In an important step to promote awareness of information security and risks, City University in Tripoli, in cooperation with the General Security Directorate, organized a lecture entitled “Not to be a Victim”.

The lecture was attended by a group of important national and academic figures, headed by MP Faisal Karami, Chairman of the University’s Board of Trustees, and MP Tony Frangieh, Chairman of the Parliamentary Technology and Information Committee.

The lecture witnessed a large student attendance, which indicates the young generation’s interest in this important topic.

The lecture opened with a welcoming speech by the head of the Activities Management Office at the university, Mrs. Kawthar Yemek, in which she expressed her thanks and appreciation for the presence of important personalities, emphasizing the leading role of the city university in serving the community and the country.

Dr. Edgar Rizk, President of the University, then delivered a speech in which he welcomed the guests and pointed out the importance of cooperation between the University and the General Security Directorate in the field of raising awareness of information security risks.

Dr. Rizk also discussed the importance of education in building society, emphasizing the role of the university in providing excellent higher education, and stressed the importance of information security in today’s era, calling on students to take the necessary steps to protect their data.

Lieutenant Dina Bou Diab from the Public Security Directorate gave a comprehensive lecture on information security, focusing on the importance of protecting personal data online, and called on students to take the necessary steps to protect their data, such as using strong passwords, avoiding sharing sensitive information, and clicking on links from unreliable parties.

Lieutenant Bou Diab also addressed the issue of cyberbullying, the phenomenon of forming cyber gangs and the danger of cyber grooming, and provided tips on how to deal with cases of cyber exploitation and extortion.

In his intervention, MP Faisal Karami highlighted the dangers of cybersecurity, which has become a real threat to everyone who uses social media platforms.

MP Tony Frangieh delivered a speech in which he praised City University as “a great scientific edifice” that will emphasize Tripoli’s identity as the cultural and economic capital of Lebanon.

Frangieh called for the inspiration of great statesmen like Rashid and Omar Karami, who founded this university, describing them as “great statesmen who made the glory of Lebanon.”

Frangieh also spoke about the importance of cybersecurity and the need to divide it into 3 phases:
Personal information belongs to you, protection from the use of technology because it is a double-edged sword, and national security.
He warned of the dangers of social media sites, especially TikTok, and called for their censorship, noting that “there will be an office to monitor this application in Lebanon.”

Frangieh called for the digitization of state transactions, and hoped that state transactions would become “online” through a single window such as the Lebanese General Security.
He also spoke about the risks of air navigation in light of tensions with Israel, describing it as “national security.”
In concluding, MP Tony Frangieh called for the election of a president as a solution to Lebanon’s crises, considering it “a necessary solution to save Lebanon from its crises.”

Finally, the commemorative photos and the presentation of the appreciation shield were a successful conclusion to this lecture, which is an important step in City University’s journey to promote awareness of information security and its risks, and to call on the younger generation to take the necessary steps to protect their personal data online.