The Economic Times daily newspaper is available online now.

    Cybersecurity startups see billions in keeping you safe

    Synopsis

    The growing number of online transactions means cybercriminals have been targeting consumers through fraud calls, messages and emails.

    CYBER-SECURITYGetty Images
    Consumers embracing digital ways of doing business are facing threats including data theft and fraud calls, they pointed out.
    BENGALURU: Cybersecurity companies such as Innefu Labs, Lucideus and McAfee are looking to build solutions to combat the next big threats to consumers in an increasingly digital economy.

    Many first-time users have taken to India’s growing digital economy following the launch of many initiatives by the Narendra Modi government to boost digital literacy in the past few years, but awareness about cybersecurity and infrastructure are still lacking, cybersecurity experts said.

    Consumers embracing digital ways of doing business are facing threats including data theft and fraud calls, they pointed out.

    About 47.5 billion e-transactions were recorded nationwide in 2019 till November, according to a report by PwC and Data Security Council of India.

    The growing number of online transactions means cybercriminals have been targeting consumers through fraud calls, messages and emails, said Tarun Wig, co-founder of cybersecurity firm Innefu Labs.

    “We are looking to solve the consumer problems as that are definitely the need of the hour,” he said. “While the internet population is growing, cyber literacy, especially for first-time users, is the next thing that the industry will be looking at,” Wig added.

    CYBERSECURITY-graph

    The cybersecurity market in India is expected to grow to $3.05 billion by 2022 from $1.97 billion last year, according to the report.

    “You have a few people who are techsavvy, but millions of farmers...(and) vendors are now joining the digital economy (and) need to be educated about cybersecurity,” a McAfee spokesperson said.

    The cybersecurity company is using blogs and social media to create awareness through videos based on augmented and virtual reality. It is also running a podcast that discusses the extreme lengths to which hackers go to steal personal information.

    “Today, many organisations are being attacked through employees, as personal and working devices are interconnected. An employee is not just working from the office, but everywhere, through smartphones. Quantifying or scoring cyber risk will become critical then,” said Saket Modi, cofounder of cybersecurity firm Lucideus.

    In the near term, businesses to consumers, enterprises and government will merge for integrated solutions, he added.
    SIDBI MSME Conclave 2024 |Register Now.
    ...more
    SIDBI MSME Conclave 2024 |Register Now.
    ...more
    The Economic Times

    Stories you might be interested in