Women Leaders Safeguarding Women in the Age of Cybersecurity Threats | CyberFrat
Prologue
As the world celebrates Women’s Day, the role of women in cybersecurity continues to gain remarkable momentum. Across organisations and communities, women professionals are strengthening digital defences with their leadership, expertise, and strategic thinking. With representation projected to reach nearly 30% of the global cybersecurity workforce by 2025, their influence is shaping a more secure and inclusive digital future. However, cyber threats targeting women are also rising, especially in India. Recent data shows that 1 in 5 women have fallen victim to phishing scams, while 57% report experiencing online harassment. Women have filed 55% of identity theft complaints, and 60% of ransomware-related financial exploitation cases have targeted women. The figures highlight the growing scale of digital risks women face today.
Cybercrimes such as blackmail, impersonation, financial fraud, stalking, sexual exploitation, deepfake abuse, cyberbullying, hate speech, and doxxing continue to affect women. Many incidents remain unreported, meaning the real numbers may be much higher. At the same time, the role of Women in Cybersecurity is becoming more critical. Professionals across cyber law, digital forensics, cybercrime investigation, awareness programs, and cybersecurity education are actively working to address these threats. From leading communities and founding NGOs to influencing digital safety frameworks, women leaders are building solutions to protect women and children online.
In this blog, we highlight the inspiring women leading this mission, creating safer digital spaces where safety, dignity, and trust come first.
Growing Surge of Cyber Fraud Cases against Women
Women Leaders Driving Change in Cybersecurity
Building India’s Largest Cybersecurity Movement
At a time when cyber threats increasingly affect women and families, strong leadership in cyber safety is essential. Akancha Srivastava is one of India’s most influential cyber safety educators. She is also the Founder of the Akancha Srivastava Foundation, the country’s largest social impact initiative dedicated to cyber safety education, prevention, and victim support.
Over the past nine years, the Foundation has conducted more than 1,500 cyber safety workshops. These sessions have reached schools, colleges, corporates, communities, and enforcement agencies. The goal has been to build large-scale awareness and digital safety knowledge.
Through multilingual and evidence-based campaigns, the Foundation has achieved significant digital reach. Its online initiatives have impacted over 450 million citizens, making it one of India’s most widely viewed cyber safety resources.
Under Akancha’s leadership, the Foundation has also trained law enforcement agencies and the Indian Army in digital forensics and cybercrime prevention related to women. The organisation has collaborated with police departments across several states and received support from over 100 senior IPS officers.
She also conceptualised and launched India’s only multilingual, AI-powered cyber safety helpline. This initiative has received international recognition, including the Canada Fintech Award, for its expansion of victim support and access to justice. The helpline integrates reporting guidance, behavioural support, and coordinated escalation pathways. As a result, it offers a scalable model for technology-enabled public assistance.
Recognised as Tech Entrepreneur of the Year and featured by global media including Vogue, The Washington Post, and ABC, Akancha Srivastava continues to shape national conversations on digital responsibility, cybercrime prevention, and technology-driven social impact. Her work represents the strength of Women in Cyber Safety, combining scale, institutional trust, and innovation to strengthen long-term digital resilience across India.
Driving Cybersecurity, Governance & Compliance for Women’s Cyber Resilience
As a leader for women’s safety in the digital world, Arathy actively contributes to mentorship and awareness initiatives that empower women to understand cyber risks and build digital confidence. She is a Working Group Member for Women in CyberSecurity (WiCyS) India
She regularly supports conversations around online safety, responsible digital behaviour, and structured reporting mechanisms. Her work includes conducting security awareness sessions, mentoring young professionals entering technology and cybersecurity careers, and participating in cross-industry forums that promote inclusive and accountable security practices.
Arathy Nair is a seasoned Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC) and cybersecurity professional. She has strong expertise in enterprise risk management, regulatory compliance, cybersecurity governance, and internal control frameworks. She helps organisations identify vulnerabilities and assess emerging threats. She also supports the implementation of structured security and compliance models that strengthen long-term resilience. Her work ensures businesses remain compliant with regulatory requirements. It also helps them stay prepared for evolving cyber risks.
Operating at the intersection of policy, technology, and people, Arathy believes cybersecurity is not only about controls and frameworks. It is also about awareness and culture. By aligning governance strategies with real-world digital risks, especially those affecting women, she helps build safer digital ecosystems. Her leadership reflects the growing importance of Women in Cyber Safety. These leaders are shaping secure infrastructures while mentoring the next generation of cybersecurity professionals.
Cybersecurity & Women’s Digital Safety Lead
Committed to creating safer digital spaces for women and young learners, Dr Abhilasha Vyas actively promotes cyber awareness, mentorship, and opportunities for women in technology. Through her involvement with organisations such as Women in CyberSecurity (WiCyS) India, Women in Big Data, InfosecGirls, and Women in Tech India, she contributes to initiatives that encourage women to enter cybersecurity, build strong professional networks, and strengthen digital safety awareness.
With over two decades of experience across industry and academia, Dr Vyas currently serves as the Director of Learning and Innovation at PureID. She is also a Board Member at WiCyS – Women in Cybersecurity India Affiliate, Convener of the Women in Tech Wing at GESIA IT Association, and an AWS Community Builder (Security), where she drives strategic initiatives focused on cloud security, identity governance, and data protection. Dr Vyas holds a PhD in Cybersecurity and advanced certifications from Microsoft and AWS. Her research has focused on DDoS attack detection and cloud identity governance, reflecting her strong technical expertise in modern cybersecurity challenges.
Beyond her corporate leadership, she frequently conducts cybersecurity workshops, awareness sessions, and industry talks for police academies, educational institutions, and corporate professionals. Her sessions focus on digital risk awareness, cyber hygiene, and real-world threat mitigation, helping individuals and communities adopt safer online practices.
Her contributions have been widely recognised, including the Cybersecurity Champion award at the TIWIISS Women Leaders in Security & Safety Awards 2025 and recognition as one of the Top Indian Women Influencers in Security (2022). As a mentor, educator, and industry leader, Dr Vyas continues to inspire the next generation of cybersecurity professionals while strengthening digital safety awareness across communities.
Strengthening Cybersecurity Laws to Protect Women & Children
Dr Karnnika A. Seth is an internationally renowned Cyberlaw, Intellectual Property, and Media Law expert who has been practising before the Supreme Court of India and the Delhi High Court for over two decades. Through her legal expertise and policy advisory roles, she has played a significant role in strengthening India’s cyber law framework, particularly in areas impacting women’s online safety, data privacy, and digital rights. She is the Managing Partner of Seth Associates, a reputed law firm in India.
Her work extends into women’s and children’s empowerment through international legal think tanks, with her views sought by organisations such as the World Bank and UNICEF. She also collaborates with UNESCO and the International Centre for Missing and Exploited Children, contributing to frameworks that strengthen digital protection. Through the Foundation for Institutional Reform & Education, she promotes cyber awareness and legal literacy, empowering women with knowledge of their digital rights.
Dr Seth serves as Legal Expert and Advisor to the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and the Ministry of Defence. As G100’s Country Chair in AI, she voluntarily drafted a proposed AI law for India. She also served as a Judge at the International Social Media Tribunal in 2025.
She is a visiting faculty at judicial and police academies across India, training judiciary members, law enforcement officers, and senior government officials. Supporting national missions such as Digital India, AI for All, and Viksit Bharat, she continues to promote cyber awareness and digital safety. Recently, she conducted a live cyber safety session for the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Recognised with honours including the Constitution Day Award (2023), Platinum Excellence Amrit Award (2022), Great Indian Women Award (2021), and the National Gaurav Award (2017), Dr Seth continues to contribute to strengthening digital safety and cyber law awareness in India.
Protecting Children from Cyberbullying and Online Abuse
Women and children are often the most vulnerable to cyberbullying, sextortion, and online exploitation. Dr Sheetal Gagrani, founder and trustee of Brush of Hope, is transforming this landscape by creating safer digital spaces through education, awareness, and support.
Brush of Hope (Helpline Number:022-65366666) was founded in memory of Swara, a young girl whose tragic loss to cyberbullying and online sextortion sparked a movement to protect children from similar fates. The initiative works in collaboration with the Maharashtra Cyber Department to provide preventive education, emotional counselling, and legal guidance to victims and families.
Dr Gagrani’s approach focuses on practical intervention and empowerment of cybersecurity through School exhibitions and workshops that educate girls on online risks, cyberbullying, and digital well-being through interactive activities, live demonstrations, and role-plays. Parent and teacher sessions foster collective responsibility for children’s digital safety. Trained counsellors offer guidance to victims and families, ensuring emotional and legal support.
A gold medallist in medicine and NHS consultant in the UK, Dr Gagrani’s experience spans across Radiology and Social Impact, championing cyber safety, menopause awareness, and holistic well-being. Her work balances professional excellence, family, and social responsibility, demonstrating how one woman can heal, protect, and empower communities both online and offline. Through Brush of Hope, Dr Sheetal Gagrani is not only safeguarding children in the digital world but also educating families and communities, creating a culture where children can navigate the internet confidently, safely, and without fear.
A Defender of Women’s Safety: From Real Life to Cybersecurity Space
When conversations around women’s safety move beyond awareness and into structured survivor support, leaders like Ekta Viiveck Verma stand at the forefront. Her workplace’s women are especially survivors of domestic violence and online abuse at the centre of systemic change, policy reform, and long-term protection frameworks.
Ekta is the Founder & Director of the Invisible Scars Foundation (ISF), a Section 8 nonprofit organisation working across India to address domestic violence and abuse (DVA). What began in 2016 as a small online support group following her personal experience with emotional abuse has grown into a national social impact movement. Today, ISF has directly supported over 30,000 survivors across 128 cities and 12 countries, and indirectly impacted more than 50,000 women.
The Foundation operates on a structured three-pillar model: Response and Rehabilitation through Survivor Support, Prevention through Awareness, Sensitisation & Capacity Building, and Systemic Change through Policy Advocacy and Ecosystem Building. Under her leadership, ISF has launched high-impact initiatives including Project Humraahi (with Infosys Foundation), Raahat Crisis Centre (with Fernandez Hospital), Project Nidar (Workplace Domestic Violence Policy implementation with Urban Company), Project Nyaay (training Certified Family Mediators), Project Samanvaay (state-level stakeholder summits), and Project Jaagrukta (awareness and workplace sensitisation programmes).
A certified PoSH professional, Ekta serves on Internal Committees of corporates and startups, contributing deep expertise in workplace sexual harassment prevention, policy implementation, training, and inve
stigations strengthening institutional accountability for women’s safety.
Her impact has earned national and international recognition. She has been featured in She Is (released in collaboration with the Office of the Principal Scientific Advisor, British High Commission, and FICCI FLO) and 50 Inspiring Women – Telangana Edition. Her awards include the Nari Niyogin Award (2020), Facebook’s “Person to Know” recognition (2021), Woman of Worth Award (2021), Women of Impact Award (2024) in Social Impact, and the Amazing Indians Award (2025) in Human Rights and Legal Aid. In 2024, she was selected as a Chevening Gurukul Fellow for Leadership and Excellence at the University of Oxford, a prestigious global leadership programme.
Through survivor-centric policy advocacy, institutional partnerships, and structured crisis response models, Ekta Viiveck Verma continues to build safer ecosystems for women, transforming personal resilience into systemic reform and long-term protection.
Advancing Women’s Digital Safety Through Cybersecurity Expertise
Gayathri Sribharath is a cybersecurity professional and a leading woman, dedicated to strengthening digital safety, especially for women and young learners navigating an increasingly connected world. With a strong foundation in cybersecurity strategy, risk management, and security operations, she brings both technical insight and a passion for community education to the forefront of her work. She is the head of Cybersecurity at Zelis. And a former CISO at Milestone Technologies Inc.
As a women’s cyber safety lead, Gayathri actively contributes to initiatives that promote cyber awareness and digital confidence among women. She conducts educational sessions, participates in panel discussions, and mentors young professionals, helping them understand cyber risks, build practical prevention habits, and pursue meaningful careers in cybersecurity. Her outreach efforts emphasise safe online conduct, the importance of risk literacy, and proactive digital empowerment.
Gayathri has built a diverse career spanning cyber risk assessments, security program implementation, incident response, and strategic security planning. Her deep understanding of cyber threat landscapes enables her to effectively translate complex security concepts into clear, actionable guidance, especially for audiences new to cybersecurity or concerned about online safety.
Dedicated to closing the gender gap in technology, Gayathri also supports women entering cybersecurity roles by sharing knowledge, resources, and encouragement. Her involvement with professional communities and mentoring platforms reinforces her commitment to building inclusive and secure digital spaces. Through her blend of technical expertise and educational engagement, Gayathri Sribharath exemplifies the growing impact of women driving cyber protection, empowering individuals, especially women, to stay secure, informed, and confident online. Gayathri’s work bridges technical cybersecurity with accessible digital safety education, making cyber awareness relatable and actionable for women and communities who need it most.
Filmmaker: Building Awareness for Women and Child Safety Through Storytelling
Women’s and children’s safety often requires voices that can bring difficult realities into public conversation. Insia Dariwala is an internationally recognised filmmaker, author, and social advocate who uses storytelling, cinema, and digital platforms to raise awareness around child sexual abuse, gender-based violence, and harmful cyber practices affecting women and girls.
Beginning her career as a copywriter in New York, Insia went on to become an award-winning filmmaker, writer, and executive producer, creating global content across fiction, documentaries, and social campaigns. She recently debuted as an author with her poetry book “Residue.” She pioneered India’s first photo campaign on male child sexual abuse, which contributed to making child protection laws gender-neutral in 2018. In 2019, she led a nationwide awareness campaign for Hollywood Health & Society (Los Angeles) through the PSA film “Say No To Pain,” which reached over 1 billion viewers across theatres, television, and digital platforms.
Insia is the founder of two non-profits, The Hands of Hope Foundation, working against child sexual abuse, and Sahiyo, an organisation focused on ending Female Genital Cutting (FGM/C) in Asia. Her award-winning film “The Beginning,” Asia’s first fiction film on FGM, has received multiple international recognitions. Her work has been honoured with several awards, including the Humanitarian Award (2023), Woman of Substance Award (2023), 1000 Women of Asia Award (2022), Shoorveer Bravery Award (2018), and recognition among the “Phenomenal She – 100 Most Inspiring Women of India.” She has also been featured in the BBC World series “My Indian Life.”
Through storytelling, advocacy, and mentorship, Insia continues to challenge harmful norms and promote safer spaces for women and children.
Cybersecurity Leader & Champion for Women in Security
Lekshmi Nair is a respected cybersecurity expert with over two decades of experience in building secure digital ecosystems, leading security strategy, and leading for women’s inclusion in tech and cybersecurity. As Global Capability Head at NTT DATA, she drives enterprise‑level security programs and operational excellence, guiding organisations through complex threat landscapes and strengthening digital trust across industries.
Throughout her career, Lekshmi has worked with top global technology organisations, including IBM, Synopsys Software Integrity and others, where she led security transformation, risk management, secure architecture reviews, and integrated DevSecOps practices to elevate overall security posture. Her leadership blends technical depth with strategic vision, empowering teams to deliver world‑class security solutions while fostering inclusive, high‑performance cultures.
As an active contributor to the cybersecurity community, Lekshmi speaks on topics such as leadership, digital inclusion, AI in security, and career progression for women in tech. She has been featured in industry discussions and podcast interviews, highlighting the importance of mentorship, community engagement, and supportive ecosystems for women in security roles. Her involvement with organisations like Women in CyberSecurity (WiCyS) India underscores her commitment to bridging the gender gap in tech and creating opportunities for women professionals to grow and lead. Through her advocacy, mentorship, and thought leadership, Lekshmi Nair continues to champion women’s cyber safety and career empowerment, inspiring the next generation of cybersecurity talent while helping organisations build stronger, more resilient digital defences.
Safeguarding Women Online with Cybersecurity Awareness & Psychological Insights
Nirali Bhatia is a pioneering cyber psychologist, counsellor, and digital safety advocate whose work centres on understanding how the human mind interacts with technology and how that insight can be used to protect individuals, especially women and young internet users.
With over two decades of experience in IT, psychology, and cyber safety, Nirali blends technical understanding with behavioural science to decode why cybercrimes occur and how they affect victims psychologically. She is a TEDx speaker, corporate trainer, and author of numerous awareness and counselling programs addressing cyberbullying, online harassment, digital addiction, and emotional well-being in the digital age.
In 2016, she founded Cyber B.A.A.P. (Cyberbullying Awareness, Action & Prevention) , India’s first organisation dedicated to combating cyberbullying and offering counselling, reporting guidance, and psychological support to victims. Under her leadership, the Cyber Wellness Foundation and its initiatives have supported thousands of individuals affected by online abuse and cyber harassment, while also conducting widespread awareness campaigns and training sessions for schools, parents, and enforcement agencies.
Nirali has been recognised as one of India’s Top Women Influencers in Security and continues to speak at major forums, including UNICEF, UN Women, the National Commission for Women, and cyber police units. Her workshops cover topics such as cyber safety for teens, social media impact, and digital resilience, helping women and communities build confidence and safety online.
Beyond workshops and counselling, she served as Vice Chairman for Women’s Safety at the Fire Safety & Security Association of India (FSAI), reinforcing her commitment to women’s protection across digital and physical spaces. Nirali’s work goes beyond awareness; she combines psychology, technology, and community action to create safer digital spaces where women can navigate the online world with confidence, resilience, and support.
Empowering Women Against Online Abuse & Cyber Harms
Women in the digital space often face harassment, intimidation, and threats that extend far beyond the screen. At the forefront of combating these risks is Pranaadhika Sinha Devburman, a Kolkata-based survivor-activist, artist, and founder of One Million Against Abuse, a movement dedicated to personal safety education, survivor support, and prevention-led advocacy across India.
Pranaadhika’s work began early: at just 10 years old, she started campaigning on child sexual abuse awareness and prevention. Today, she has built a long-term ecosystem connecting grassroots education, public awareness, and actionable support for survivors.
A core focus of her work lies at the intersection of digital harm and real-world safety. She founded Shontu: United Against Online Harassment, an initiative designed to tackle cyberbullying, sexual harassment, threats, and intimidation. Shontu goes beyond awareness; it provides survivors with practical tools for reporting, escalation, and accountability, including guidance on drafting FIRs and formal complaints in serious online harassment cases. Her approach is survivor-centred and pragmatic, emphasising: Normalising reporting without shame or self-blame. Translating fear into actionable steps such as documentation, escalation, and safety planning. Pushing for accountability in systems that often dismiss digital abuse as “not serious”
What makes Pranaadhika’s work distinctive for the cybersecurity community is her perspective on online abuse as a risk pathway, a precursor to stalking, doxxing, reputational violence, coercion, and offline harm. She highlights the psychological mechanics of intimidation, the normalisation of digital cruelty, and the urgent need for literacy around consent, boundaries, and reporting mechanisms, all critical for reducing harm and building resilient communities online. Pranaadhika’s work embodies the principle that women protecting women online is not just advocacy, it is action, prevention, and empowerment, creating a culture where safety, dignity, and justice are accessible to all.
Championing Digital Safety for Women, Children, and Communities
Women, children, and vulnerable communities often face unique risks in the digital world. Shonal, Anti-Cybercrime Strategist and Women Brand Ambassador for the Cyber Security Association of India (CSAI), is leading efforts to safeguard them through awareness, training, and cyberpsychology.
As a practising cyberpsychologist, master trainer, and visiting faculty, Shonal specialises in cybercrime investigation, digital literacy, and cyber hygiene. She promotes digital safety for government officials, the elderly, women, and children, training prestigious institutions such as the Internal Security Academy (ISA), Ministry of Defence, MeiTY, BPR&D, and numerous NGOs and academic bodies.
Her work bridges technology, psychology, and law, addressing emerging threats like fraudulent mobile apps, synthetic media, sextortion, and CSAM (Child Sexual Abuse Material). Shonal co-developed the pioneering Master Course on Digital Detox & Mental Well-being, equipping individuals to manage digital risks and smartphone security in the AI era. Through training, awareness campaigns, and policy advocacy, Shonal empowers communities to adopt proactive cybersecurity practices, creating safer digital environments where women, children, and citizens can navigate online spaces confidently.
Shonal’s work highlights that digital literacy and empowerment are essential for women’s cyber safety, turning knowledge into protection and fostering resilient, secure online communities.
The Final Word
This Women’s Day, we recognise the women who are securing the world around them. Their work is not symbolic. It is structural. It is transformative. It is building long-term digital protection frameworks for generations to come. This is why our theme for this year is: #SheSecuresHer. But she secures her what?
She secures her identity. Her dignity. Her voice. Her privacy. Her finances. Her children. Her right to exist online without fear. Her space and everything beyond that. And when she secures her, she strengthens families, communities, and the future and freedom of the digital nation.
Click on the teaser to join our WhatsApp community and stay tuned for more such informative blogs!