#NavnietSekeraInterview Archives - Akancha Srivastava Foundation

Twitter: @AkanchaS

Instagram: @akanchas

Facebook:

LinkedIn:

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 Aadhaar Update Scams Are Using Fake UIDAI Links and Agents! appeared first on Akancha Srivastava Foundation.

Digital Arrest Is A Fraud!

Akancha Srivastava — Thu, 20 Aug 2026 06:58:03 +0000

Ever received a WhatsApp call claiming to be police?

An elderly NRI doctor couple in South Delhi was defrauded of nearly ₹14 crore in a “digital arrest” scam after fraudsters impersonated law enforcement officials and psychologically coerced them to transfer massive sums of money.

The scam unfolded over more than two weeks. Fraudsters posing as officials from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) and other agencies told the couple that their mobile number and Aadhaar were linked to illegal activity and money laundering, then threatened arrest and legal consequences if they did not cooperate.

Callers claimed to be conducting a legitimate investigation and kept the victims under continuous video calls, creating fear, urgency, and isolation. They pressured the couple to transfer large amounts via RTGS to multiple bank accounts for “verification,” repeatedly advising them not to contact family or law enforcement.

The fraud only came to light after the calls stopped, prompting the couple to approach police and file an FIR.

These so-called “digital arrest” scams work because they exploit a deep fear of authority, punishment, and legal consequences. Victims are convinced that silence and compliance will protect them, when in reality they are being manipulated.

What people must do to avoid becoming victims is specific and non-negotiable:

Never respond to calls, messages, or video calls claiming legal trouble from police or government agencies.
• Law enforcement does not initiate investigations, threats, or arrests through WhatsApp, email, or private calls.
• Do not share OTPs, bank credentials, or authorise any transfer because someone threatens arrest or legal action.
• Immediately end any communication that demands secrecy, urgency, or isolation from family.
• Independently verify by contacting theofficial police stationusing numbers from verified government websites; do not use numbers provided by the caller.
• Talk to family or trusted contacts before taking any action if you receive such calls. Isolation is exactly what scammers rely on.
• If you have been pressured into transferring money, report the incident without delay on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal:
https://cybercrime.gov.in

The only defence against these scams is verification and refusal to comply under fear. Real investigations are never conducted by WhatsApp video calls, and no authority asks for money to avoid arrest.

Stay Aware, Stay Safe.

Jai Hind, Jai Bharat.

CONTACT US:

Twitter: @AkanchaS

Instagram: @akanchas

Facebook:

LinkedIn:

ABOUT ‘AKANCHA SRIVASTAVA FOUNDATION’

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 post Digital Arrest Is A Fraud! appeared first on Akancha Srivastava Foundation.

Being Love Bombed Online?

Akancha Srivastava — Thu, 13 Aug 2026 06:43:36 +0000

Romance fraud rarely starts with money.

It usually starts with attention, affection, daily messages, emotional support, compliments, future promises, and the feeling that someone finally understands you.

That is what makes it dangerous.

A person may meet someone through Instagram, Facebook, dating apps, matrimonial platforms, gaming communities, professional networks, or even WhatsApp groups. The conversation feels warm and personal. They may say the right things, remember small details, check on you every day, and create emotional closeness very quickly.

Then the pressure begins.

They may say they are stuck in an emergency. They may claim their bank account is blocked. They may ask for help with medical bills, travel, customs clearance, business trouble, family crisis, visa issues, or a sudden legal problem. Sometimes they do not ask for money immediately. They first build trust, isolate the victim emotionally, and make the relationship feel private.

This is emotional grooming.

The warning signs are clear. They avoid video calls. They rush emotional commitment. They ask you to keep the relationship secret. They create urgency. They make you feel guilty for asking questions. They send dramatic stories that cannot be verified. They ask for money, private photos, documents, passwords, OTPs, investments, crypto transfers, gift cards, or access to your accounts.

Please remember this clearly: love does not demand secrecy, money, panic payments, or proof through private pictures.

Do not send money to someone you have never met and properly verified. Do not share intimate photos, identity documents, financial details, passwords, OTPs, or private family information. Do not accept investment advice from someone who is emotionally involved with you online. Do not move financial conversations to private channels where there is no accountability.

If you feel trapped, preserve every message, profile link, phone number, bank detail, UPI ID, transaction record, photo, and call log. Do not delete evidence out of shame. Report the account, inform your bank immediately if money has been sent, and file a cybercrime complaint.

Victims must not be blamed. These scams work because they exploit loneliness, trust, hope, grief, and emotional vulnerability. The solution is awareness, verification, and early reporting.

Before you trust an online relationship, pause and ask one question: is this person building love, or building control?

Stay Aware, Stay Safe.

Jai Hind, Jai Bharat.

CONTACT US:

Twitter: @AkanchaS

Instagram: @akanchas

Facebook:

LinkedIn:

ABOUT ‘AKANCHA SRIVASTAVA FOUNDATION’

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 post Being Love Bombed Online? appeared first on Akancha Srivastava Foundation.

Evidence Before You Report!

Akancha Srivastava — Wed, 05 Aug 2026 06:36:36 +0000

When something goes wrong online, most people panic first.

They delete chats, block accounts, remove posts, clear call logs, or erase payment messages because they feel scared, ashamed, angry, or overwhelmed.

That is the biggest mistake.

In any cybercrime case, evidence matters. Screenshots, links, phone numbers, usernames, payment receipts, emails, transaction IDs, call logs, chat history, profile URLs, QR codes, UPI IDs, bank details, and timestamps can help establish what happened, who contacted you, how the fraud happened, and where the money or abuse originated.

Do not delete anything in panic.

If someone has cheated you, impersonated you, misused your photo, pressured your child, sent abusive messages, shared a fake payment link, or trapped you through a scam, preserve the evidence immediately.

Take screenshots clearly. Capture the full screen, not only one message. Save the profile link. Save the phone number. Save the username. Save the date and time. Save the payment receipt. Save bank transaction details. Save email headers where possible. Record the platform name. Keep the original chat thread intact.

For financial fraud, time is critical. Call 1930 immediately and report on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal. The official portal lists 1930 as India’s Cyber Crime Helpline. Quick reporting improves the chance of blocking or tracing fraudulent transactions.

For children’s safety cases, parents must first protect the child emotionally. Do not shout, blame, shame, or force the child to delete everything. Preserve evidence, block after saving proof, report the account on the platform, inform the school where relevant, and file a cybercrime complaint where needed.

For social media cases, save the fake profile link, screenshots of posts, messages, comments, bio, display picture, follower activity, and any account that appears connected. Ask trusted people to report the fake account too, but preserve evidence first.

For payment fraud, call 1930 immediately, contact your bank, request transaction blocking or freezing, save the complaint number, and file the full report on cybercrime.gov.in. The National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal is meant for cybercrime complaints, including crimes against women and children.

Evidence is not only for police. It also helps banks, schools, platforms, employers, and families understand the seriousness of the issue.

When you preserve evidence properly, you give banks, platforms, schools, and law enforcement the material needed to act faster and more effectively.

Stay Aware, Stay Safe.

Jai Hind, Jai Bharat.

CONTACT US:

Twitter: @AkanchaS

Instagram: @akanchas

Facebook:

LinkedIn:

ABOUT ‘AKANCHA SRIVASTAVA FOUNDATION’

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 post Evidence Before You Report! appeared first on Akancha Srivastava Foundation.

Fake School Fee Link?

Akancha Srivastava — Wed, 22 Jul 2026 06:00:56 +0000

Parents are used to receiving school updates on WhatsApp, email, SMS, portals, and parent groups.

Fee reminders, circulars, transport notices, event payments, exam charges, book payments, uniform payments, and activity fees often come digitally now.

This convenience is exactly what scammers misuse.

A fake school fee message may look normal at first. It may carry the school name, logo, payment deadline, child’s class, fee amount, or a link that looks official. It may create urgency by saying “pay today”, “last date”, “late fee applies”, “seat may be blocked”, “transport service will stop”, or “exam form will not be processed.”

Many parents click because they are busy, worried, or trying to avoid delay. One wrong link can lead to payment fraud, credential theft, card misuse, UPI redirection, or account compromise.

Please remember this clearly: a school payment link received on WhatsApp or SMS must never be trusted automatically.

Parents must verify every payment request through the official school app, official website, school fee portal, or known school office number. Do not pay through random links shared in groups. Do not scan QR codes sent by unknown numbers. Do not enter card details, UPI PIN, OTP, net banking password, or parent portal credentials on unfamiliar pages.

Scammers may also impersonate school staff, class teachers, transport coordinators, accounts departments, PTA members, or other parents. They may create fake urgency around admissions, pending dues, transport fees, exam registration, school trips, or activity payments.

Before making any school-related payment, check the sender’s number, email domain, spelling, payment gateway, URL, and official fee record. Call the school office directly using the number saved from official records. Do not call numbers mentioned inside suspicious messages.

Parents should also speak to children. Children must not forward fee links, payment requests, QR codes, class group messages, or school notices without checking with parents. Older children using phones must understand that school-related messages can also be used for fraud.

If money has been paid through a fake link, immediately call 1930, contact your bank, freeze the transaction where possible, preserve screenshots, save the sender number, link, payment receipt, UPI ID, bank details, and file a cybercrime complaint.

A school message may look familiar, but familiarity is not verification. Before paying, pause and confirm through official school channels.

Stay Aware, Stay Safe.

Jai Hind, Jai Bharat.

CONTACT US:

Twitter: @AkanchaS

Instagram: @akanchas

Facebook:

LinkedIn:

ABOUT ‘AKANCHA SRIVASTAVA FOUNDATION’

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 post Fake School Fee Link? appeared first on Akancha Srivastava Foundation.

Daily Cyber Hygiene Habits!

Akancha Srivastava — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 08:22:06 +0000

Cyber safety is rarely lost in one dramatic moment.

It is weakened through small careless habits repeated every day.

Clicking links without checking.
Using the same password across accounts.
Ignoring software updates.
Sharing too much on social media.
Connecting to unsafe public Wi-Fi.
Allowing apps unnecessary permissions.
Posting travel plans, locations, family details, or personal routines openly.
Trusting every call, message, or email that sounds urgent.

This is how digital risk builds.
Not through one mistake alone.
Through routine behaviour that lowers your guard.

Most people think cybercrime only happens through advanced hacking.
That is false.
In many cases, attackers succeed because people make small decisions without thinking.
One weak password.
One ignored alert.
One careless download.
One OTP shared in panic.
One profile left too public.
One device left unlocked.
One suspicious link opened out of habit.

That is enough.

Daily online habits shape your exposure to fraud, identity theft, account takeover, stalking, data leaks, blackmail, financial loss, and long-term privacy damage.

The danger is that these habits feel normal.
That is exactly why they become dangerous.

A person who reuses passwords makes every account easier to breach.
A person who skips updates leaves known vulnerabilities open.
A person who overshares online gives strangers personal intelligence.
A person who clicks fast gives scammers the speed they need.
A person who treats privacy casually creates opportunities for misuse.

Cyber safety is built in small moments.

Pause before clicking.
Verify before trusting.
Update before delaying.
Think before posting.
Lock devices.
Review app permissions.
Use strong unique passwords.
Turn on two-factor authentication.
Do not share OTPs, PINs, or sensitive personal information.
Treat convenience carefully because convenience often lowers caution.

Children need these habits.
Parents need these habits.
Professionals need these habits.
Founders, employees, students, and senior citizens all need these habits.

Strong cyber safety does not begin with fear.
It begins with discipline.

Your daily digital routine decides whether you are easy to target or difficult to exploit.
That is why small habits matter so much.
They either protect you quietly every day or expose you quietly every day.

Cyber safety is not built once.
It is built daily.

Stay Aware, Stay Safe.

Jai Hind, Jai Bharat.

CONTACT US:

Twitter: @AkanchaS

Instagram: @akanchas

Facebook:

LinkedIn:

ABOUT ‘AKANCHA SRIVASTAVA FOUNDATION’

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 post Daily Cyber Hygiene Habits! appeared first on Akancha Srivastava Foundation.

Family WhatsApp Group Is Not A Fact Source!

Akancha Srivastava — Mon, 01 Jun 2026 08:06:36 +0000

In many homes, misinformation does not begin on a public platform. It begins inside a trusted family WhatsApp group.

That is what makes it so dangerous. People lower their guard in family spaces. A message sent by a parent, uncle, aunt, sibling, cousin, or family friend is often trusted faster than a message seen anywhere else. The content may be false, outdated, edited, exaggerated, or completely fabricated, yet it gets accepted because it comes wrapped in familiarity.

This is how misinformation gains speed.

A dramatic voice note arrives. A screenshot claims urgent action is needed. A video is presented as recent when it is old. A forwarded message carries official-sounding language. Someone shares it with concern, not malice. Others assume it has already been checked. Within minutes, the same content moves across multiple family groups, resident groups, parent circles, and community networks.

That is how false information becomes believable. Not because it is credible, but because it is repeated by people we know.

Family groups are especially vulnerable because they run on emotion, trust, and speed. People forward messages to protect loved ones, warn relatives, or feel useful. In that moment, emotion overrides verification. Fear, urgency, and familiarity work together. That combination is exactly what misinformation needs.

The result is serious.

Families panic over false claims.
Old videos get treated as breaking news.
Fake advisories are mistaken for official communication.
Health rumours, crisis rumours, scam warnings, communal messages, and security-related falsehoods spread unchecked.
Children and elders in the family absorb anxiety from content that was never verified.
One careless forward can distort understanding across an entire network.

This is also why family groups become fertile ground for social engineering. Once people get used to trusting forwarded content from familiar contacts, they become easier to manipulate. A fake warning, a scam alert, a phishing link, or a financial fraud message can enter the group in the same emotional tone as any other family message. The setting feels safe, so suspicion drops.

That false sense of safety is the problem.

People need to understand that trust in the sender is not proof of truth. A loving relative can still forward a false message. A well-meaning family member can still spread panic. Good intention does not make content accurate.

This is where digital discipline must begin at home.

Family groups should not become dumping grounds for every alarming video, every dramatic claim, every unverified screenshot, and every voice note that sounds urgent. Adults must pause before forwarding. They must check source, date, context, and authenticity. They must ask whether the message comes from an official authority, a verified institution, or a credible news source. If that cannot be confirmed, it should not be circulated.

Families should also create a stronger culture of verification. It must become normal to ask, Where is this from. Is this current. Has this been verified. Instead of feeling offended by such questions, families should see them as responsible behaviour. That is how safer digital culture is built.

Children learn from this. Elders are influenced by this. Entire households take cues from how adults behave in shared digital spaces. If family groups become places of panic, that behaviour spreads. If family groups become places of caution, fact-checking, and restraint, that discipline spreads too.

Cyber safety does not fail only through hackers and scams. It also fails through everyday carelessness inside trusted circles. That is why family WhatsApp groups matter so much. They are often the first place where misinformation is believed, normalised, and redistributed at scale.

The safest family group is not the one that shares the fastest. It is the one that verifies before it forwards.

Stay Aware, Stay Safe.

Jai Hind, Jai Bharat.

CONTACT US:

Twitter: @AkanchaS

Instagram: @akanchas

Facebook:

LinkedIn:

ABOUT ‘AKANCHA SRIVASTAVA FOUNDATION’

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 post Family WhatsApp Group Is Not A Fact Source! appeared first on Akancha Srivastava Foundation.

Protect Children From Crisis Content Online

Akancha Srivastava — Sat, 11 Apr 2026 07:28:36 +0000

When a nation is under stress, children should not be left alone to make sense of the internet.

In times of war, conflict, or crisis, children are exposed to far more than headlines. They see disturbing visuals, panic-driven commentary, fake videos, dramatic rumours, emotional reactions, and constant updates they are too young to process. What reaches them online does not stay on the screen. It affects their sense of safety, their emotional balance, their sleep, their attention, and their trust in the world around them.

This is where adults must step in with maturity.

Children do not always know the difference between verified information, recycled content, manipulated visuals, fear-driven opinion, and outright misinformation. They can absorb panic before they understand context. They can believe false claims because a video looks real. They can keep checking for updates because anxiety pushes them to seek control. This is how overconsumption begins.

And overconsumption has a cost.

Constant exposure to crisis content can leave children fearful, restless, emotionally overwhelmed, distracted, and mentally exhausted. It can normalize distress. It can create confusion between awareness and obsession. It can make the internet feel like a place of permanent danger. During already difficult times, that level of exposure is not education. It is overload.

Parents and caregivers need to understand that protection during crisis is not only physical. It is also digital and emotional.

Children need help in three areas.

First, they need boundaries around consumption. Not every update is necessary for them. Not every video should be seen. Not every discussion should happen in front of them. Adults must reduce repeated exposure to disturbing content, limit doom-scrolling, and make sure children are not silently consuming fear for hours.

Second, they need help understanding truth. This is the time to teach them that not everything online is real, current, or trustworthy. A dramatic clip may be old. A voice note may be false. A forwarded message may be designed to create panic. A convincing visual may be edited or generated. Children must learn that truth online requires checking, not reacting.

Third, they need emotional reassurance. A child who keeps checking crisis updates is not always being curious. Sometimes the child is frightened. Sometimes the child is trying to feel prepared. Sometimes the child is carrying fear without words. That is why adults must create calm conversations, not just rules.

This is what responsible guidance looks like.

Do not let children consume crisis content without supervision.
Do not allow unrestricted exposure to disturbing visuals.
Do not treat every viral update as something they need to know.
Teach them to pause before believing or sharing.
Show them how to check official sources and trusted news.
Explain that forwarded content is not proof.
Tell them clearly that fear spreads fast online and facts often move slower.
Create fixed times for updates instead of constant checking.
Encourage breaks from screens.
Keep space for normal routine, conversation, and emotional grounding.

Children take cues from adults.
If adults keep forwarding panic, reacting loudly, and checking updates every minute, children absorb that behaviour.
If adults stay calm, verify facts, limit exposure, and communicate clearly, children learn digital discipline.

Helping children navigate the internet during crisis is not about hiding reality from them.
It is about protecting them from confusion, manipulation, fear overload, and unnecessary distress.
It is about teaching them that awareness must come with judgment.
It is about showing them that responsible internet use matters most when emotions are high.

This is not a small parenting issue.
This is a cyber safety issue, an emotional safety issue, and a public awareness issue.

Children should not have to carry the full weight of crisis through a screen.
Adults must help them process less, trust wisely, and stay anchored in facts.

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

Stay Aware, Stay Safe.

Jai Hind, Jai Bharat.

CONTACT US:

Twitter: @AkanchaS

Instagram: @akanchas

Facebook:

LinkedIn:

ABOUT ‘AKANCHA SRIVASTAVA FOUNDATION’

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 post Protect Children From Crisis Content Online appeared first on Akancha Srivastava Foundation.

War time is not content time!

Akancha Srivastava — Fri, 03 Apr 2026 08:14:04 +0000

During the current Iran conflict, false visuals, recycled clips, and AI-generated content have circulated widely,

It has made it harder for citizens to separate fact from manipulation. AP reported that AI has accelerated war misinformation in ways not seen in earlier conflicts, while reporting on the current conflict has also highlighted coordinated online disinformation campaigns. Unfortunately even some news channels seem to be sharing unverified news

This is where public behaviour becomes a national responsibility.

When people forward unverified videos, dramatic voice notes, edited images, fake strike footage, or AI-generated war visuals, they do not help the country. They create panic, distort reality, burden authorities, and hand advantage to hostile narratives.

The damage is serious and immediate:

Fake videos can trigger public fear before facts arrive.
Old footage can be passed off as a fresh attack.
AI-generated visuals can make lies look real.
Rumours can drown out official instructions.
Panic sharing can weaken public discipline during crisis.

There is another danger people ignore.

Careless posting during conflict can expose sensitive information. Military and security guidance has long warned that sharing locations, security arrangements, troop movements, operational details, or even seemingly harmless visual clues on social media can put lives and operations at risk.

That means citizens must stop treating war content like entertainment or breaking gossip.

Do not share videos just because they look dramatic.
Do not trust AI visuals, screenshots, or voice notes without verification.
Do not post sensitive locations, security activity, movement patterns, or real-time operational visuals.
Do not circulate content that helps panic spread faster than truth.
Check official government, police, military, and verified authority channels first.

In times of war or crisis, national duty includes digital discipline.

A reckless forward can mislead thousands.
A false clip can inflame public anxiety.
A careless post can expose information that should never be public.
A nation under pressure needs calm citizens, not digital chaos.

Patriotism is not loud forwarding.
Patriotism is restraint, verification, and responsibility.

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

Stay Aware, Stay Safe.

Jai Hind, Jai Bharat.

CONTACT US:

Twitter: @AkanchaS

Instagram: @akanchas

Facebook:

LinkedIn:

Source- https://www.medianama.com/2025/03/223-are-period-tracking-apps-safe-experts-raise-data-privacy-concerns/

ABOUT ‘AKANCHA SRIVASTAVA FOUNDATION’

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 post War time is not content time! appeared first on Akancha Srivastava Foundation.

Women, Your Most Private Data Isn’t Safe!

Akancha Srivastava — Thu, 02 Oct 2025 05:27:33 +0000

Women, Your Most Private Data Isn’t Safe!

Millions of Indian women rely on period tracking and fertility apps to monitor their health—but behind the sleek interface lies a silent threat. These apps often collect far more than just cycle dates: they log sexual activity, mood, medication, contraception use, and even relationship status. What most users don’t realise is that this data can be—and often is—shared with third parties under vague terms disguised as “analytics” or “research.”

A 2025 MediaNama investigation citing experts from IIIT Delhi and SFLC India confirmed that many femtech apps collect excessive personal data without user awareness or proper consent. These apps operate with near-total impunity in India, bypassing data protection standards because there is no specific health data regulation for mobile applications targeting women. That legal silence is putting reproductive privacy at serious risk.

The issue isn’t just overcollection—it’s what happens next. Several apps embed third-party SDKs (software development kits) for analytics, which quietly send data like device IDs, location, behavioural patterns, and health logs to servers often located abroad. According to a 2025 University of Cambridge–led report, these data trails can be used to build behavioural profiles for targeted advertising—even political or insurance profiling. This is digital profiling of women’s bodies and choices, without transparency.

In Delhi, a user began receiving ovulation tracking ads, IVF offers, and hormone test kits days after logging a late period. In Pune, another woman was stunned to see baby product ads after using a pregnancy tracking app for just two weeks. These aren’t coincidences—they’re consequences of silent surveillance coded into apps that most users trust with their deepest personal information.

What’s more alarming is that some apps request access to contacts, photos, microphone, or storage—none of which are necessary for health tracking. Users grant permissions unknowingly, and once given, that data becomes fair game for usage beyond the stated purpose. The apps claim “anonymisation,” but security researchers have repeatedly proven that de-anonymised metadata can still be traced back to individual users—especially when combined with phone model, usage habits, and geo-behavioural data.

And in cases of data leaks or misuse, there is no legal remedy. India’s proposed Data Protection Bill is still pending full implementation. No regulatory framework mandates encryption, local storage, or user data deletion in femtech apps. There is no redressal body for women whose reproductive data is sold, leaked, or misused. This lack of protection leaves Indian women digitally exposed, despite growing use of such apps across cities and small towns alike.

What you must do now:

Avoid apps that request unnecessary permissions like location, storage, or contacts.
Use only apps withoffline mode, local data storage, or open privacy policies.
Go to yourphone settings → App Permissions → Set location access to Never for health apps.
Revoke background data access and block third-party tracking where possible.
Never upload personal notes, photos, or identifiable data into any app without legal safeguards.

This is your health. Your body. Your privacy. Do not trust blindly. These apps may not leak blood—but they are leaking your data.

Subscribe to our channel, share this video, and help expose the silent exploitation of women through digital health apps.

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

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

CONTACT US:

Twitter: @AkanchaS

Instagram: @akanchas

Facebook:

LinkedIn: