Cybersecurity Weekly Newsletter
Date: April 16, 2025 - April 21, 2025
1️⃣RJD MLC Mohammad Shoaib Duped in Cyber Fraud Posing as ‘Digital Arrest’
On April 8, RJD MLC Mohammad Shoaib became a victim of a sophisticated cyber scam in Patna. Cybercriminals, impersonating Mumbai Police Cyber Crime officials, falsely accused him of money laundering and used threats of arrest and death to extort sensitive personal and financial data.
🔹 Fraudsters claimed crores were transacted through a Canara Bank account in his name.
🔹 Shoaib was coerced into sharing Aadhaar, property records, and even signed blank papers.
🔹 He was held “digitally hostage” at home and warned against seeking help.
🔹 An FIR was registered under cybercrime laws after he reported the incident.
Key Message:
Even high-ranking officials aren’t immune to cyber threats. This case highlights the growing danger of impersonation scams and the critical need for cyber awareness and timely reporting.
2️⃣ WhatsApp Users Targeted by Image-Based Malware in Sophisticated Scam
Cybercriminals are now using steganography—embedding malware in images—to target WhatsApp users in India. Simply opening a malicious image can compromise personal data, including banking credentials.
🔹 WhatsApp has over 520 million users in India, making it a prime target.
🔹 A user in Jabalpur lost ₹2 lakh after downloading a malware-laced image.
🔹 Other scams involve phishing links and OTP frauds.
Safety Tips:
✔ Don’t download media from unknown contacts.
✔ Disable media auto-download in WhatsApp settings.
✔ Keep your OS and antivirus updated.
Key Message:
Image-based malware is the new face of cyber fraud—stay alert, and think before you click.
3️⃣OpenAI Launches Codex CLI: Local AI Coding Assistant for Developers
OpenAI has unveiled Codex CLI, a powerful open-source AI tool designed to assist developers directly from the terminal. Built on the o4-mini model, it enables local code editing, execution, and interaction—all while preserving user privacy.
🔹 Supports Suggest, Auto Edit, and Full Auto modes for varying control levels.
🔹 Accepts text, screenshots, and diagrams to generate or improve code.
🔹 Works on macOS and Linux; Windows support via WSL is experimental.
🔹 No code leaves your device—only minimal high-level context is shared for AI responses.
Key Message:
Codex CLI blends powerful AI coding capabilities with local privacy and control, setting a new standard in developer tools.
4️⃣AI Saves Lives: ChatGPT Helps Pregnant Woman Avoid Medical Tragedy
In a life-saving twist, ChatGPT helped a pregnant woman from Charlotte, North Carolina, avoid a deadly health crisis. When Natallia Tarrien asked about a tight jaw, the AI urged her to check her blood pressure—which turned out to be dangerously high.
🔹 ChatGPT's prompt advice: “Call an ambulance. Now.”
🔹 Natallia was rushed to the hospital with a BP of 200/146.
🔹 Doctors performed an emergency delivery, saving both mother and baby.
🔹 A doctor said: "If you had gone to sleep, you wouldn’t have woken up."
Key Message:
AI, when used responsibly, can augment life-saving decisions, showing its immense potential beyond just conversation.
Read more5️⃣ Empowering Teachers to Fight Cybercrime: Mumbai College Sets New Standard
R D National College in Mumbai has launched a Cyber Wellness Center to help students combat digital threats. In partnership with ISAC and Naman Angels India Foundation, the college is training teachers to become Certified Cybercrime Intervention Officers (CCIOs).
🔹 Teachers will guide students through cybercrime reporting and recovery.
🔹 Focus is on ages 12–22, vulnerable to banking scams, sextortion, and more.
🔹 New job-oriented cybersecurity training programs and a Centre of Excellence in Forensic Security are also underway.
Key Message:
By training educators as digital defenders, this initiative sets a powerful example of how education and awareness can build safer online spaces for the next generation
Stay Safe. Stay Informed. Stay Ahead — with CYBE.
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