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Protecting Goa's Seniors from Increasing Cyber Threats

Cybercrimes have increased alarmingly in recent years in Goa, primarily targeting elderly people who are more vulnerable. The number of cybercrime incidents in the state has been continuously increasing, according to reports from Herald Goa, raising concerns among the public and law enforcement.

Data from the Goa Police Department indicates a concerning rise in cases of cybercrime against senior citizens. Scammers frequently use sophisticated techniques to prey on this group's lack of digital literacy. To acquire unlawful access to private data and financial assets, they employ deceptive schemes, phishing emails, and bogus websites.

In an interview with Herald Goa, Inspector General of Police, Jaspal Singh, emphasized the need for enhanced awareness and education regarding online safety for senior citizens. He stated, "It is crucial for our senior citizens to be aware of the potential threats they face online. Education is our strongest weapon against cybercrime."

To address this issue, the Goa Police Department has compiled a comprehensive set of cybercrime prevention tips, available on their official website. These guidelines provide valuable insights into safeguarding personal information, recognizing phishing attempts, and securing online transactions.

Additionally, experts advise seniors to be cautious when sharing personal information on social media platforms. Cybercriminals often exploit oversharing tendencies to gather sensitive data, which can be used for malicious purposes. Individuals must exercise discretion and limit the information they disclose online.

Furthermore, the importance of strong, unique passwords cannot be overstated. A study conducted by cybersecurity firm Norton revealed that 65% of individuals use the same password for multiple accounts, making them vulnerable to hacking. Senior citizens are encouraged to create complex passwords and consider using password manager tools to enhance security.

The increasing number of cybercrimes in Goa that target senior folks highlights how urgent the problem is. It is essential to give priority to education, awareness, and preventative security measures to combat this expanding threat. Seniors can use the internet safely if they follow the advice for prevention and stay educated about potential risks. 

Goa DGP calls Alexa a spy

Goa Director General of Police (DGP), Muktesh Chander, while speaking at a cybersecurity seminar on Thursday, 21 February, warned people from excessive use of Amazon's artificial intelligence assistant Alexa, saying that these assistants are acting like spies and collecting private information, The Indian Express reported.

“And what Alexa does. All the time it is listening. Everything. Every word you are saying, Alexa is listening and passing it on to Google. (Chander then corrects himself and says Amazon)."

Chander, who is also a cybersecurity expert, was delivering a keynote address at a seminar on ‘Cyber Security for Industry’ in Panaji.

“Sounds.pk… PK are Pakistani sites. Why are they giving sounds free of cost?” Chander said, adding that the songs.pk website promotes a “compromised Chinese-made browser” to glean information from a user’s phone. “Has anybody tried downloading this songs.pk? All of a sudden if you are trying on mobile, one thing is bound to come up… UC browser. Have you heard of that? Because UC browser is… a Chinese browser. It is collecting all the information. So there is a hidden agenda,” Chander said.