Mushahid Launches first-ever Cyber Security Manual at Media Workshop

Date : November 20, 2013

Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed, Chairman Senate Defence Committee, launched the first ever Cyber Security Manual prepared for journalists, in collaboration with German Foundation Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) at Pakistan Institute of Parliamentary Services (PIPS).

This manual is an integral part of Senate Defence Committee’s commitment to a nationwide cyber-security awareness campaign. This campaign, which has been very active, aims to mitigate cyber security risks and vulnerabilities for all sections of the society from students to professionals.

In this effort, the Chairman directed a comprehensive workshop on “Cyber Security for Journalists” to educate them about various cyber threats related to their profession and simple practical steps they could take to alleviate them.

The most ingenious endeavour on the occasion was the unveiling of the one-of-its-kind “Cyber Security Manual for Journalists” which was handed out to the journalists and launched electronically on the Senate Defence Committee’s Website.

The easy to carry manual aims to raise awareness among the journalists about their vulnerabilities while working online or using digital devices. It informs them about different resources that can be utilized to plan their own security protocols for dealing with threats, particularly those faced in their profession. All this is expected to enable them to produce and share their stories with the public in a secure and safe way.

The most distinct feature of this 40 page manual is its ability to address this tech-savvy issue, which for laymen is intimidating, in a very succinct and simple narrative. Divided in to 14 different chapters which tackle different aspects of cyber security, the manual applies simple terminologies and explanations to help readers in identifying their vulnerabilities. Whole chapters are dedicated to discuss and explain the various commonly used technologies and risks associated with them, e.g. internet connection, computers, browsers, cell phones, emails. Every issue is concluded with simple ways that every person can take to make their communication secure.

"With this media training workshop and manual, we have gone a step further by actively involving the media as not just stakeholders but as a partner in our endeavour on Cyber Security because media would always be the first line of defence in this battle," said Chairman Senate Defence Committee.

Click to download Cyber Security Manual‏