The Department of Public Relations at the College of Mass Communication at the University of Baghdad organized an awareness workshop entitled “Electronic Extortion: Its Causes, Effects, and Ways to Prevent It”, presented by lecturer Dr. Aqeel Tahseen Fathallah, in the presence of a number of students.
The workshop aimed to explain the causes of electronic extortion, such as poor security awareness and unsafe use of social media, in addition to its negative effects on university students, as it leads to psychological tension, a decline in academic performance and social isolation, as well as withdrawal from study in some cases.
Dr. Aqeel also reviewed the most important prevention methods, such as promoting digital literacy, securing personal accounts, and avoiding sharing sensitive information with strangers.
Dr. Okeil stressed “the importance of spreading awareness among students and promoting a culture of cybersecurity,” noting that “electronic extortion has become a direct threat to students’ academic and social career.”
At the end of the workshop, the participants called for intensifying such events within universities, to provide a safe and supportive environment for students, protecting them from the dangers of electronic extortion and its negative effects on their future.
