Cyber security: To fight Blue Whale-like terror together is New Year resolution

HYDERABAD: Cyber Security, SHE Teams and Bharosa would be working together to ensure cyber security in schools across the state from next year. The controversial online self-harm game, Blue Whale, claimed many victims in 2017 and Google trends also showed a worrying trend of the most number of searches for the game being from India. After more children were seen succumbing to the game, the CBSE issued guidelines for internet usage and safety in schools.

Board officials said that schools were to provide a safe and secure learning environment and an eye had to be kept on internet usage by students whether it was a game, a website or anything else. Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime) Swathi Lakra said, “We have been visiting schools since the self-harm game speculation started. We will also be focusing on cyber security as a whole in 2018 which is why we are involving new teams as well. We are in the process of creating short films, pamphlets and also talking to students to ensure that no harm comes to them in the virtual world.”

With the increasing cyber security needs, the field was set to generate a lot of employment, said educational experts. A recently released Niti Ayog report said that an overhaul of the cyber security task force with more youngsters from premium institutions and also Master of Computer Application graduates was on the cards.

Inspector of Cybercrime station P. Ravi Kiran said, “The state is definitely not fully equipped to handle the magnitude of cybercrime we deal with on a daily basis. Social media crime and hacking is a daily affair. Therefore, we do need more confident youths who are adapted to technology and ready to give their ideas.” Notices were issued from schools to homes to ensure that parents monitored internet usage at home as well.

Ashish Nareddi, a member of HSPA, said, “While several schools held awareness programmes about Blue Whale and other harmful problems of internet usage, many have also introduced usage of tablets since Class IV. Similarly, many WhatsApp groups have been formed by teachers through which homework or assignments are communicated leading to many parents giving in to their ward’s demand and buying them a smart phone. Hopefully, there will be better coordination between schools and parents in 2018.”