While it may not seem strange to see weapons in a soldier’s equipment, smartphones are a new addition.
Union Minister Haribhai Parathibhai Chaudhary has now announced that troops who are deployed along India’s international borders and in areas hit by Maoist attacks will soon be receiving secure mobile phones as a part of their standard equipment.
Since even those whose deployments are to rather remote areas still receive cell service, this could be helpful.
The secure mobile phones will even be issued to security personnel who are located in areas that have only short-term occasional connections. Chaudhary explained that “We are planning to provide secure mobile phones to all security personnel deployed along the borders and Naxal-affected areas so that they can keep in touch with their family via 3G connection.” It would not be possible for the mobile technology to be intercepted, he said, because the telephone exchange would be carried by the battalions wherever they go instead of being kept in a fixed position as is the case with traditional networks.
The secure mobile phones have received the approval of an American company that has said the tech is ready.
A delegation from that U.S. based company met with Chaudhary, at which time the company claimed that it was prepared to provide the cell phone exchange within a portable box. That would make it possible for security personnel to access any of over 1,000 secure mobile connections per box.
When meeting with another delegation from yet another American company, Chaudhary also arranged to obtain blood testing equipment that would make it possible for blood tests to be taken and processed within a span of a handful of minutes, providing security personnel with a vital way to save time in this task.
This introduction and adoption of the new mobile technology is a part of a broader effort from the central government to prevent cyber crime as it becomes available through the evolution of the latest tech. Chaudhary pointed out that the laws in the country have yet to directly address the prevention of cyber-crime and that, beyond the secure mobile phones, the government has now launched a judicial process designed to create new legal regulations that will align with the advancement of technology.
Rushing headlong into the digital age has consequences. The world is becoming more integrated and reliant on technology of all kinds. One of the clearest trends that is proving this is people’s growing dependence on mobile technology. Many people use their mobile devices on a daily basis and these devices often contain most of their precious personal information. Mobile technology is exciting for most people, and this excitement is blinding them to threats that exist in a world that is becoming digitized.
The digital era has brought people together in a way that was never before thought possible. Accessing the Internet, a person in the United States can form a intimate connection with another person living in Japan. Businesses are interacting with consumers in new ways because of social media and constant connection. While technology has helped bring people together, the digital world, much like the physical one, is not a safe place.
In the digital world, malicious groups are often on the lookout for ways to exploit people’s information. Identity theft is, perhaps, one of the most prolific crimes in the digital space and it is proving to be a difficult problem to protect oneself from. The digital world is filled with malware and viruses that are designed for malicious purpose and these weapons are evolving faster than the protective methods designed to mitigate their impact can adapt.
Large businesses that are beginning to focus more heavily on the digital space are beginning to fall victim to cyber attacks that are leading to billions of dollars in losses. Data breach is becoming more common and a growing number of people are beginning to see that their personal information is being compromised due to lackluster security. In the digital world, you cannot rely on a company to keep your information safe and have to take matters into your own hands.
In a world that is becoming more digital, absolute security is an impossible dream. Taking steps to protect yourself is not futile, however. More often than not, the lack of protection can make you a target for malicious groups that want to exploit whatever resources you might have. Even simply installing an anti-virus application on your mobile device can serve as an effective deterrent from an attack.
