Pause before you pay: thousands join cyber safety march to promote safer online habits in Hyderabad

On Thursday, October 1, around 3,000 individuals gathered on Necklace Road in Hyderabad to participate in a 'Cyber Security Flash – Pause for Safety' Light March. Organized by the Telangana Cyber Security Bureau, the event aimed to promote safer online habits and raise awareness about cyber fraud. The march, which lasted for two kilometers, saw participants of various backgrounds, including police personnel, students, ex-servicemen, and citizens, switch on their mobile phone flashlights and LED wristbands in a symbolic display of vigilance.

Telangana Director General of Police C.V. Anand emphasized the importance of taking a moment to pause and verify before engaging in online activities, stating that cyber fraud often preys on people's haste. Actor Adivi Sesh, who attended the event as the guest of honor, further stressed that cyber fraud could target anyone, urging people to be alert and cautious.

Shikha Goel, Principal Secretary, Home Department, and Director of the Telangana Cyber Security Bureau, announced that police units across the state would conduct awareness programs targeting various demographics, including students, women, senior citizens, working professionals, and businesses. The campaign, themed "Don't Make It Easy for Them," concluded on October 31 with similar Cyber Security Flash walks in every district, led by respective Superintendents and Commissioners of Police.