‘1.2 lakh Telangana citizens targeted by cybercrimes’: SHIELD-2025 conclave to address solutions on Feb 18

Hyderabad: As many as 1,20,869 Telangana citizens fell prey to cybercrimes in 2024. The total monetary loss due to cybercrimes across the country is Rs 22,812 crores.

The significant increase in cybercrimes is being countered by measures such as the Telangana Cyber Security Bureau (TGCSB) returning Rs 183 crores to 17,912 victims.

SHIELD to bring all cybercrime fighters under one roof

Given the huge presence of the State’s IT sector and critical e-governance services being offered, there is a dire need to secure the digital infrastructure against malicious attacks.

To this effect, TGCSB and the Society for Cyberabad Security Council (SCSC) are jointly going to host SHIELD-2025 from February 18 to 19 at the Hyderabad International Convention Centre (HICC).

The conclave will have the attendance of all major stakeholders, such as agencies from law enforcement, industry, academia, NGOs, BFSI and government to collaborate and fight cybercrimes and cybersecurity threats together.

The landmark event will serve as a transformative platform to enhance Telangana’s cybersecurity ecosystem and will showcase cutting-edge technological innovations to address emerging challenges in cybercrime, TGCSB said in a statement.

One of the first annual cybersecurity conclaves

SHIELD will be a premier cybersecurity conclave held annually from this year onwards.

SHIELD-2025, the first in the proposed series of annual cybersecurity conclaves, was officially announced on Monday at a curtain-raiser event at the ICCC, Banjara Hills.

The conclave will feature keynote speeches, panel discussions and workshops on various topics such as Al, blockchain, digital forensics, ransomware, cryptocurrency, deepfakes, misinformation in social media, and Al-driven solutions for cybercrime, cyber resilience for MSMEs, nation-state actors, industry resilience, women and child safety in an ever-evolving digital landscape.

The event will also feature exhibitions and stalls from leading cybersecurity companies and startups from around the world. They will showcase their latest innovations, such as interactive robots and drone technology, to name a few.

Law enforcement agencies will prepare strategies with domain experts

Additionally, closed-room sessions for law enforcement agencies will involve the participation of domain experts to strategise better responses to emerging cybercrimes. These discussions will help to create action plans to deal with significant challenges such as mule hunting, VOIP frauds, ransomware, cryptocurrency, phishing, financial scams, etc.

There will also be interactive workshops among various stakeholders to build resilience and adapt to the latest cyber threats of 2025.

Law enforcement experts speak about SHIELD 2025

Speaking at the curtain raiser, Shikha Goel IPS, DG CID & I/C director, TGCSB, said, “SHIELD 2025 is more than just a conclave. It is a call to action for all stakeholders to work together in building a secure and resilient digital future. With cybersecurity becoming a critical priority globally, this event will bring together the best minds to address the challenges and opportunities of a safer cyberspace.”

Avinash Mohanty IPS, commissioner of police, Cyberabad, said, “Collaboration between technology, governance and society is crucial to combat the growing sophistication of cybercriminals. SHIELD 2025 provides a platform to strengthen these partnerships and develop actionable strategies for effective cybercrime prevention.”

Ramesh Kaza, secretary general of SCSC, added, “SHIELD 2025 is an opportunity to bridge gaps between the industry and law enforcement, enabling us to create a cybersecurity framework that is future-ready and globally competitive.”

The curtain raiser was attended by officers from TGCSB such as Harshvardhan IPS, SP Cybersecurity and Admin, Devender Singh, SP Cybercrime and others. Also, officers from Cyberabad police, B Sreebala, DCP Cybercrime and SCSC executives, Naved Khan, CEO, SCSC and prominent CXOs from the industry were also present at the event.