Cyber threats and data privacy

 "Data Piracy is threatening Data Privacy".Information security starts with the CIA Triad-sounds more like mafia and counter-espionage jargon- is the bedrock of the cybersecurity edifice.CIA stands for Confidentiality, Integrity and Availability encompassing the entire gamut of Information security. Consider the following examples and contemplate on these real-life threats faced by all of us:

1)TWITTER SAYS 130 ACCOUNTS WERE TARGETED IN A MAJOR CYBER

ATTACK OF CELEBRITY ACCOUNTS TWO DAYS AGO SOURCE: BBC 17 JULY 20

2)MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL NOTIFIES GUESTS OF PROPERTY SYSTEM INCIDENT SOURCE:

HTTPS://NEWS.MARRIOTT.COM/NEWS/2020/03/31/MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL NOTIFIES GUESTS OF PROPERTY SYSTEM INCIDENT

3)Computers containing data relating to national security and VVIPs like Prime

Minister Narendra Modi were compromised in early September after

a security breach at the NIC (National Informatics Centre), Delhi Police

sources have said.The computers affected also stored data relating to National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Indian citizens and senior government functionaries

There are Emotet Trojans, Email hacking,Rogue IoT devices, hacked admin passwords, stealth drones, compromised employees, even Central bank hacking, Pentagon data breach etc. etc. are happening all over the place. They pose risks of all kinds including an unimaginable quantum of funds being siphoned off which remain untraceable.

There are millions of people who are active in the Dark web and create this havoc in our real life on a day today. But cybersecurity has emerged as the foremost priority of any country, organisation or anything to do with the organized white web, which is legal,confidential and safeguards the sovereign interests. More so when it comes to individual data security and privacy. The fundamental right to existence of any human is threatened if  his information security is breached and pirated.

As a result the Central Govt is keen on legislating GDPR(General Data Protection Regulation) Act similar to the EU GDPR  and if all goes as planned this Act may become a reality during this year winter session of the Parliament.

Gartner has come out with the above trend with respect to Emerging Technologies which are likely to complicate and disrupt the Information security scenario.

In order to make the Cybersecurity robust National Institute of Standards and Technology has come out with a detailed Cyber Security Framework considering the ISO ISMS 27001:2013 standards.

In short, all the stakeholders of our economy must endeavour to protect their data and privacy with a robust framework and protect their passwords as they are the keys to the door to their individual privacy and prosperity. 

Health is Wealth - the maxim remains true always. However, today the Health of Your Wealth in a digitalised world , depends on robust Cyber Security.

Pollution Control and Corruption uncontrolled

 

State pollution Control Boards have enormous powers and the absolute power corrupts absolutely. They can bar and mar a factory, a company etc by wielding their bureaucratic overreach, pelf and power or even by threatening to use them. Under Environmental rules drawn by Govt. to rid the environment of pollution, those in power misuse these provisions and line up their pockets.

The typical case is that of a mid-level officer in Vellore recently caught by the State DVAC  who was found to be owning cash, jewellery, assets and landed properties to the tune of Rs100 cr.(link)

Pollution Control or management should be best left to experts and the bureaucrats should not be involved in this. The corporates should be under the surveillance and audit of third party experts certified by agencies like UNFCCC etc.

The present system provides for nexus between Corporates and the bureaucrats or Corporates and the political class with bureaucrats at their beck and call or bureaucrats in cahoots with crass politicians working against the Corporates. In every pemutation and combination you can imagine, the final loser is the country and its environment.

It is high time the Central Govt realised this and bring internationally accredited third  party experts to evaluate the Environment Impact Assessments and also in regular certification of Corporates and their factories for consent to operate and run.

Whenever the complaints of pollution are received from citizens, these complaints may be properly looked into and investigated by one or more of these independent internationally accredited third-party experts.

Either the Central Govt on its own or SC must order Central Govt to bring in suitable legislation for bringing in transparency in the implementation of evaluation by independent pollution management experts in all areas of Envrionmental impact areas.