A seasoned expert from the renowned Kaspersky Global Cybersecurity Company Ms. Genie Gan, Head of Government Affairs and Public Policy, for Asia-Pacific, Japan, Middle East, Turkey and Africa regions, has said, “seemingly innocuous actions, which often go unnoticed, such as thoughtlessly sharing one’s ID card photo through messaging applications with unverified individuals or casually entrusting it to a facility’s security personnel, may pave the way for malevolent actors to gain access to one’s personal information. This stolen data can subsequently serve as a powerful tool for cybercriminals, enabling them to perpetrate identity theft, financial fraud, or even engage in extortion tactics.”
During a seminar hosted by NGN International, a leading Bahraini IT Systems Integrations and Managed Cyber Security Company, and expertly moderated by the company’s General Manager, Mr. Ali Beshara, Ms. Genie Gan underscored the immense value of personal data in the world of cybercrime. She emphasized that cybercriminals exploit this valuable information to orchestrate identity theft and use social engineering to execute financial scams, thereby underscoring the imperative need for caution and heightened digital awareness.
In the seminar which was titled “Inclusive Leadership in Cybersecurity,” Ms. Gan underscored that competent authorities across the globe consistently grapple with a substantial influx of daily inquiries and reports concerning incidents of electronic extortion and personal identity theft. These disconcerting reports predominantly emanate from lapses in preserving the integrity of personal data and deficiencies in safeguarding its confidentiality.
Furthermore, she stressed the essential practice exercising caution when establishing connections with unfamiliar individuals on social networking platforms, as some individuals engage in phishing activities with the intent of exploiting, pilfering, and misusing these accounts under the guise of their rightful owners.
For his part, Mr. Beshara, underscored the crucial role individuals play in safeguarding their electronic security. He highlighted a pertinent example: the “E- key” in Bahrain, which holds the power to authorize document uploads, confirm contracts, and execute pivotal procedures. Mr. Beshara cautioned that the improper sharing of such sensitive information can expose individuals to considerable risks, including identity theft, identity manipulation, and electronic fraud. Unfortunately, sharing of such credentials is common due to the level of social trust in our community, and the under estimation of the consequences and the significance of someone’s data online.
Moreover, Mr. Beshara expressed concern about the practice of entrusting one’s E- key data to employees or transaction clearance offices, particularly among officials and businessmen with busy schedules. He emphasized that this practice presents a potential vulnerability, leaving data susceptible to theft and individuals vulnerable to financial extortion. He cautioned that there is no foolproof assurance that individuals won’t fall victim to blackmail or have their personal information pilfered by those entrusted to conduct their affairs on their behalf.
In a statement during the seminar, Mr. Yaqoob Al Awadhi, the CEO of NGN, elucidated that this event aligns with the company’s commitment to disseminating awareness about cybersecurity. It aims to serve as a platform for hosting international experts in the field, with the overarching goal of bolstering societal security and safety. Additionally, the event seeks to raise public awareness regarding the importance of safeguarding personal data
and the associated cyber challenges, and underscores the significant repercussions stemming from the lack of adequate attention and care when handling ID cards.
Mr. Al Awadhi further emphasized that the comprehensive protection of personal data is a collective endeavor that transcends individual responsibility. Rather, it necessitates concerted efforts involving individuals, businesses, institutions, and governments, working collaboratively to advance awareness and education in the realm of cybersecurity. This collective effort aims to ensure the implementation of robust security practices and stringent protection standards. He stressed the critical importance of fostering collaboration between government agencies and security institutions to effectively counter cyber threats and enhance digital security within Bahraini society.
To help users embrace digital payment technologies securely, Ms. Gan suggested the following:
•Do not share your PIN, password or any other financial information with anyone online or offline.
•Avoid using the public Wi-Fi to make any online transactions.
•Use a separate credit or debit card to make online transactions. Set a spending limit on the card which can help keep a track of financial transactions.
•Shop from trusted and official websites
•Use reliable security solution such as Kaspersky Premium on all your devices which are used for financial transactions. It helps to detect fraudulent or suspicious activity and check the security of visited websites.
