TAHIR AMIN

ISLAMABAD: The developing countries are very much dependent on developed countries for outsourcing technology, where they often have to encounter with cyber security, said Dr Hatim Zaghloul, co-inventor of WiFi and expert on information and cyber technology.

“The threats and risks linked with the usage of cyber technology are increasing by every passing day, the level is directly related to the ever growing and developing phenomena in this arena”, said Zaghloul while delivering a lecture on “Cyber Security,” arranged by Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) in collaboration with Pakistan Institute of Parliamentary Studies (PIPS) and Youth Parliamentarians Forum (YPF).

Dr Hatim said that infrastructure and education are some of the key determinants of cyber security and hence need to be made priority areas while dealing with the issue of cyber security. National level cyber security policies are required by governments to stop the criminals to detect, protect, response and recover, he added.

He further said that governments, especially in the developing countries must respond to the situation with proactive measures ensuring the security risks are neutralized whereas the freedom and rights of the individuals are not infringed in the process.

“The governments, especially in developing countries need to evolve national cyber policies with a bigger and wider framework on cyber technology”, Dr Hatim said while clarifying that the criminal law lacks the ability and capacity to deal with cyber crimes and hence, cannot respond to risks and threats linked to the use of cyber technology.

Dr Hatim said that as far as risks to individuals is concerned; mostly it involves the element of blackmailing whereas with regard to enterprise world, it’s mainly about overpowering on business competitors through the use of unfair means i.e. cyber crimes. However, the issue turns even griever when cyber crimes involve the activities of governments as it may put the safety and security of the nation as well the people in jeopardy, he remarked.

“Nationalizing the technology by the governments is a long-term solution for the threats in cyber world”, he opined and suggested that national policies on cyber security are imperative while creating balance in security related demands and protecting the rights of the individuals.

Dr Abid Qayyum Saleri, Executive Director of SDPI said that the advancement in information technology has become both a threat and opportunity and hence, demands its rational and careful use to minimize the risk involved for personal security.

“Cyber security has emerged as a non-traditional security threat to personal and national security and freedoms, and thus demands non-traditional solutions while ensuring the individual rights are protected”, he added.