The digital world is a thrilling place—fast, efficient, and endlessly connected. Every click, every swipe, and every tap brings us closer to a future once confined to science fiction. But beneath the excitement lies an uncomfortable truth: the biggest risk to our digital security isn’t artificial intelligence, cybercriminals, or weak regulations—it’s us.
Discussions on digital security often revolve around technology, transparency, and trust. However, in a country where the average age is just 28, three other forces shape our digital experience: temptations, traps, and wasted time. The temptation of instant gratification is ever-present, whether it’s a one-click purchase, a ‘limited-time’ investment tip, or the lure of going viral. Convenience can also be a trap—we trade our personal data for ‘free’ services without a second thought, unaware of the long-term consequences. Then there’s the issue of time wasted—mindless scrolling, forwarding messages without fact-checking, and reacting instead of thinking consume our most valuable asset: attention.
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Hacking minds, not systems
Cybercriminals don’t need to hack systems; they hack minds. Why break through a sophisticated firewall when you can trick someone into clicking a malicious link? Why steal passwords when users willingly hand them over? The most advanced security measures in the world are powerless against human impulse. We chase quick gains, fall for FOMO (fear of missing out), and respond with urgency to messages that demand immediate action. No one hands out awards for the fastest email reply, yet we behave as if speed matters more than caution.
KYC—Know Your Customer—has taken on new dimensions in the digital age. For tech companies, it now means Know Your Code—do they truly understand the algorithms they’ve unleashed? For consumers, it’s Know Your Crooks—are they aware of fraudsters exploiting their weaknesses? For regulators, it has become Know Your Compliance—can they keep up with an industry that moves faster than rulebooks? The reality is that for every reported financial scam, at least eight or nine go unreported—because victims are too embarrassed, too confused, or simply unaware of what happened.
Battle between freedom and control
Imagine a teenager demanding independence, insisting parents stay out of their business—but still expecting them to fund their lifestyle. Now, replace the teenager with the digital economy—payments, fintech, and social platforms. The parent? That’s the regulator. Like any responsible parent, regulators want their ‘child’ to thrive but also to be accountable, sustainable, and safe for society. Yet the digital industry resists oversight, pushing for innovation without barriers—until something goes wrong. When systems crash, consumers are defrauded, or a data breach makes headlines, the first demand is always for protection.
Here’s the paradox: the same technology that enables fraud also powers protection. Artificial intelligence detects suspicious transactions. Blockchain makes records tamper-proof. Data analytics spots unusual patterns. Yet none of these tools can protect us if we don’t stop, think, and question. Security feels like an inconvenience—until it’s too late. It’s like a seatbelt: uncomfortable until the moment it saves your life.
Digital maturity and digital security
The path ahead is not about choosing between innovation and regulation or between freedom and protection. It’s about achieving digital maturity—a balance between speed and caution, between embracing new technology and understanding the digital security risks.
We can choose to be digital citizens or digital victims. We can demand smarter regulations without resisting every new rule. We can embrace technology without blindly trusting everything we see. Most importantly, we can train ourselves to pause—to question before we click. Because in the digital economy, our attention is the real currency.
In the end, the greatest firewall isn’t technology—it’s human judgment.
Srinath Sridharan is a strategic counsel with 25 years experience with leading corporates across diverse sectors including automobiles, e-commerce, advertising and financial services. He understands and ideates on intersection of finance, digital, contextual-finance, consumer, mobility, Urban transformation, and ESG. Actively engaged across growth policy conversations and public policy issues.