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Gurugram: Cyber walkathon combines fitness with cyber safety awareness

The walkathon was designed to underline importance of national cybercrime helpline number 1930, aiming to foster a cyber safe society while promoting healthy lifestyles

Published on: Dec 27, 2024, 17:01:16 IST
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Gurugram: The Gurugram Cyber Police in collaboration with a private School, and the Cyber Security Organisation (CSO), launched an innovative “Cyber Walkathon – 1930 Metres for Cyber Safety” on Sunday.

Participants engaged in cyber-safety quizzes, fitness challenges, and interactive discussions, making learning both engaging and practical. (HT Photo)
Participants engaged in cyber-safety quizzes, fitness challenges, and interactive discussions, making learning both engaging and practical. (HT Photo)

The walkathon was designed to underline importance of national cybercrime helpline number 1930, aiming to foster a cyber safe society while promoting healthy lifestyles, said police.

Priyanshu Dewan, assistant commissioner of police, cybercrime, said “Cybercrime prevention requires collaboration across all levels. Sunday’s walkathon was an impactful step in building a secure digital environment for all.”

Participants embarked on a walk-through interactive checkpoints designed to educate them on recognising cyber threats, safeguarding personal information, and fostering ethical online behaviour.

The walkathon also underscored the cybercrime helpline number’s critical role in tackling online threats. Along the route, interactive checkpoints were set up to educate participants on recognising cyber threats, safeguarding personal information, and promoting ethical online behaviour.

The initiative also included a session led by cybersecurity expert Rakshit Tandon, who discussed the growing challenges in the digital age and effective measures to combat them.

Participants engaged in cyber-safety quizzes, fitness challenges, and interactive discussions, making learning both engaging and practical.

ACP Dewan on the occasion emphasised on the importance of collaboration in preventing cybercrime, stating that initiatives like the walkathon foster a secure digital environment.

Raj Kumar Yadav, cyber security officer, said that raising awareness is the first step in building resilience against cyber threats. “This walkathon reflects our commitment to empowering every individual to stay vigilant in the digital age.”

Students from Mount Olympus School played an active role in spreading cyber safety awareness by creating and presenting posters and dressing as “cyber ghosts” to illustrate the dangers of online threats.

The school also organised an inter-school competition featuring posters on cyber safety and projects using e-waste. Winners were awarded trophies and certificates, showcasing creative ways to promote cyber awareness among the younger generation.

Give Back to Gurugram, a community group, mobilised communities across the city to join the walkathon and actively spread awareness about online security.

The CSO, meanwhile, provided its expertise, ensuring participants received actionable knowledge about staying vigilant in the digital world.

  • Leena Dhankhar
    ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    Leena Dhankhar

    Leena Dhankhar is Senior Editor and Bureau Chief, Gurugram, at Hindustan Times, where she has spent over 17 years chronicling the transformation of one of India's fastest-growing urban regions. From starting her career as a crime reporter to leading the Gurugram bureau, her journalism has been defined by investigative reporting, in-depth storytelling and an unwavering focus on public interest. Over nearly two decades, she has reported extensively across crime, politics, civic governance, elections, real estate, environment, courts, sports, education and entertainment, covering Gurugram, Faridabad, Nuh and Palwal. Her reporting has exposed several major scams and systemic failures, including insurance frauds, waste management irregularities, illegal arms manufacturing units in Nuh, illegal mining in the Aravallis, organised crime networks and governance lapses affecting millions of residents. Known for her investigative work and exclusive stories, Leena has reported on high-impact national issues, including the Nicaragua charter flight carrying Indian migrants that was turned back amid allegations of human trafficking, exposing the growing network of illegal immigration rackets. Her work has also focused on gang wars, prison administration, juvenile crime, women and child protection systems, the functioning of the Juvenile Justice Board and Child Welfare Committee, and environmental challenges such as pollution, waterlogging and deteriorating civic infrastructure. Beyond hard news, Leena has extensively documented Haryana's rich heritage, forests and wildlife, bringing attention to the state's historical landmarks, biodiversity, conservation efforts and ecological challenges through immersive reportage and feature writing. Her journalism has consistently gone beyond breaking news. She has documented Gurugram's rapid urbanisation through long-form narratives and enterprise reporting on issues ranging from pothole-ridden roads, flooding and waste management to the changing social fabric of India's Millennium City. She also writes widely read feature columns, including The Outsider, Changemaker, and Concern for Gurugram, profiling people, places and ideas shaping the city's identity. Leena is the author of Gurugram School Murder, published by Juggernaut Books, a deeply reported account of one of India's most high-profile school murder investigations. She is currently working on her second book, an investigative work exploring some of India's most significant scams and fraud investigations. Beyond print journalism, she has expanded her storytelling through public speaking and digital media. She is a TEDx speaker and has produced podcasts exploring Gurugram's transformation, civic challenges and untold stories. Her work reflects a commitment to narrative journalism that combines rigorous reporting with compelling storytelling. A law graduate with an MBA in Human Resources, Leena brings a multidisciplinary perspective to her reporting, particularly on governance, public policy and legal affairs. She has travelled extensively across India to pursue investigative assignments, often reporting from remote locations and conflict-prone areas in search of stories that matter.Read More