An Anna University Journey - Online Vulnerabilities and Cybersecurity Workshops

When it comes to tech awareness, key figures in the education industry like the teaching staff and the administration staff definitely need to be completely aware of how vulnerable the tech around them really is. Staff members of an educational institution need to be fully aware of how Cybersecurity works and how to enforce it. To this end, Dr. Valli, the CSE HOD of Anna University, requested a Short Term Training Program to ensure the staff could keep up and maintain the security of their own devices and help others around them to do the same. 

A Massive Undertaking

DIYA Robotics conducted a workshop that lasted 4 days, with 1.5 hours each day. This 6-hour group workshop had over 50 people joining on the first day. 

However, that number soon changed drastically. 

While the workshop was originally conducted to help the staff involved learn how to detect and counter certain types of hacking, a lot of students were also interested in the subject and asked to join the workshop. 

Of course, we were only too happy to say yes! It’s a great delight to see students taking an interest in learning new skills. The Anna University staff and management were only too happy to accommodate everyone who wished to join. 

Teaching New Skills, and Polishing Old Ones

We were able to teach everyone involved some amazing new things involving hacking through various means. Here is a little of what we taught them. 

Webcam Hacking: We had a representative hack a webcam while everyone was watching LIVE! Then we showed everyone present how such a hack can be stopped or prevented. 

Website Hacking: While many believed that a lot of websites are secure from online threats, the reality was that not even websites can be spared from the onslaught of hackers. We taught the staff members and the students about how websites can be hacked and what steps need to be taken to stop such an attack from happening. 

Google Hacking: While Webcam and Website Hacking often used 3rd party tools, it was quite a shock to some of the group when they realised that even google can be used to hack unprotected devices, websites, and data. While this is usually not as well-directed as other types of hacking, it certainly is an incredible and dangerous possibility. Protections against this were also advised. 

Ethical Hacking: The concept of moral hacking is to expose vulnerabilities and notify the affected parties about how their systems could be exploited. Ethical hacking is not done with the intention to cause damage or commit theft, fraud, or any other type of Cybercrime.  

Anything with software and an internet connection can be hacked

The point of the workshop was to educate the staff and all others present in Cybersecurity techniques. It was also to show the staff members that anything could be hacked, even mobile phones! While it wasn’t always possible to steal media files remotely, if the phone’s owner clicked an unprotected link, then they could be placing their device under someone else’s control without their knowledge. 

A demonstration of something like this was performed by Mr. Siva (Student Success Mentor - DIYA)

We at DIYA Robotics are thrilled with the response we got from the group throughout the workshop. Everyone involved was incredibly engaged and we thank Anna University for the opportunity to educate their staff and students in Internet safety techniques. Find out more about what we do as an online education platform at www.diyalabs.com!