content on LinkedIn is reshaping how credibility is built and perceived.

Across global markets, there is a clear surge in automated, templated posts that present polished narratives without substance. Analysis by TechRadar has highlighted how repetitive AI-driven content is saturating professional feeds, often prioritising structure over accuracy.

This shift is weakening the foundation of professional trust.

Decision-makers are exercising greater scrutiny. Audiences are no longer responding to articulation alone. They are evaluating depth, evidence, and lived expertise. Content that lacks verifiable grounding is losing long-term relevance.

The risk extends beyond content quality.

Misinformation is now entering professional conversations with increased frequency. AI-generated posts often present confident statements without credible sourcing. In cyber safety, this creates direct exposure. Inaccurate guidance on phishing, digital behaviour, or fraud response can lead to real-world harm.

A documented case in the United States involved widely circulated AI-generated advisory posts that cited fabricated statistics and non-existent studies. These posts achieved high engagement due to polished language and structured delivery. Subsequent verification confirmed the absence of any legitimate source. The impact was clear. False information gained legitimacy at scale.

There is a deeper structural concern.

AI tools now enable individuals to produce authoritative-sounding content without domain expertise. This allows perceived authority to be constructed rather than earned. On a platform designed for professional credibility, this introduces a serious vulnerability.

From a cyber safety standpoint, information authenticity is a critical defence layer.

When authenticity weakens, manipulation becomes easier. Social engineering relies on trust signals. AI-generated content strengthens those signals without accountability. This creates fertile ground for deception, especially in environments where professional judgement drives decisions.

A behavioural shift is already visible.

Professionals are placing higher value on demonstrated expertise, consistent thinking, and verifiable outcomes. Content that reflects real work, real experience, and clear accountability is gaining stronger trust and sustained engagement.

The platform is entering a phase where human judgement defines value again.

Credibility now depends on evidence. Authority depends on experience. Trust depends on consistency.

The future of professional ecosystems will be shaped by those who uphold these standards with discipline.

Anything less weakens the system.

The post AI content is eroding professional trust appeared first on Akancha Srivastava Foundation.

Criminals are now using AI tools to generate fake, explicit content of Indian children without ever physically abusing them. These synthetic images look real—but they’re digitally created using innocent school photos, family pictures, or videos shared online. This is the latest weapon in child exploitation—and most parents don’t even know it exists.

In a horrifying 2024 case from Gurgaon, a Telegram group was found circulating morphed photos of girls aged 9–12. The faces were pulled from school WhatsApp groups and class project videos. AI tools like DeepNude and open-source face-swap platforms were used to generate sexualised content in minutes. The victims’ families were unaware until the images reached their social circles.

In Hyderabad, a 13-year-old girl’s image from a school function was edited into a fake nude and sent to her classmates via an anonymous Instagram account. It sparked humiliation, trauma, and a police complaint. The image wasn’t real—but the consequences were.

This content is called AI-generated CSAM (Child Sexual Abuse Material). It is created using deep learning models trained to generate hyper-realistic visuals. These fake materials are now being sold, shared, or used to blackmail parents. In one case, a Pune mother received extortion threats over AI-generated images of her teenage daughter. She was asked to pay ₹1 lakh to prevent their circulation—even though the image was synthetic.

These crimes bypass current Indian laws. Since no real sexual act took place, existing POCSO sections don’t fully apply. Offenders claim “no real harm,” yet they’re destroying lives and reputations. Our laws must be updated to criminalise digitally created synthetic abuse content with the same severity.

What makes this even more dangerous is how easy it is to access these tools. Some are available for free online. Others are shared in dark web forums and private Discord servers. It doesn’t take technical expertise—just access and intent.

Parents must act now:

• Set all child-related profiles toprivate.
• Avoid posting school names, class photos, or performance videos online.
• Educate children to report any suspicious message, image, or profile—without fear.
• Regularly monitor digital spaces children interact with.
• Report fake content, even if synthetic, ongov.in or your local cyber cell.

This is not a theoretical risk. This is happening now, inside homes, schools, and social apps we use daily. AI is being weaponised against children—and silence is not an option.

Subscribe to our channel, share this video, and help protect India’s children from invisible digital predators.

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Stay Aware, Stay Safe. Jai Hind, Jai Bharat.

CONTACT US:

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Email: TeamAkancha@gmail.com

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Facebook:

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ABOUT ‘AKANCHA SRIVASTAVA FOUNDATION’

The Akancha Srivastava Foundation is India’s leading social impact initiative dedicated to advancing cyber safety awareness and education. Established in February 2017, this not-for-profit Section 8 organization is a trusted voice in promoting safe online practices across the nation.

Distinguished Board of Advisors
Guided by an honorary advisory board of esteemed leaders:

• Former Special DGP RK Vij (Chhattisgarh Police)
• ADG Navniet Sekera (Uttar Pradesh Police)
• ADG Krishna Prakash (Maharashtra Police)
• Dr. Poonam Verma (Principal, SSCBS, Delhi University)

Our Mission

The Foundation is committed to educating, empowering, and building bridges between the public and authorities on critical cyber safety issues. Additionally, we specialize in forensics training for law enforcement, equipping them with the skills needed to tackle cybercrime effectively.

The post AI Misusing Children’s Pictures! appeared first on Akancha Srivastava Foundation.

From troll factories to coordinated smear campaigns, hate has become a tool to silence, intimidate, and influence.
How this ecosystem operates:
1. Organised Troll Factories
• These are not random users. Groups of people are recruited—sometimes even hired in shifts—to run multiple fake accounts at once.
• They are given a “target list” (journalists, women leaders, activists, or anyone speaking against a narrative).
• Each person controls dozens of accounts, amplifying abusive comments to flood timelines.
• Payments or incentives are sometimes linked to engagement metrics like trending a hashtag or volume of abusive replies.

2. Paid Hate Campaigns
• Agencies or individuals run “online reputation management” services where clients can pay to attack opponents.
• Hashtags are pushed with mass abusive content until they trend.
• Screenshots, fake quotes, and altered media are created to appear credible.
• Such campaigns have been documented to run during elections or against specific movements.

3. Bot Networks
• Automated accounts (bots) are programmed to like, retweet, or share hateful content within seconds of posting.
• A single message of hate, when amplified by hundreds of bots, looks like mass public opinion.
• These bots are often managed using software that can operate multiple accounts simultaneously.

4. Targeted Harassment of Individuals
• Victims receive thousands of mentions, DMs, and comments within hours.
• Abuse includes sexist slurs, caste-based insults, death or rape threats, and doctored photos.
• The intent is psychological: to overwhelm the target until they withdraw from the platform.
• Amnesty International’s “Toxic Twitter” report showed that women journalists in India face this in a sustained, organised way.

5. Hate + Disinformation Combination
• Hateful content is rarely standalone. It is often mixed with fake information.
• Example: a morphed photo is shared with abusive commentary; or a fake quote attributed to a target is spread with slurs.
• This dual strategy both discredits and intimidates.

6. Doxxing and Real-World Threats
• Personal data like addresses, phone numbers, or family details are leaked (“doxxed”) to increase fear.
• This connects online hate to offline threats, making it more dangerous than just trolling.

7. Commercialisation of Hate
• Some troll farms are monetised—earning money through YouTube ads, superchats, or subscriptions while running abusive content.
• Others are funded by political or business interests to attack rivals.
This shows that online hate is not just “angry individuals”—it is a coordinated ecosystem involving planning, technology, and sometimes financial incentives.
Real Cases:
• Amnesty International documented widespread coordinated abuse against women journalists in India, often linked to political or social campaigns.
• Investigations by BBC revealed how troll networks are organised in shifts, instructed on what hashtags to push and who to target. (BBC)
Why it matters:
• Hate is not harmless—it impacts mental health, destroys reputations, and discourages democratic participation.
• Organised harassment creates a chilling effect, where victims withdraw from online spaces to avoid relentless abuse.
• It weakens trust in digital platforms, damages the integrity of public debate, and leaves ordinary users unsafe.
• One is unable to form independent opinion in fear of being trolled
How to protect yourself and others:
• Document all abusive content (screenshots, links) before reporting.
• Use platform-level reporting tools to block, mute, and escalate harassment.
• Do not amplify hate by engaging—focus on reporting and supporting victims.
• Report criminal threats, stalking, or doxxing to cybercrime.gov.in.
Support those being attacked—public solidarity helps reduce the isolation of victims.
🔔Subscribe for more cyber safety insights!
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Stay Aware, Stay Safe. Jai Hind, Jai Bharat.

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ABOUT ‘AKANCHA SRIVASTAVA FOUNDATION’

The Akancha Srivastava Foundation is India’s leading social impact initiative dedicated to advancing cyber safety awareness and education. Established in February 2017, this not-for-profit Section 8 organization is a trusted voice in promoting safe online practices across the nation.
Distinguished Board of Advisors
Guided by an honorary advisory board of esteemed leaders:
• Former Special DGP RK Vij (Chhattisgarh Police)
• ADG Navniet Sekera (Uttar Pradesh Police)
• ADG Krishna Prakash (Maharashtra Police)
• Dr. Poonam Verma (Principal, SSCBS, Delhi University)
Our Mission

The Foundation is committed to educating, empowering, and building bridges between the public and authorities on critical cyber safety issues. Additionally, we specialize in forensics training for law enforcement, equipping them with the skills needed to tackle cybercrime effectively.

The post The Business of Online Hate appeared first on Akancha Srivastava Foundation.

I participated in a well curated Listening Roundtable hosted by Snap Inc. in partnership with Young Leaders for Active Citizenship in Mumbai. The discussion focused on how teenagers use social media, their consumption patterns, safety frameworks, reporting mechanisms, and concrete steps to strengthen digital safeguards. The curation was thoughtful and deliberate, bringing together experts from education, mental health, child rights, technology, and digital policy.

There was a clear openness to meaningful dialogue. Stakeholders from diverse backgrounds engaged with sincerity, listened carefully to concerns, and demonstrated a firm intent to strengthen safety practices. The presence of teenagers added essential perspective. Their clarity and candour grounded the conversation in real lived experiences, reinforcing the urgency of building systems that genuinely work for young users.

I was assigned the table on When Digital Connections Hurt. This subject sits at the core of our work at the Akancha Srivastava Foundation, where we have trained millions across the country on cyber safety, digital resilience, and harm prevention. Our experience of working closely with law enforcement across India and handling case studies first hand strengthens our understanding of how these harms unfold in real scenarios and what robust interventions are required. Our discussion covered sexting, child grooming, cyber bullying, transparency in reporting processes, and the operational accountability needed to ensure that young people receive timely and effective support when they reach out for help.

A platform with the reach and influence of Snapchat is positioned to set powerful benchmarks for youth safety. With the right design interventions, it can educate users at scale and even cultivate digital heroes within its community who champion responsible behaviour, call out harm, and strengthen a culture of awareness. This potential was evident in the constructive spirit with which the company hosted the roundtable.

Such engagements signal a positive shift toward collaborative safety building. I appreciate the seriousness with which the dialogue was held and look forward to many more forums that bring together young people, experts, and platforms to advance the shared mission of creating safer digital spaces across the country.

The post Snapchat Roundtable On Safer Digital Spaces appeared first on Akancha Srivastava Foundation.

Every day, India is under attack from misinformation, divisive propaganda, targeted harassment, hate speech, and coordinated online abuse. These threats may not cross physical borders, but they aim to weaken our unity, dignity, and democracy from within.

We need digital warriors, responsible, informed, and fearless netizens who will stand guard over the truth and protect the integrity of our nation online. This is not the job of a few; it is the duty of every citizen who values freedom and justice.

Being a digital warrior means:

• Verifying facts before sharing anything.
• Refusing to amplify hate, lies, or inflammatory content.
• Reporting accounts and content that target individuals, spread communal disharmony, or threaten national security.
• Supporting and defending those who are harassed or bullied online.
• Using social media to spread accurate information and positive change.

Here’s what  else you can do. Right now.

• Sit your child down. Speak to them about grooming, digital consent, and cyberbullying. Not once. Regularly.
• Never share personal documents, OTPs, or photos with anyone online. No matter how “official” they sound.
• Watch for signs of trauma, withdrawal, anxiety in your loved ones. Cyber abuse is silent, but the pain is real.
• Report cybercrime immediately on cybercrime.gov.in. File that FIR. Push the system. You are protected by law.
• Stop forwarding messages blindly. You are not patriotic if you’re spreading hate, fear, and lies.
• Educate your staff, your family, your teams. Everyone with a phone is a potential target.
• Keep your devices updated. Use antivirus, strong passwords, 2FA. These are not technical luxuries—they’re your armour.
• Show courage. When you see abuse online, stand up. Defend someone. Report it. Speak out.

Don’t wait for the next victim to be someone you love. Because then it’s too late.

We must watch each other’s backs, stand up when we see abuse, speak out when we see injustice, and report when we see harm being done. Protecting one another in the online space is as vital as safeguarding our physical borders.

This Independence Day, let us pledge to unite as a strong digital force, driven by truth, respect, and compassion. Our Bharat Mata deserves a safe, respectful, and united online community—and that starts with each of us.

Subscribe to our channel and join the mission to protect India’s soul in the digital era.

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👍 Like, share & comment to spread awareness!

Stay Aware, Stay Safe. Jai Hind, Jai Bharat.

CONTACT US:

Website: www.AkanchaSrivastava.Org

Email: TeamAkancha@gmail.com

Twitter: @AkanchaS

https://twitter.com/AkanchaS

Instagram: @akanchas

https://www.instagram.com/akanchas/

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/akanchasrivastava1

LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/akanchasrivastava/

ABOUT ‘AKANCHA SRIVASTAVA FOUNDATION’

The Akancha Srivastava Foundation is India’s leading social impact initiative dedicated to advancing cyber safety awareness and education. Established in February 2017, this not-for-profit Section 8 organization is a trusted voice in promoting safe online practices across the nation.

Distinguished Board of Advisors
Guided by an honorary advisory board of esteemed leaders:

• Former Special DGP RK Vij (Chhattisgarh Police)
• ADG Navniet Sekera (Uttar Pradesh Police)
• ADG Krishna Prakash (Maharashtra Police)
• Dr. Poonam Verma (Principal, SSCBS, Delhi University)

Our Mission

The Foundation is committed to educating, empowering, and building bridges between the public and authorities on critical cyber safety issues. Additionally, we specialize in forensics training for law enforcement, equipping them with the skills needed to tackle cybercrime effectively.

The post India Needs Digital Warriors! appeared first on Akancha Srivastava Foundation.

Social media platforms like Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram appear free but come at an enormous hidden cost—our personal data, digital habits, and behavioral patterns are constantly harvested, analyzed, and monetized. This data collection is far more invasive than most realize. It is not just about targeted ads; these platforms trade and commodify our digital DNA, shaping our choices, influencing thoughts, and exposing users to unprecedented risks. The dangers are explored in documentaries like The Social Dilemma, which reveal how these platforms manipulate users for profit, often at the cost of mental health, privacy, and democracy.

What Data is Collected and Why It Matters

• Platforms access personal information such as name, age, and gender.
• Location tracking is continuous, even when apps are inactive.
• Contact lists and social connections are uploaded and analyzed.
• Access to media libraries, including photos and videos, allows deeper profiling.
• Microphone and camera permissions enable passive data collection, sometimes without explicit user knowledge.
• Browsing history beyond social media apps is tracked through embedded trackers and cookies.
• Purchase data, both on and off platform, is aggregated to predict buying behavior.

Real-World Impact

• The Social Dilemma (2020) reveals how addictive social media platforms cause increased anxiety, depression, and social polarization, especially among youth.
• Excessive use correlates with mental health disorders and reduced cognitive ability.
• Facebook faced multiple data breaches exposing millions of users worldwide, compromising privacy on a massive scale.
• Mark Zuckerberg and Facebook have been under intense legal scrutiny and ongoing trials related to privacy violations, misinformation, and monopoly practices. Recent hearings continue to challenge Facebook’s role in data misuse and user manipulation.
• Social media data is exploited by cybercriminals and foreign actors for identity theft, misinformation, and targeted harassment.

The Cambridge Analytica Case Study

One of the most significant examples of data misuse is the Cambridge Analytica scandal. In 2018, it was revealed that Cambridge Analytica, a political consulting firm, harvested data from millions of Facebook users without their consent. This data was used to create detailed psychological profiles to target voters with personalized political advertisements during elections, notably the 2016 US presidential election and the Brexit referendum. The scandal exposed how social media data could be weaponized to manipulate democratic processes, erode public trust, and polarize societies. The fallout led to global calls for stricter data privacy laws and highlighted the urgent need for transparency and accountability in how personal data is collected and used by technology companies.

PS: TikTok was the worst offender, with a privacy policy allowing extensive data collection, including biometric data and location tracking, raising serious security and privacy concerns. Fortunately, it remains banned in India due to risks of data misuse and national security threats.

Why We Are Trading Our Life DNA

• Data on behaviours, relationships, and preferences creates a unique digital fingerprint for every user.
• This “life DNA” predicts vulnerabilities, health risks, and financial behavior.
• Social networks profit not by charging users but by converting human behavior into valuable data points for sale and influence.
• The illusion of control is deceptive; most users remain unaware of the extent and consequences of data collection.

What You Must Do

• Limit data shared on social platforms and rigorously review app permissions.
• Use privacy-focused alternatives and encrypted messaging when possible.
• Regularly audit your digital footprint and adjust privacy settings accordingly.
• Educate children and young adults about the real cost of “free” social media.
• Demand transparency and regulation from social media companies and governments to protect individual rights.

Subscribe, like, and share this video to spread awareness about the hidden dangers of social media data collection. Protect yourself and your family—knowledge is power.

🔔 Subscribe for more cyber safety insights!
👍 Like, share & comment to spread awareness!

Stay Aware, Stay Safe. Jai Hind Jai Bharat.

CONTACT US:

Website: www.AkanchaSrivastava.Org

Email: TeamAkancha@gmail.com

Twitter: @AkanchaS

https://twitter.com/AkanchaS

Instagram: @akanchas

https://www.instagram.com/akanchas/

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/akanchasrivastava1

LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/akanchasrivastava/

ABOUT ‘AKANCHA SRIVASTAVA FOUNDATION’

The Akancha Srivastava Foundation is India’s leading social impact initiative dedicated to advancing cyber safety awareness and education. Established in February 2017, this not-for-profit Section 8 organization is a trusted voice in promoting safe online practices across the nation.

Distinguished Board of Advisors
Guided by an honorary advisory board of esteemed leaders:

• Former Special DGP RK Vij (Chhattisgarh Police)
• ADG Navniet Sekera (Uttar Pradesh Police)
• ADG Krishna Prakash (Maharashtra Police)
• Dr. Poonam Verma (Principal, SSCBS, Delhi University)

Our Mission

The Foundation is committed to educating, empowering, and building bridges between the public and authorities on critical cyber safety issues. Additionally, we specialize in forensics training for law enforcement, equipping them with the skills needed to tackle cybercrime effectively.

The Foundation is committed to educating, empowering, and building bridges between the public and authorities on critical cyber safety issues. Additionally, we specialize in forensics training for law enforcement, equipping them with the skills needed to tackle cybercrime effectively.

The post SOCIAL MEDIA IS NOT FREE! appeared first on Akancha Srivastava Foundation.

WeTransfer is widely used to send large files quickly, often by professionals and creatives who rely on the platform to transfer sensitive, proprietary, or original content. But buried in the terms most users never read is a clause that quietly gives WeTransfer sweeping rights over your content. If you have ever uploaded intellectual property to the platform, you have likely handed over a lot more than you realized.

According to their license terms, once you use their service, you grant WeTransfer a perpetual, worldwide, royalty-free, transferable, sub-licensable license to use your content. That includes rights to reproduce, distribute, modify, prepare derivative works, broadcast, publicly display, and perform your content. In plain terms, they can do almost anything with what you upload, with zero obligation to inform you or pay you.

This is not just about sending files. This is about content ownership and commercial usage. While you technically retain IP rights, WeTransfer legally gets the ability to leverage your material for operating, developing, and commercializing their services. That includes improving machine learning models, possibly using your data as training material.

There is no ambiguity in the language. The clause states clearly that you are not entitled to any compensation. That means even if your content is used in a way that creates commercial value for the company, you receive nothing from it.

Most users skip over this because no one reads terms and conditions carefully. That is the real risk. In the rush to get work done, we trade control for convenience without understanding the long-term consequences. This is not about paranoia. This is about legal awareness. When you upload original music, artwork, presentations, or manuscripts, you need to know what rights you are handing over.

Data is the new currency. If you are a creator, entrepreneur, or dealing with proprietary material, read the fine print. Know what you are agreeing to. What you ignore can cost you more than you imagine.

Stay Aware, Stay Safe!
Jai Hind!

The post Read the fine print. Or risk giving it all away. appeared first on Akancha Srivastava Foundation.

(Blog by our Founder)

Aptitude Over Attitude: What Truly Matters in Cyber Security

I was asked a curious question at the CISO6 Cyber Security Excellence Awards: “Do men still compete with you in the field of cyber security?”
It made me pause. Not because I was surprised, but because we are in mid-2025 and this question still reflects outdated perceptions.

My answer was clear. If someone is competing with me on knowledge, I welcome it. In fact, I would go one step further and reach out to that individual, ask questions, learn, and grow. That’s the true spirit of excellence. But if someone approaches with a poor attitude or a misplaced sense of superiority, that stance is often short-lived. Because once I begin to speak, any arrogance tends to give way to humility. That is what aptitude does. It levels the field.

We must move beyond gender-led biases. The future of cyber security, or any field for that matter, must be rooted in capability. Skill, discipline, and performance should be our only metrics. The rest is noise. When we sit across the table, engage in critical national work, or solve deeply sensitive digital crimes, no one stops to ask what gender you belong to. They only care about your ability to deliver.

Over the years, I have been deeply privileged to work with some of the most complex challenges in India. I have trained police forces in naxal and terrorism-affected areas. I have conducted workshops with the Indian Army and assisted law enforcement across the country in tackling forensic cybercrime. The reality is that few people, regardless of gender, have had the kind of exposure or ground experience I have had. That’s not arrogance, it’s a fact built on years of hard, silent work.

So when I walk into a room, I do not walk in hoping to be accepted. I walk in to share, to build, to empower. And more often than not, I am met with respect. Sometimes even awe. That’s the power of deep preparation and consistent delivery. Not gender. Not titles. Just sheer knowledge.

And yes, I was also awarded the CISO6 Cyber Security Excellence recognition!

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#AkanchaSrivastavaFoundation, #AkanchaSrivastava, #CyberSecurity, #WomenInTech, #LeadershipInAction, #GenderNeutrality, #DigitalIndia, #NationFirst, #CyberSafetyMatters

The post CISO6 Cyber Security Excellence Awards appeared first on Akancha Srivastava Foundation.

As the country moves rapidly toward digitisation across sectors, the nature of cyber risks has evolved just as quickly. What once started with basic phishing and identity theft has now scaled into complex threats involving deepfakes, AI-led social engineering, ransomware targeting critical infrastructure, and systemic cyber abuse affecting vulnerable populations.

The sheer volume of users added to the internet every year in India has created an enormous attack surface. As of 2024, India has over 918 million internet users, with mobile data consumption averaging 24.1 GB per user per month. This growth, while empowering, also intensifies risk. In 2023 alone, there were over 1.56 million cybercrime complaints, with Delhi recording 755 cases per 100,000 population, far above the national average of 129 per 100,000. Financial frauds have caused cumulative losses of ₹10,319 crore since April 2021, but only ₹1,127 crore has been recovered—just about 11%.

In this new landscape, cyber threats are no longer just technical challenges. They have become national security concerns, social equity issues, and governance matters. The conversation must shift from just cybersecurity to a deeper, layered understanding of digital risk.

At the forefront of this change is the urgent need to empower not just law enforcement but also students, entrepreneurs, educators, and administrators with real, actionable awareness. The traditional model of digital training is outdated. Static modules and fear-based messaging have little effect on real-time risk mitigation. Today’s threats demand adaptive, context-sensitive education and strong inter-sectoral collaboration.

We must also acknowledge that technology abuse is growing rapidly across domestic, professional, and governance spheres. Stalkerware, spyware, data leaks, and coercive surveillance are no longer limited to high-profile targets. They affect students, women, senior citizens, and vulnerable communities at scale. Cybercrimes linked to social media—such as impersonation and harassment—have nearly tripled, rising from 56,000+ in 2020 to over 156,000 in 2024. In parallel, high-value frauds over ₹100,000 have quadrupled, jumping from 6,699 in FY 2023 to 29,082 in FY 2024, with total losses around ₹177.7 crore ($20 million).

India’s regulatory posture is catching up. The new data protection laws, government push toward AI regulation, and increased focus on forensic investigation are steps in the right direction. But laws without awareness and enforcement remain dormant. Building internal capacities across the system is no longer optional. It is essential.

As Cyber Safety Risk Advisors, our role is not just to intervene after an incident. It is to anticipate risk, educate stakeholders, and shape policy in a way that protects people first. Cyber safety is not a privilege. It is a fundamental right and responsibility in today’s India.

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