Why information security is the way forward for Nepal

In a digital era, Nepalis need to equip themselves with safety tools while surfing the fast world of the “Internet”. Though information technology is used for varied purposes from business to education by the urban population of Nepal, is being online really safe?

Democratisation of technology and the widespread use of new delivery channels such as ATM, internet banking, mobile banking are increasing the risk of financial loss and electronic frauds online. Information technology guidelines which all banks operating in Nepal are obliged to follow have recommended deploying a strong cryptography and end-to-end encryption to protect customer PINs, passwords and other sensitive data in the bank network.

Similarly, businesses hire technology officers and ethical hackers for data safety, however steps to ensure data safety on a personal level is often neglected.

Suyash Nepal, cyber security engineer at Nepal’s leading cyber security enterprise ThreatNix, says, “There is still little awareness in the general public about maintaining cyber security. However, in the corporate world, people are undeniably concerned about their companies' data." To ensure information security, some measures are crucial to follow on a personal level as well.

How to keep your digital data safe ?

- Update your software regularly

- Use Anti Virus (AV) Protection

- Use complexly structured and hard to guess passwords

- Use multi factor authentication systems

- Be suspicious of opening links attached in emails your receive

- Review your privacy settings in social media

- Reveal less of your personal information online

- Avoid sending sensitive information like credit card numbers in a text message

- Use Find my iPhone or the Android Device Manager to prevent theft

- Enable Backup & Sync from Android or use iCloud for backup

- Avoid using public Wi - Fi or use a VPN for better safety

- Avoid downloading unnecessary items

- Be extra careful while conducting financial transactions online

These days cyber crimes are committed by people of high expertise and criminal tactics, it has now evolved as organized crime involving groups and networks making them harder to track and locate. Billions of dollars are lost every year due to cyber crimes in the world while the theft of intellectual property has resulted in an even greater financial loss. Maintaining information security helps prevent unauthorized people from accessing official and personal information.