Don’t Share Emails, Mobile Numbers, Say Cybersecurity Experts

Hyderabad: Cybersecurity experts on Friday advised people against sharing their personal information, such as mobile phone numbers and emails, unnecessarily, as they could be exploited by fraudsters.

During a cyber security awareness workshop held at Osmania University Postgraduate College, Secunderabad, on Friday, in collaboration with the Police Training Centre and Cyber Matrix 1337, OSINT specialist K. Rahul and his team said people routinely give away phone numbers at malls for gift hampers or submit details at restaurants and hotels, often without realising that this data can be sold.

He said most of our personal data is readily available on the Dark Web for a price. “Information leakage,” he cautioned, “happens not just physically but also through mobile apps that quietly collect and circulate user data.”

He asked people to check if their emails have been exposed to breaches by visiting the website “Have I Been Pwned”. “The platform helps individuals understand which apps or services may have compromised their information and serves as a wake-up call on how widespread data leaks have become in the digital ecosystem, and suggests the students delete the bank card details in the applications.”

Advising students on mobile security, Rahul suggested installing Malwarebytes. “It is a mobile app that deep scans phones, flags harmful third-party apps or APK links and deletes them.”

He asked people to have strong passwords with at least 15 characters, carry personal USB cables for charging, and avoid public USB ports at railway stations, bus stands and malls due to higher security risks.

The cyber expert also advised people against sharing hotspots or WiFi passwords. “I just say it is under repair,” he chuckled. Rahul was assisted by his Cyber researchers Shivudu, Veera Bramaiah, Sai Ram and Sulthan Shaik.

CI Venkateshwarlu, an indoor trainer at PTC Medchal, spoke on drug awareness, stating that the government’s focus on a drug-free state requires strong awareness among youth. He explained the differences between narcotic, semi-psychotropic and psychotropic substances and cautioned students about how young people are increasingly falling prey to substance abuse.

PTC principal Madhukar Swamy said the Telangana police are committed to the government’s drug-free society initiative by empowering recruits and spreading awareness. He noted that the force has registered numerous cases, conducted major operations and cracked several rackets, aided by strong infrastructure and will continue the same efforts.

Students who initially shared their phone numbers and email IDs readily were, by the end of the session, unwilling to disclose any personal information. Cyber expert Sulthan concluded the workshop with a strong reminder: “Privacy is a myth, and security is an illusion.”