Archive: March 31, 2023

BIF releases a new study mentioning recommendations for the proposed Digital India Act

New Delhi, March 31, 2023 – Broadband India Forum (BIF), an independent policy forum and knowledge-based think-tank released a BIF-commissioned study on “Revising the Information Technology Act 2000” which has been prepared by xKDR Forum, a research and knowledge-based forum as a part of BIF’s Digital Dialogues series. The study report aims at providing recommendations for the revision of certain key sections of the proposed new Digital India Act. The Key highlights of the report were presented at the session which was followed by a panel of esteemed experts deliberating on various vital aspects concerning the revision of the Information Technology Act, 2000.

The Government of India is planning to replace the Information Technology Act, 2000 with the much-touted new legislation, Digital India Act, as part of a broader package of laws concerning the digital ecosystem. As we move towards a Digital India, it becomes imperative that the law promotes trust in the digital ecosystem. This requires careful balancing of multiple interests such as national security and public order, online safety, protection of fundamental rights, and promoting innovation.

In the released report, Rishab Bailey, Visiting Research Fellow, XKDR Forum highlighted how they have examined the proposed law in how it dealt with four focus areas  – online censorship, intermediary liability, surveillance, and cyber security. An important takeaway was the need for improved institutional frameworks to be created – whether to deal with cyber security, establish processes for oversight of surveillance, or indeed, enable fairer content curation decisions and grievance redressal. This move is aimed at ensuring that India has a modern and comprehensive legal framework that is capable of addressing the challenges of the digital age.

The virtual session brought together experts from the Industry, Civil Society, and a Think Tank, to deliberate on the vital aspects of the Information Technology Act, of 2000, and to engage in discussion on various focal points of the proposed revised IT Act.

The Chief Guest, Dr. Rajat Kathuria, amplified that when a nation is racing towards becoming a $5 trillion economy in the coming years, the Digital Act should be able to provide a strong safeguarding framework and balance the interest of all concerned stakeholders.

Mr. TV Ramachandran, President, BIF, said “With over 850 million online users, India boasts of being the  world’s largest digitally connected democracy. So, the need for a robust law provision to safeguard the evolving online landscape becomes a priority. We await the well-articulated evolvable digital law to replace the two-decade-old IT Act.”

Farmers’ Fintech Agreena Raises €46M to Scale the Regenerative Revolution

“In order for the world’s farmers to transition to regenerative agriculture and create a scalable climate impact, the financial rails to support and pay them for it need to be built,” said Simon Haldrup, Co-founder and CEO of Agreena. “Agreena is building out technological and financial services infrastructure throughout the agriculture value chain as the industry increasingly becomes a focal point for decarbonisation efforts.”

World Backup Day quote on behalf of Ramanujam Komanduri, Country Manager, Pure Storage India

“Data loss is a silent killer that strikes individuals and businesses without warning. It can happen due to hardware failure, cyber-attacks, or natural disasters, and the consequences can be catastrophic. The financial and emotional toll of data loss is immeasurable, and it can leave a lasting impact on your life and your business. That is why data backup and recovery should be a top priority for everyone.

As we approach World Backup Day on March 31st, it’s important to remember that data loss is a possibility. So, take a moment to reflect on your data backup strategy and ask yourself, “Is it enough?” With the constantly evolving threat environment, traditional prevention measures are no longer sufficient. You need to invest not only in a solid backup approach but also in a multitier data protection architecture that ensures resilience, durability and more importantly restore so your business is always on.

This World Backup Day, let’s make a commitment to protect our valuable data and build a meaningful recovery strategy. Remember, data backup and recovery is not an afterthought – it’s a critical component of any IT infrastructure.”

Role and importance of professional mats in wellbeing of sports player

Vaibhav Somani, Director, Gravolite 

The ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports received a budget allocation of Rs. 3397.32 crore for FY 2023-24. There was an increase of 11% from the previous year’s budget. This goes to show that India as a nation is giving unprecedented attention to the growth of this sector and the grass-root talent that is available in our country. And to support and nurture this talent, right infrastructure plays a vital role.

Professional mats which is a part of the sports infrasturure, play a crucial role in the well-being of sports players, especially kabbadi players, wrestlers, and kho kho players. Mats provide a safe and comfortable surface for players to perform their physical activities, reducing the risk of injury and promoting overall health. In this article, we will examine the importance of professional mats in the wellbeing of sports players and how they contribute to their safety, performance, and longevity in their respective sports.

Reducing Physical Injuries:

First and foremost, professional mats serve as a protective surface for players, reducing the risk of injury during their physical activities. This is especially important for contact sports like kabbadi and wrestling, where players frequently fall, roll, and engage in high-impact moves. A high-quality mat can absorb the shock of these impacts, reducing the risk of injury to the joints, bones, and muscles. A well-maintained mat can also provide a consistent and stable surface for players, reducing the risk of slips and falls.

Enhanced Performance:

In addition to injury prevention, professional mats can also enhance player performance. A well-designed mat can provide the necessary grip and traction to allow players to move freely and perform their moves with greater precision and control. Mats can also help players conserve energy, as they will not have to exert as much effort to maintain balance and stability on a surface that provides a supportive foundation. Furthermore, the physical comfort that a mat can provide can help reduce fatigue and stress on the body, allowing players to perform longer and with greater intensity.

Enhanced Longetivity:

The longevity of a player’s career can also be positively impacted by the use of professional mats. A safe and supportive surface can reduce the risk of injury, allowing players to continue performing at a high level for a longer period of time. Moreover, a well-designed mat can also help players recover from injury more quickly, as the cushioned surface can reduce the impact of physical therapy and rehabilitation exercises. This can help players get back to playing their sport more quickly, ensuring that they are able to perform at their best for as long as possible.

Grooming of players:
Professional mats became a symbolic part of the sports fraternity. Sports involve extraordinary activities like flipping, falling, running, etc. A professional mat will help in grooming the player, as it will increase the efficiency of the player while playing the sports. A good sports mat train them to play any sports nationally and internationally.

Sports is a platform for some extraordinary performances that include intensive physical activity. Having a quality mat is extremely important to help maintain the balance of players and help them in having the right posture. It has been observed that the percentage of people getting injured due to the non-availability of professional mats and equipment is quite high and some of these injuries are either life threatening or can led to physical disability. A professional mat cushions the body to prevent aches and pain, as well as fatal injuries while performing any sports.

Cymulate Releases Findings from Over One Million Security Assessments and 1.7 Million Hours of Testing

BENGALURU – March 30, 2023 – Cymulate, the leader in cybersecurity risk validation and exposure management, today released the company’s “2022 Cybersecurity Effectiveness Report” which analyzed the results of over a million security posture validation assessments, including 1.7 million hours of offensive cybersecurity testing within Cymulate’s production environments.

The report provides critical insights in global cybersecurity effectiveness, critical findings and top attack tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs). The report delves into the efficacy of different security controls, the most concerning threats as tested by organizations worldwide, and top cybersecurity best practices for 2023.
Report key takeaways include:

• Many organizations are testing for trending threats at the expense of ones they are more likely to experience – organizations are actively testing against threats seen in the news, likely from pressure to report on their exposure risk to emergent threats. This is a good, up to the point where it takes away from assessing threats and exposures that are more likely actively targeting the business. Businesses that used scheduled and full kill-chain testing demonstrated the broadest testing coverage and the most in-depth validation when they added advanced scenario testing to their programs.

• Known and cataloged industry-wide security issues remain unaddressed – 40% of the top 10 CVEs identified most by Vulnerability Management platforms were over two years old yet remain unpatched. A significant number of organizations are not testing against more widely recognized threats such as ProxyNotShell and Emotet that continue to persist and are apt to cause the most harm if not remediated.

• The effectiveness of data protection measures has declined – jumping from 30 to 44 in 2022, the average data exfiltration risk score has worsened considerably. Network and Group Policies have had a positive impact on prevention of data exfiltration, which has driven attackers to resort to alternative exfiltration methods.

• 92% of the top 10 exposures are related to domain and email security – in 2022, the top 10 exposures detected by Cymulate’s External Attack Surface Management (EASM) module showed most detected exposures were spread across domain security (59.3%) and email security (32.8%).

• Breach and Attack Simulation has had a significant positive impact on cyber resiliency

When comparing the anonymized data between the first Endpoint Security assessment completed and the most recent assessments completed, significant improvements in risk reduction were seen when BAS testing was regularly performed. The improvements were seen consistently across customers of various industries and sizes.

“It’s understandable that organizations want to protect themselves against the major threats making headlines today,” said Carolyn Crandall, Chief Security Advocate for Cymulate. “But the findings of the Cybersecurity Effectiveness Report underscore the fact that many attackers aren’t using advanced new strategies—they’re continuing to find success using known tactics. Organizations need to shift their vulnerability management strategies to address these gaps by implementing Attack Surface Management tools for exposure assessment, Breach and Attack Simulation for security control efficacy validation, and Continuous Automated Red Teaming for more frequent penetration testing.”

“Organizations must understand their security posture to identify vulnerabilities and protect against cyber threats,” said David Neuman, senior analyst at TAG Cyber. “Cymulate’s release of findings from over one million security assessments and 1.7 million hours of testing provides valuable insights into common weaknesses and areas for improvement in cybersecurity. This data highlights the need for continuous security testing and risk assessments to stay ahead of emerging threats.”

The full Cymulate 2023 Cybersecurity Effectiveness Report can be found here. Register for a webinar of the findings here.

Chicco Cotton Ear Buds: Ultimate Care for Delicate Ears

Practicing a good daily hygiene routine is essential to keep your little one healthy and happy. Cleaning baby’s ears is an equally important step in their everyday care routine along with bathing and other grooming activities. In fact, the ideal moment for checking and cleaning baby’s ears is immediately after bath time, when the child is relaxed and calm.

As new parents, one needs to be extremely careful when cleaning baby’s ears as their ears are very delicate. Chicco, the expert baby care brand understands the needs of babies and parents and offer solution in the form of Chicco Cotton Buds to ensure proper ear hygiene for babies.

Chicco cotton buds come with eardrum protection and their unique shape let’s you clean the outer surface of your baby’s ear gently, safely whilst ensuring safety of baby’s delicate ear drum. Made of 100% cotton, Chicco cotton buds are really soft and flexible. Most importantly, the stem of Chicco ear buds is made from paper making the product environment safe and biodegradable in nature.

Available in two formats i.e. Ear drum protection and Regular cotton tips, Chicco Ear buds with all the above features allow proper cleaning of baby’s ears with utmost delicacy. And made with paper stem, they are compliant with the Indian regulations and offer additional safety feature for cleaning baby’s ears.

To cater to the need of the consumers, Chicco cotton buds are easily available in a practical 60 pieces and 90 pieces eardrum protection pack and a compact 160 pcs pack of their regular cotton tips, which can be easily carried in baby’s changing bag to always have it handy for baby’s hygiene and care.

From Farhan Akhtar to Sumeet Vyas; Check Out Actors Who Turned Successful Writers

Actors have always been praised for their captivating performances on screen, bringing characters to life with their incredible acting skills. What many people are not aware of is that some actors have also made a name for themselves as writers, displaying their creativity and talent beyond their acting careers. These multi-talented individuals have showcased their abilities to create compelling stories, intricate characters, and dynamic plots, proving that they are more than just attractive personalities. Whether they are writing for film, television, or audio series, these actors-turned-writers have demonstrated that their skills and abilities are not limited to their acting roles.

Farhan Akhtar 

Farhan Akhtar, a prominent Bollywood figure, inherited writing skills from his writer parents Javed Akhtar and Honey Irani. He made his directorial, producing, and writing debut with Dil Chahata Hai in 2001. Since then, he has written, directed, produced, and acted in hit films like Don, Rock On, Zindagi Na Milegi Dobaara, Talaash, and Dil Dhadakne Do. Farhan‘s multifaceted contributions continue to be celebrated in the industry

Mohsin Ali Khan 

Mohsin Ali Khan is a highly versatile actor, renowned for his roles in popular shows such as Meri Sai and Kaamnaa on Sony TV, as well as Rudrakaal on Disney+Hotstar. He gained immense recognition as a writer with Pocket FM’s audio series, SHIVAM: The Hidden Warrior. Drawing from his vast acting experience, Mohsin possesses a deep understanding of character development and plot progression, which he seamlessly translates into his writing endeavors. Additionally, Mohsin has also showcased his versatility and adaptability as an artist through his work in various advertisements. Driven by his passion for storytelling, Mohsin is currently working on two audio series for Pocket FM, further exploring and honing his writing skills.

Sumeet Vyas

Sumeet Vyas, a talented actor with over 30 films to his name, including the recent hit Veere Di Wedding, has a writing legacy in his family. His father B M Vyas was a writer with NSD, and his mother Sudha Vyas is a renowned author. Sumeet inherited his parents’ writing skills and has made a name for himself as a writer, having written and acted in popular web series like TVF Tripling Season 1 & 2 and Y-Films’ Bang Baaja Baaraat. He has also co-written Vicky Kaushal’s Love Per Square Feet.  Sumeet’s talent in both acting and writing showcases his versatility in the entertainment industry.

Swapnil Jain 

Swapnil Jain is a multifaceted talent, known for his dynamic performances in web shows such as Aarya Season 2 and Crash Course. He has also made his mark as a skilled writer with Pocket FM’s blockbuster audio series, Insta Millionaire. With more exciting projects on the horizon, Swapnil continues to showcase his versatile writing abilities. With several upcoming projects in the works, Swapnil is proving that his diverse skills are invaluable in the entertainment industry.

Varun Badola 

Varun Badola, a renowned Indian television actor, ventured into writing with his memoir ‘The Stranger In Me’. Along with acting and writing, Badola has directed and written the script for the show Aek Chabhi Hai Padoss Mein. He is also an accomplished singer and dancer, showcasing his diverse talents in the entertainment industry. His journey from an actor to a writer, director, singer, and dancer is a testament to his passion and dedication to his craft.

Sukhmani Sadana 

Sukhmani Sadana, an Indian actress, has successfully transitioned into a writer, with her debut novel The Chronic Mansion receiving critical acclaim. She was also part of the writer‘s team for the film Rocketry featuring R. Madhavan and Shah Rukh Khan, and her show Udan Patolas on Amazon mini TV garnered positive reviews. Sukhmani’s latest is the Netflix film Jogi, directed by Ali Abbas Zafar and starring Diljit Dosanjh. Her versatility as an actress, writer, and host is a testament to her commitment to her craft and willingness to explore different creative avenues.