In a bid to avert possibilities of any undue interference and also to conclude the ongoing Lok Sabha elections in a cyber-safe way, the Maharashtra cyber cell in joint collaboration with the Election Commission of India (ECI) has published a handbook wherein certain practices and procedures have been recommended to the election officials. The handbook titled 'Cyber Security Best Practices', which was published last week, with a sole motive to conduct safe and secure polls is a part of the EC's initiatives to guard against the misuse of social media and keeping the electoral process technologically safe.The handbook shares a brief description about how the officials on election duty can identify and report against suspicious mails, social media posts, fake news and websites and other such similar things which could be a threat on election data. According to the cyber police, the growing technology is coming up with advanced technologies such as Electoral Voting Machines (EVM). However, at the same time, fake news and rumours across social media can pose a serious threat that can easily compromise critical electoral data especially at the time of a democratic exercise like elections. In the handbook, the cyber police have conveyed a message to the officials about how official data should be password protected and encrypted with limited number of people having access to the authorised systems. The officials have been advised not to open unrecognised attachment without scanning and also not access mails from public WiFi networks and paying close attention to senders, recipients while replying or forwarding them to avoid falling into the traps of spear phishing scams. "We have asked the officials to intensify their vigilance over social media and monitor the content pertaining to elections contents which are sponsored or promoted. In case of being hacked or misinformation attack and rumours mongering across cyberspace, election staffs can directly report to Maharashtra cyber. Some of the other guidelines which are prescribed in the handbook are using alphanumeric passwords, keep updated antivirus softwares and OS patches on all devices, identification of illegal application and using only ECI apps and websites," said a senior officer from cyber cell. Meanwhile, the cVIGIL mobile application launched by the ECI is also helping the polling officials to report about violation of Model Code of Conduct (MCC). As per a source from the ECI, the digital initiatives are being taken to fill the existing loopholes and develop a fast information channel so that any violator who meddles with the prescribed norms face legal action. "Through this handbook, we have attempted to prescribe guidelines to all the staffs involved in the polling duty. We realize the importance of the elections in a democratic society and in order to make it free from all sorts of technological mischiefs, we are working along with the ECI," said Brijesh Singh, Special Inspector General of Police, Maharashtra cyber cell.

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