The workshop on Digital Hygiene is a project conceptualized by the Gehendra Dhimal Foundation and Location Nepal. When Sir Tim Berners-Lee invented the World Wide Web, or ‘www’, in 1989, nobody could have imagined how profoundly it would transform our lives—from communication to e-commerce. Over the years, the internet has permeated every aspect of daily life, and with affordable mobile devices, nearly everyone has access to it at their fingertips.
What once seemed impossible a couple of decades ago has now become routine. Gone are the days of waiting weeks or even months for a letter, as individuals now have instant access to various email platforms. Similarly, making a call to friends, family, or colleagues has become effortless through numerous Over the Top (OTT) applications, including the ability to make video calls.
The Digital Hygiene project aims to provide individuals with the knowledge and tools necessary to stay safe in the digital space. Digital hygiene, also referred to as cybersecurity, encompasses a set of practices that people adopt regularly to ensure the safety and security of their devices, networks, and data. It emphasizes the importance of keeping sensitive information protected from theft or malicious attacks.
However, digital hygiene goes beyond merely safeguarding data. It also involves following best practices to prevent infections from malware, ransomware, and other cyber threats. One of the growing challenges in cyberspace today is the rise of ransomware attacks, where cybercriminals block access to a user’s data and demand a ransom to restore it. By adopting proper digital hygiene practices, individuals can significantly reduce the risk of such incidents and maintain control over their digital lives.
The Digital Hygiene project aims to impart knowledge and necessary tools that are required to keep oneself safe in the digital space. Digital Hygiene, which is also called cyber security, is fundamentally a collection of practices that individuals utilize on a regular basis so that their devices or networks or data are safe and secure. What we as individuals should always aim to do is to keep all our sensitive data in the most secure manner. We must make sure that such data is thoroughly protected from theft or attacks.
Digital Hygiene does not only mean being safe from our data being stolen. It also includes using the best practices so that we are not infected with malware or ransomware, among others. The growing problem in the cyber space these days is the proliferation of ransomware attacks whereby the cyber-criminals block your access to your data, and you need to pay a ransom to regain access to it.
All photos in this article are courtesy of: Gehendra Dhimal Foundation.
