Media Department at Cihan University-Erbil Holds a Specialized Seminar on Cybercrimes
On Thursday, January 22, 2026, in the Auditorium of Cihan Academy for Training and Development.
The activity was supervised by Assistant Lecturer (Ahmad Jamal Hama Karim) and was attended by the students from the third and fourth stages. The seminar content was presented by Mr. (Mohammed Maqsood Ismail), an expert in information technology, who expressed his happiness at conducting this activity in the Media Department at Cihan University-Erbil.
Mr. (Mohammed Maqsood) began his seminar by defining cybercrime, noting that cybercrimes involve the misuse of electronic devices, the internet, or digital systems. These types of crimes have increased significantly in recent years due to the rapid development of technology and increased reliance on the internet in daily life. He also discussed the early emergence of cybercrimes and pointed at several prominent global examples, including cyberattacks on major companies, theft of private data, dangerous computer viruses, as well as attacks on government institutions and banks. He also noted that cybercrimes cause annual financial losses of trillions of dollars worldwide.
In another segment of the seminar, the seminar supervisor, Mr. Mohammed Maqsood marked the main reasons that lead criminals to commit these crimes. He identified financial gain as a primary reason, as most cybercrimes are committed for the purpose of obtaining money. Lack of awareness among users, weak security systems, political and ideological reasons, and the desire for revenge or demonstration of capabilities were other prominent reasons.
In the final part of the seminar, Mr. (Mohammed Maqsood) provided important self-protection guidelines to the participants. He emphasized the importance of using strong and different passwords for each account. He also discussed the importance of continuously updating systems and software to close security gaps and vulnerabilities. Being cautious of suspicious emails and links, using reliable antivirus software, and creating regular backups were other important parts of protection guidelines against cybercrimes. Additionally, he pointed to the importance of reading and learning about new online threats. The participating students asked questions about cybercrimes and self-protection methods, contributing effectively to the seminar.
In conclusion, the supervising lecturer presented a certificate of appreciation to Mr. (Mohammed Maqsood Ismail) for presenting this important content and participating in this activity. He also noted that such activities fall within the framework of the educational objectives of the Media Department, which involve developing students’ knowledge and expertise in all areas related to the media profession.
