Cyber Sense; OBC’s Cyber Security Workshop Series

With the aim of equipping journalists to identify and defend against traps in the digital world, OBC organized the ‘Cyber Sense’ cyber security workshop, which discussed the importance of staying safe in cyberspaces. The session, led by international cyber security specialist Sangameswaran Iyer Manikyam, reminded participants that maintaining cyber security while gathering and disseminating news is an essential requirement of this era. The session focused on simple security practices that journalists should pay attention to in their daily lives. He emphasized that what is needed in the digital world is not just technical knowledge, but constant vigilance.

The session explained how to recognize cyber traps such as phishing and impersonation, and how to effectively use multi-factor authentication (MFA) beyond just passwords. It also discussed the need to keep phones and laptops secure when traveling for field reporting. He outlined what should and should not be done if an account is hacked—both within the first 15 minutes and in the following 24 hours—without panicking. With 25 years of experience in cyber security, Sangameswaran Iyer Manikyam answered students’ questions through simple examples and a Q&A interaction.