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

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

Cyber Expert Pawan Duggal on Apple Snoop row

Responding to the row, Cyber Expert Pawan Duggal detailed the threatening note controversy and advised people of the nation to take their cybersecurity into their own hands. He said, “The recent Apple issue has recently generated a legal debate. Firstly, Apple sent a notification to certain public figures saying that their phones could potentially be hacked or targeted by state-sponsored actors and they ought to be careful. It further requested the concerned people to follow basic steps to safeguard their 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 the state. Also, Apple has sent this note to users in 150 countries where they once again underlined the importance of the growing significance of state-sponsored actors-related cyber attacks," he added.

Pawan Duggal asserted that in the 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. Therefore, each citizen of the country needs to start focusing on strengthening their security. He added that one should not be consciously focused on getting absolute security because it is something that will be never achieved. 

“In case you are ready 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 whether it is incorporating cyber hygiene as a part of your day-to-day activities or whether inculcating cyber security as a way of life. These 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”.

The cyber expert stated that India still doesn't have a dedicated law on cyber security. The National Cyber Security Policy of 2013 has been a mere paper document. Even though the nation has come up with the 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 ahead and use your electronic devices in an incriminating manner as that kind of incriminating evidence could be on your device. And if the 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 already under constant attack. So, the more baby steps, we can take to protect our data and our privacy and strengthen our cybersecurity, the better place we will be in terms of becoming victims of cybercrime,” said Pawan Duggal.