Indian Air Force & Uber Mobility MoU - Why Question It?

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A few days back a section of a podcast went viral. The subject of discussion was MoU signed between Indian Air Force and Uber towards mobility solutions for Air Force personnel and their families. The so-called experts were mocking not only the concept / arrangement made by the organization, but also deriding the people behind the concept as also the leadership of the Air Force. The excuse – Security concerns on using a mobile app from a US Company storing data outside India. 

 

Which world are thses guys living in? Do they think that the Indian Armed Forces do not allow their personnel to use commercially available smart phones, or that the Armed Forces personnel and their families do not use Uber otherwise, or that these men and their families do not use any apps on their phones, or that they use only Indian made apps storing data only on servers within India, or that Armed Forces personnel and their families do not use any apps from Alphabet, Meta or Amazon, or that these companies cannot or do not track the movements/actions of their users, or that any of these companies will profile the user data only if the parent organization has a formal MoU with the said company or that the Indian Armed Forces have the budget to provide a Government Vehicle to all the personnel or that the intelligence of the other countries is so weak that they do not know the locations of the bases of Indian Armed Forces, which is crazy since we actually have railway stations named after cantonments, for God’s sake or, finally, that the senior leadership has not carried out the due diligence before giving the go ahead.

 

Given a data set of mobile usage, any amateur data analyst can figure out the workplace of any person. If you use Google maps, it actually asks the user to set the location as workplace or home when it sees you are travelling back and forth to same locations during mornings and evenings. So, there it is, if one is travelling to sena bhavan even in his own vehicle, Maps and so many other apps already know that you are working in the Armed Forces and that too in the Headquarters. You don’t have to be using the Uber app or even registering with them for Uber and the other apps to start profiling you. And even if you are using a service vehicle but carrying a smart phone, you are still being tracked. So, what are we trying to achieve by denying a welfare scheme to the Armed Forces personnel.

Few lessons to be learnt here. 

 

First, an expertise on one subject does not make one an expert on all subjects. Just because someone is a good orator and specializes in one subject should not and does not give them the right or authority to opine on any other subject under the garb of free speech. The people on the podcast, besides indulging in fearmongering, damaged their own reputation as well as their own following, by speaking on a subject clearly out of their grasp. None of the panelists in the said podcast are qualified in cyber security, mobile telephony, defence matters or mobility solutions. Still they yap!!  

 

Second, one should not shun development, technology or even an idea just because there is a risk, but we should take measures to mitigate the risk and protect ourselves from misuse, abuse or even sabotage. Pathankot, Uri, Pulwama did not happen because of Armed Forces personnel travelling in taxis. 

 

Lastly, it is a common issue in the civilian/corporate world, they get in an expert to solve their problem and then start telling the expert how to solve the problem. Likewise, here, people who have entrusted their own security to the Armed Forces, are now questioning the capability of the Armed Forces to look after the security of the Armed forces personnel. If these people are so concerned about security of the armed forces, they probably should canvass against any commercial activity, buildings, hotels in the vicinity of the Naval docks, Army cantonments and Air Force bases. For example, stop civilian/foreigner movements around Gateway of India, shut down Taj Palace hotel, Mazagaon docks, etc., the list is endless.

 

PS: Microsoft Word just auto corrected the spelling of Mazagon, above. Is it now a national security threat, Should I stop using MS Word?

Beware of "Digital Arrest Scam" - What Should You Do?

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What does the term "Digital Arrest" mean? Well, "Digital arrest" typically refers to the phenomenon where a person is prevented from accessing their digital devices or online accounts, often due to security measures, hacking incidents, or unauthorised access. It can also relate to situations where digital assets or accounts are frozen or suspended, perhaps due to legal issues or policy violations. In a broader sense, it highlights the growing importance of cybersecurity and the potential risks associated with our reliance on digital technology.

But, here we are not referring to this legal action of arresting someone by the sanctioned legal authorities, instead this term is now being used by fraudsters and scammers to fool people into believing so! 

The "digital arrest scam" usually involves fraudsters posing as law enforcement or government officials who claim that the victim is involved in illegal activities online. They might threaten the victim with arrest unless they pay a fine or fee immediately, often demanding payment through unconventional means like gift cards or cryptocurrency. They may do this via emails, WhatsApp calls or phone calls. There have been several cases now reported of people losing crores of rupees to these scammers. Most recent case was that of a techie from Hyderabad who spent 30hrs on a fraud call by these fraudsters. According to news reports, more than 6,000 complaints of digital arrests have been registered this year! 

Here are some key points about the scam:

1. Threats of Legal Action: Scammers create a sense of urgency by claiming that the victim has committed a crime or is involved with some illegal activities, such as money laundering, copyright infringement, or tax evasion.

2. Impersonation: They often spoof official-looking emails, phone numbers, or websites to make their communications appear legitimate.

3. Payment Pressure: Victims are pressured to make quick payments to avoid arrest, often with threats of further legal action or embarrassment.

4. Common Targets: These scams can target anyone, but older adults or less tech-savvy individuals might be more vulnerable.

5. Prevention: It’s important to verify any claims made by contacting official sources directly and to be cautious about sharing personal information or making payments.

If you or someone you know encounters this type of scam, it’s best to report it to local authorities and avoid engaging with the scammers. Or call 1930. 

This scam has become so worrisome and menacing that recently our honourable Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi in his monthly 'Mann ki Baat' broadcast, flagged the issue of fraudsters targeting people with the cyber crime of "digital arrests" and urged people to adopt the mantra of "Stop, Think and Take Action" when faced with such a scam, asserting that these steps will provide digital security to them.

"'Stop, Think And Take Action': PM Shares Must-Dos Against Digital Arrests Scam"

According to a news report in Times Now - 

"The Union Ministry of Home Affairs has formed a high-level committee to investigate digital arrest scam cases and cyber fraud. The committee has been instructed to take immediate action against the perpetrators. The committee was announced days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged the issue of fraudsters targeting people with the cyber crime of "digital arrests" and urged people to adopt the mantra of "stop, think and take action" when faced with such a scam, asserting that these steps will provide digital security to them."

Be Alert Citizens....! Take Action to avoid becoming a Digital Arrest Victim, for the next one could be YOU!