An insightful day-long workshop on Cybersecurity and Development and Use of IT Applications was conducted by Dr. Haider Abbas and Dr. Ayesha Altaf on April 25, 2025 to participants of 43^rd MCMC. Sponsored by Dr. Jawad Tariq Awan, the workshop presented the evolving cyber threat landscape and emphasized the critical need for securing personal, organizational, and national digital assets.

Dr. Abbas, Director General of Pakistan’s National Cyber Emergency Response Team (PKCERT), opened with a comprehensive overview of today’s cyber threats, spanning individual attacks such as ransomware and phishing to sophisticated Al-assisted cybercrimes. He explained the dangers posed by deepfakes, zero-day exploits, and how attackers weaponize operational technologies to potentially cause physical harm. Dr. Abbas highlighted the vulnerabilities of critical infrastructure, ranging from oil pipelines and robotics to financial systems, to highlight the urgency of robust cybersecurity measures at every level.

Dr. Ayesha Altaf’s collaborative exercises further enriched the learning experience of participants. These included hands-on individual and group work focused on phishing detection, ransomware response, password management, and the responsible use of smartphones and external storage devices. The session emphasized the importance of multi-factor authentication, secure data exchange, regular training, and policy compliance.

The workshop reinforced cybersecurity not just as a technical challenge but a leadership priority essential for digital governance. The session concluded with a standing ovation to the guest speakers by the participants and faculty.