#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 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 The content may be false, outdated, edited, exaggerated, or completely fabricated, yet it gets accepted because it comes wrapped in familiarity.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:

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 Women, Your Most Private Data Isn’t Safe! appeared first on Akancha Srivastava Foundation.

Hackers Hate This Setting!

Akancha Srivastava — Thu, 25 Sep 2025 07:06:09 +0000

We will tell you a setting which hackers hate!

It makes their work a little difficult and it can be set up by you within a few minutes. Most people connect all their devices to one single home Wi-Fi network- phones, laptops, smart TVs, voice assistants, CCTV systems, even visiting guests. This habit seems convenient, but it creates a silent vulnerability. If one device gets compromised, your entire digital life is at risk.

In today’s video, I explain why creating a guest network for your IoT devices is no longer optional. Smart TVs, voice assistants, and other internet-connected gadgets are not designed with the same security standards as your personal devices. They are often the weakest link in your home network and easy targets for cybercriminals.

When you isolate such devices onto a guest network, you’re essentially placing a digital wall between your sensitive information and less secure tech. This is called network segmentation. It ensures that even if a smart TV is hacked, the attacker cannot move laterally into your phone, laptop, or personal files.

Most modern routers offer the option to create a guest network. It’s a simple step that creates a separate access point for lower-trust devices. Guest networks also typically support encrypted traffic and allow you to restrict access to specific resources. This adds a crucial layer of access control, reducing the risk of internal surveillance or data theft.

Many people do not realise how vulnerable smart devices are. Smart TVs can be hijacked remotely to listen through microphones, access connected accounts, or even spy using built-in cameras. If these devices share your main network, the attacker could gain deeper access—without you ever knowing.

Setting up a guest network may seem technical, but it is a straightforward step with long-term safety benefits. If you care about your data, your devices, and your peace of mind, this is a change you need to make now.

Stay Safe – Do This:

Log in to your Wi-Fi router settings via IP address
Enable the “guest network” option in settings
Connect smart TVs, voice assistants, and IoT devices to this guest network
Keep your phones, laptops, and critical data devices on the main Wi-Fi
Use passwords and encryption for both networks
Regularly monitor connected devices through your router dashboard

If this video helped you, share it with your family and friends. Subscribe to the channel and turn on notifications to never miss important cyber safety insights from the Akancha Srivastava Foundation.

🔔 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 Hackers Hate This Setting! appeared first on Akancha Srivastava Foundation.

Marketplace Scams in India Exposed!

Akancha Srivastava — Fri, 19 Sep 2025 07:11:04 +0000

India’s resale market is booming & so are scams.

Resale boom on platforms like OLX, Quikr, and Facebook Marketplace has also created a breeding ground for fraud. From fake buyers to courier scams, criminals are exploiting trust and urgency to trap unsuspecting users.

How these scams actually operate:

Advance Deposit Trap

Fraudsters post fake ads with attractive prices, often using stolen photos of cars, bikes, or phones. They demand a small deposit to “reserve” the item, claiming there are many other buyers. Once the money is paid, the listing disappears and the scammer vanishes.

Courier Fraud

The criminal claims to use a courier service to deliver the product. They send fake shipment receipts and ask the victim to pay “insurance,” “delivery,” or “GST” fees before the courier can release the item. The courier company itself is fake, and nothing ever arrives.

Fake Buyer Trick

Scammers pose as buyers who instantly agree to the seller’s price. They send a forged receipt or fake payment confirmation and then pressure the seller to refund or pay courier costs. By the time the seller realises the original payment never came through, they’ve already lost money.

Army/Police Impersonation

Fraudsters pretend to be soldiers or police officers to gain trust. They share fake ID cards, claim to be in “restricted areas,” and insist on advance payments for transport or courier. Victims comply out of respect for uniformed services, making this a very effective scam.

Overpayment Scam

Here the fraudster shows a fake screenshot of sending “too much money by mistake.” They pressure the seller to refund the excess immediately. Since the original payment was forged, the seller ends up losing both the refund and their item.

Data Harvesting

Scammers ask for Aadhaar, PAN, or address “for verification” before confirming the deal. Victims unknowingly hand over sensitive data, which is then used for SIM card frauds, loan applications, or blackmail.

Multiple Victim Scam

Fraudsters recycle the same contact number and photos across dozens of fake ads in multiple cities. Different buyers fall victim to the same fraudulent listing, multiplying the scammer’s profits.

Real Cases:

A Bengaluru software engineer lost₹5.4 lakh after fraudsters posing as CISF personnel tricked her with fake payment issues. (Times of India)
A 71-year-old in Udupi was duped of₹98,000 after responding to a fake rental ad; scammers impersonated Army officers. (Times of India)
A Hyderabad professional lost₹6.5 lakh after a fraudster posing as an Army man tricked him through OLX. (Times of India)
Pune Police issued an alert after multiple victims lost money on fake scooter ads where the same phone number was linked to dozens of listings. (Indian Express)

How to protect yourself:

Never pay advances or courier charges.
Insist on meeting in person at safe public places.
Keep conversations within the platform; avoid shifting to WhatsApp/Telegram.
Verify IDs through official means, not photos.
Always confirm payments through your bank app—not screenshots.
Report fraud atgov.in.

Marketplace scams thrive on trust, urgency, and silence. Break the cycle by staying alert, reporting fraud, and warning others.

🔔 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 Marketplace Scams in India Exposed! appeared first on Akancha Srivastava Foundation.

AI Companions Are Not Harmless!

Akancha Srivastava — Fri, 12 Sep 2025 13:05:26 +0000

AI girlfriend apps are exploding in popularity across India.

AI girlfriend apps are exploding in popularity across India, especially among teenagers and young adults. These apps offer users a digital “partner” who texts, talks, flirts, and even sends explicit messages—all powered by artificial intelligence. While marketed as entertainment or emotional support, the reality is far more disturbing. These apps exploit psychological vulnerabilities, harvest sensitive user data, and in some cases, serve as a gateway to grooming and extortion.

In 2023, an Indian teenager from Pune spent over ₹90,000 on in-app purchases for an AI girlfriend app. What started as casual interaction turned into emotional dependency. When the app suddenly restricted access behind a paywall, he spiralled into depression. Similar cases have been reported in Delhi, Hyderabad, and Bengaluru—users treating these bots like real emotional partners, unable to detach from the illusion.

These apps are designed with reinforcement loops to build artificial intimacy. They study your chat patterns, tone, and emotional triggers using machine learning. The more you engage, the more personalised and seductive the bot becomes. Some offer NSFW (Not Safe for Work) content for a fee, pushing users—especially minors—into sexually explicit exchanges. This is not AI romance. It’s monetised emotional manipulation.

There is a dangerous psychology at play: loneliness, low self-esteem, and desire for validation. These apps prey on exactly that. Once emotional dependency is formed, users are nudged to spend money for deeper “connection”—premium messages, voice notes, or even explicit photos. What’s worse, some third-party clones of these apps have been caught storing private conversations and media on unsecured servers, which were later leaked on Telegram channels.

In several instances, cybercriminals have mimicked these interfaces to trap users. In Mumbai, a case was reported where a user thought he was chatting with an AI companion, but was unknowingly interacting with a scammer using the same app UI. Personal messages and screen recordings were later used to blackmail him. These platforms are also used as grooming tools by predators who target vulnerable individuals through chat apps posing as “AI girlfriends.”

One of the most widely reported apps in this category is “Replika.”

It has been flagged globally for:

Simulating intimate and sexual conversations with users.
Creating emotional dependency, especially among minors.
Storing sensitive user interactions.
Reportedly sending sexually explicit content even without proper age verification.

Italy banned Replika in 2023, citing serious concerns around emotional manipulation and data privacy risks, particularly involving minors. The Italian data protection authority stated that the app posed a “real risk to emotionally vulnerable individuals” and failed to comply with GDPR safeguards.

This case sets a strong precedent for India to consider regulating such apps immediately.

India currently lacks specific legal oversight for such emotional exploitation. These apps operate in a grey zone—not classified as adult content, not regulated as mental health tools. This legal blind spot makes it easy for foreign and domestic developers to run operations with minimal accountability, even when underage users are involved.

Every parent, educator, and young user must understand: these apps are not just fantasy games. They are sophisticated psychological traps designed to exploit your emotions and finances. Do not share personal details, explicit content, or payment information with such platforms. Dependency on a bot is not companionship—it is digital conditioning.

Subscribe to our channel, share this video, and help raise awareness about the hidden psychological and cyber risks of AI companion apps.

Source- Replika & AI-Girlfriend App Concerns (Italy Regulation)

🔔 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 AI Companions Are Not Harmless! appeared first on Akancha Srivastava Foundation.

Stalkers Love Cloud Access!

Akancha Srivastava — Thu, 04 Sep 2025 05:47:17 +0000

Cloud storage is one of the most useful tools in our digital lives.

It backs up everything—photos, contacts, chats, passwords—without asking much from us. But that convenience comes with a dangerous blind spot. When you don’t control cloud access, it can become a stalker’s most powerful weapon.

In this episode, I explain how automatic cloud sync is being misused across India, often by former partners or abusive individuals. These threats don’t need physical access. They rely on something far more silent—your forgotten logins and unrestricted cloud permissions. Once granted, that access rarely gets revoked. Even after relationships end, accounts stay logged in. Devices remain connected. And the data keeps flowing.

Here’s how serious this is. According to a NortonLifeLock survey, 74 percent of Indian users in relationships admitted to digitally stalking their current or former partners. One in four confessed to using shared credentials to monitor devices or cloud accounts. This means your photos, calendar, chats, and even your location can be accessed long after a breakup—without your knowledge.

In December 2023, Mumbai police arrested a man who extorted ₹17 lakh from his ex‑lover by threatening to leak private photos stored in the cloud if she didn’t comply indiatoday.in+1timesofindia.indiatimes.com+1 indianexpress.com.

In 2023, India ranked third globally for stalkerware infections, according to a Kaspersky report. That same year, victim support helplines reported a rise in women discovering their private photos were accessed or leaked by ex-partners who retained cloud access. In many cases, survivors were being tracked through synced location histories or calendars.

This isn’t accidental. It is designed to intimidate and control. It’s a form of psychological violence that happens silently, through data most people forget to secure. The fact that a stalking case is reported every 55 minutes in India tells us what’s officially recognised. The digital side of this abuse goes mostly unreported.

Cloud accounts must be treated like bank accounts. You would never leave an ex with access to your money. Don’t leave them access to your digital life either.

Stay Safe – Do This:

Check all devices logged into your cloud account
Revoke access to any device you don’t recognise
Change passwords immediately after a breakup or conflict
Turn off auto-sync for sensitive data like photos or calendars
Enable two-factor authentication for all cloud accounts
Do not ignore activity alerts sent by your cloud provider

If this video helped you understand the risks, share it. Someone you know might be at risk without realising it. Subscribe to the channel and stay informed through expert content from the Akancha Srivastava Foundation.

Real-World Data:

A survey byNortonLifeLock‑Harris in India found 74% of people in romantic relationships admit to online stalking, and 26% used partner credentials to access devices or accountseconomictimes.com+1safehome.org+1.
Kaspersky’s 2023 reportshowed India ranked #3 globally for stalkerware infections, affecting around 2,492 userscom.
According to Indian police data, astalking case is reported every 55 minutes, yet digital stalking remains deeply underreported gov.in+8en.wikipedia.org+8safehome.org+8.

🔔 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://techcrunch.com/2025/08/07/instagram-map-feature-explained-does-not-share-your-location-unless-you-enable-it/

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 Stalkers Love Cloud Access! appeared first on Akancha Srivastava Foundation.

Instagram Maps Is Not Tracking You by Default

Akancha Srivastava — Thu, 28 Aug 2025 06:54:31 +0000

In August 2025, Instagram rolled out its new “Map” feature, triggering panic online.

Creators flooded reels and stories claiming the app is secretly sharing your live location—even suggesting it’s a threat to women’s safety. Let’s get the facts straight: Instagram’s Map does not share your location unless you turn it on yourself. Period.

This feature is 100% opt-in. You’re not visible on the map unless you manually enable location sharing. You also choose who sees it—Close Friends, Custom List, or No One. If you never touched this feature, you’re not being tracked. Meta, Adam Mosseri, and every verified source have confirmed this publicly.

So why the panic? Because many users are seeing friends on the map and assuming Instagram is auto-tracking. That’s false. Most of these appearances are from location-tagged posts or stories, not real-time tracking. Others turned it on without realising what they allowed. That’s on the user—not the platform.

Real concerns still exist. Many users don’t realise how precise the location can be once shared. Others don’t know where to disable it. Here’s how:

Open yourInstagram DMs, tap the Map icon, then the settings gear icon.
Set“Who can see your location” to No One or a custom list.
For full control, go to yourphone’s settings → Apps → Instagram → Location Access and set it to “Never”. This blocks the app from accessing your location at the system level, even if you mistakenly opt in.

Creators must stop pushing fear for engagement. Location settings aren’t hidden—they’re just unused by most people. The problem isn’t secret tracking. The problem is digital ignorance being amplified by viral content that spreads faster than facts.

Let’s stop fear-mongering and push digital literacy. Panic doesn’t protect you—awareness does.

Subscribe to our channel, share this video, and help spread verified facts—not fear.

🔔 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: