‘Must realise importance of understanding digital world’

Nagpur: The examination section of Nagpur University (NU) conducted a national-level webinar on cyber awareness and cyber discipline in higher education institutions on Monday. The webinar featured talks of various professionals on the issue of cybercrime and discussed today’s need of awareness on these issues.
“Coronavirus has really shifted us into a digital world. Digital platforms are mostly used through mobile. More than 70 percent people don’t know the basics of cyber security and how to file complains. Thus, it is the need of the hour to make people realise how important understanding the cyber world is,” said Sandeep Patil, who inaugurated the programme.
“Online education, increased online business transactions, purchase of various goods through online platforms during these times have increased the chances of occurrence of cyber crimes. If people know how to prevent them, they can tackle them easily,” he added. Patil ended his talk on the note that people should always ensure their actions are in the interest of society.
The first presentation was done by Ashok Bagul, senior police inspector, cyber cell, Nagpur, regarding what is cyber safety and its importance. Bagul also referred to different kinds of cyber crimes that occur and emphasised the need to be aware of these crimes.
The second presentation was on ensuring cyber safety in educational institutions, by RTMNU assistant professor Payal Thaorey. She explained how educational institutions can provide cyber safety to their faculty and students. Thaorey cited the relationship between cyber safety and educational institutions and said such institutions should set up cyber cells to ensure safety of students and faculty on various digital platforms.
The next presentation was by Ashish Badiye, head of department and assistant professor, department of forensic science, Government Institute of Forensic Science, Nagpur.
Badiye mentioned the norms that an institution needs to follow to conduct secure examinations for students and spoke on the need of providing secure databases to students to access information. “Institutions should perform a cyber security risk assessment and determine best arrangements for technology, people and processes,” he said.
The next presentation was made by Amol Deshmukh, head of department, forensics and related laws at the Government Institute of Forensic science, Mumbai, and cyber advisor to the government of Maharashtra, on cyber discipline during online examinations amid the pandemic.
He addressed the pointers that students should keep in mind during exams for better flow, and how exams should be conducted and attended to prevent any malpractices.
(Reporting by Porus Ghurde)