Apple snoop row: Cyber expert Pawan Duggal asks citizens to safeguard cyber security on their own

A massive controversy exploded after several leers of I.N.D.I. Alliance, an opposition bloc blamed Central government for committing a ‘snooping attack', ‘reminiscent’ of Pegasus issue after a hacking alert was sent to m by Apple. Notably, threat notification has been sent to iPhone users whose accounts are in nearly 150 countries. In response to alleged snoopgate charges framed against Centre by opposition leers and MPs, phone and software manufacturing company said that ‘Apple does not attribute threat notifications to any specific state-sponsored attacker.’

Cyber Expert Pawan Duggal on Apple Snoop row

Responding to row, Cyber Expert Pawan Duggal detailed threatening note controversy and vised people of nation to take ir cybersecurity into ir own hands. He said, “ recent Apple issue has recently generated a legal debate. Firstly, Apple sent a notification to certain public figures saying that ir phones could potentially be hacked or targeted by state-sponsored actors and y ought to be careful. It furr requested concerned people to follow basic steps to safeguard ir data and privacy”.

“Now, once this matter started getting more attention, Apple came up with a statement of clarification saying that we only talked about state-sponsored actors and did not name anybody in state. Also, Apple has sent this note to users in 150 countries where y once again underlined importance of growing significance of state-sponsored actors-related cyber attacks," he ded.

Pawan Duggal asserted that in entire space, one thing is very clear security is a journey in its process as what was secure yesterday will not be secure today and what is secure today will not be secure tomorrow. refore, each citizen of country needs to start focusing on strengning ir security. He ded that one should not be consciously focused on getting absolute security because it is something that will be never achieved. 

“In case you are rey to take baby steps to protect our security in terms of updating software, taking appropriate backups, not getting links from any person, not entertaining any video calls wher it is incorporating cyber hygiene as a part of your day-to-day activities or wher inculcating cyber security as a way of life. se are important parameters that will have to comply with by all of us as we move forward in case we want our data to be private and secure”.

cyber expert stated that India still doesn't have a dedicated law on cyber security. National Cyber Security Policy of 2013 has been a mere paper document. Even though nation has come up with Digital Personal Data Protection Act 2023, it has not been fully implemented yet.

“So, it's in your interest that you take appropriate safeguards to protect yourself, your data, your devices, and your unauthorised access. Never go ahe and use your electronic devices in an incriminating manner as that kind of incriminating evidence could be on your device. And if device gets hacked that evidence can be used against you in any legal proceedings".

"Since we have to be ourselves responsible for safeguarding cyber security and privacy, we will have to inculcate cyber resilience as a mindset. Start understanding and assuming that we and our data are alrey under constant attack. So, more baby steps, we can take to protect our data and our privacy and strengn our cybersecurity, better place we will be in terms of becoming victims of cybercrime,” said Pawan Duggal.