Towards a safer cyberspace: India, US, Japan & Australia launch the 'Quad Cyber Challenge'

Quad nations India, the US, Japan, and Australia are launching the 'Quad Cyber Challenge' a public campaign to improve cyber security across the four countries.

The challenge reflects the continuing Quad efforts to strengthen individuals’ and communities’ cyber security awareness and action, as well as to foster a more secure and resilient cyber ecosystem to benefit economies and users everywhere, India's National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS) said on Wednesday.

Internet-users are being invited across the Indo-Pacific and beyond to join the challenge and pledge to practice safe and responsible cyber habits.

Explaining the initiative, the NSCS pointed out that Internet-users worldwide are targets of cybercrime and other malicious cyber threats that can cost trillions of dollars each year and compromise sensitive, personal data. Many successful cyber-attacks can be guarded against by simple preventative measures.

Together, Internet users and providers can take small steps to significantly improve cybersecurity and cyber safety. These steps include routinely installing security updates, enabling enhanced identity checks through multi-factor authentication, utilizing stronger and regularly changing passphrases, and knowing how to identify common online scams, like phishing.

The challenge provides resources, such as basic cybersecurity information and training, for all users– from corporations to education institutions, small businesses, and individuals from grade school students to the elderly, and will culminate in events during the week of April 10th.

The Quad partners are working to ensure everyone has access to the resources needed to make informed decisions while online and using smart devices to foster a more safe, secure, and resilient cyberspace.

In India, this action is being coordinated by the office of National Cyber Security Coordinator with the NSCS.