This week for our weekly edition of Community Wise, we bring to you about the Quick Heal Foundation, which aims to prioritise awareness as the primary tool to tackle cybercrime.
PNS| HYDERABAD
The Quick Heal Foundation is driven by its purpose of securing futures by enabling communities and society at large. Hence their programs are designed to be in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals to create a better India with better opportunities for all. Their key focus areas are cybersecurity awareness and better healthcare for all. In this process, they also work to enhance employability through soft skills training.
“Our Cyber Shiksha for Cyber Suraksha program aims to create awareness in society through street plays, workshops, and webinars for students across India. Furthermore, under our program Earn and Learn we train and motivate the volunteers to spread cyber security awareness amongst schools and colleges. We have organized workshops for underprivileged sections of society, like street vendors educating them on how to minimize risks on the internet. We have included all our employees,
partners, schools & universities, local police, authorities, state administrations, and corporates across the country. We proactively spread awareness of cyber threats through e-learning on our website, social media, and PR campaigns. Since creating better access to healthcare is also one of our primary objectives, we have been working in the public health space ever since inception. Under our Arogya Yan initiative, we donate state-of-the-art, fully equipped medical vans to NGOs operating in the rural areas of the country,” informs Anupama Katkar, the chairperson of the foundation.
Post-pandemic they observed that there was a marked increase in mental trauma of underprivileged students coming from slum areas. They then under their program, ‘Arogyam Mansampada’, proactively designed and conducted a 3-hour long session to address anxiety, stress, trauma phobia, and other problems including lack of attention and concentration. “The true impact of our initiatives comes in a non-tangible form, comprising a multitude of emotions like security, empowerment, self-awareness, gratitude, and above all, joy. We couldn’t ask for anything beyond making cybersecurity a fundamental right for all while being carried forward to even the remotest corners of the country, and the smiles that we get to see on the faces of people who benefit from our health and educational programs.”
In tangible terms, they take pride in having touched the lives of more than 4 lakh rural residents and 448 members of President Protected Tribes. They have donated 15 vans so far in 10 different states of India covering 600+ remotely located villages. Besides, “The easiest way to safeguard yourself from malicious attacks is to install a good anti-virus solution and to activate your firewall. It keeps you protected from
viruses, malware, and rootkits. It is advised to always keep the security software updated by applying the latest patches that are sent to your system to block and prevent new emerging threats. In a bid to educate the community at large on how to identify, report, and mitigate threats online, we have designed an e-booklet that is available on our website in multiple languages. Under one amongst many of our CSR programs, we conduct street plays and work closely with local administrations, NGOs, Universities, and Police to educate the marginalized sections of society on cyber safety. We have also organized workshops for underprivileged sections of society, like street vendors educating them on how to minimize risks on the internet.”
The government’s vision of ‘New India’ is more digital, self-sufficient, connected, and ambitious. With the country’s internet user base growing and internet penetration increasing by the day, it is extremely important for robust steps to be taken at the policymaking level in order to increase cyber literacy in the country. It is important to foster cyber safety as a culture, empowering everybody in the organization and value chain with cyber safety education. It is also imperative for responsible industry stakeholders to join forces to spread awareness of safe digital practices to vulnerable communities at large.
