Khaberni - The Information Security Department in the College of Information Technology at Petra University organized a special cybersecurity awareness day, sponsored by the university president, Professor Dr. Rami Abdel Rahim, with the presence of the Vice President for Academic Affairs, Professor Dr. Mias Al-Remawi on his behalf, the dean of the college, Professor Dr. Wael Hadi, among other faculty members and students of the college.
During her opening speech, Dr. Salam Al-Amari, head of the Information Security Department, welcomed the attendees, affirming that organizing this day is part of the activities of October, the global cybersecurity awareness month, which is held annually to enhance awareness of the risks of the digital space and to encourage safe use of technology.
Al-Amari added that cybersecurity is not just an academic specialization, but a community culture that must be embraced by all members including faculty, students, and staff to protect data, information, and institutions from potential digital threats. She pointed out that the university has launched the University Cybersecurity Awareness Program (UCAP) which aims to enhance digital awareness through continuous events and training workshops. The program's website also provides educational resources and security guidelines that serve the university community, and its content will be updated periodically to keep up with the latest developments in this field.
Al-Amari emphasized that the cybersecurity awareness efforts stem from the belief that security is a shared responsibility, and that building a secure digital environment starts with the individual and extends to include the entire community.
Dr. Ali Al-Maqousi, a faculty member in the cybersecurity department, explained that the human element represents the first line of defense against cyber risks, noting that awareness and knowledge are the effective preventative shield against electronic attacks. He added that Jordan is among the advanced countries in the field of digital transformation, as the government has paid great attention to protecting cyberspace through advanced legislations and laws, notably telecommunications laws, cybersecurity, electronic crimes, and data protection.
The awareness day featured a specialized lecture titled "Cybersecurity and Electronic Crimes in the Contemporary Digital Environment" presented by Dr. Mohammad Al-Maharme, a lawyer and academic in the College of Business at Hashemite University. Al-Maharme discussed the definition of the digital environment from a legal perspective, clarifying the difference between natural and juridical persons, as well as addressing electronic and cybercrimes such as hacking, electronic blackmail, impersonation, and posting offensive or illegal content.
Al-Maharme highlighted the difference between electronic crime, which involves the use of devices as a means, and cybercrime that affects information security and the digital infrastructure of the state, indicating the danger of "digital publicity" that makes any post or comment accessible to thousands of people and serves as legal evidence of crime commission.
Al-Maharme provided real examples of modern crimes such as character assassination, unauthorized publication of photos and information, electronic blackmail, and digital identity theft. He also reviewed Jordanian legislations related to cybersecurity, starting from the Information System Crimes Law of 2000 and its amendment in 2005, up to the amended Electronic Crimes Law of 2023, which addresses issues such as hate speech, character assassination, fake news, and the exploitation of artificial intelligence in crimes.
He discussed the challenges posed by artificial intelligence and electronic forgery on the digital environment, emphasizing the importance of enhancing cybersecurity in educational institutions, the necessity of protecting university sites and official email, and stressed the importance of adhering to practical guidelines such as not sharing data or passwords, avoiding opening links from unknown sources, not sending personal photos, and immediately reporting any threat or extortion.
The awareness day concluded with a poster exhibition by college students in the lobby of the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Studies, alongside awareness competitions in the field of cybersecurity aimed at enhancing technical knowledge and stimulating a positive competitive spirit among students.
