The Honest Lens: Tech, Cyber, Money & Travel by an Ex-CTO
Family Code Word: The Ten-Minute Habit That Stops Fake Emergency Calls
A code word is an OTP for people. Ask for it before you send money to a relative’s voice, and a cloned call has nothing to say.
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Shadow AI Policy: The One Page I Would Write First
A ban does not stop shadow AI. It stops you seeing it. Here is the one-page policy I would write instead, with…
What Keeps CTOs Up at Night: Ten Pressures and What I Would Do First
Ten pressures keep CTOs and CIOs awake in 2026, from AI that has to show a return to shadow AI. Here is…
eSIM Scam India: A Thief Cannot Take Your eSIM, So Scammers Ask You for It
An eSIM cannot be taken out of a stolen phone, so the scammers ask you to move it for them. Here is…
Why Tech-Savvy People Fall for Scams: Six Attacks Built for Smart Targets
Careful people lose to attacks that hide inside routine work. Six real attacks, what I could not verify, and what stops each…
Call Forwarding Scam in India: Never Dial a Code That Starts With *
Today a “courier company” called me, and within minutes I was looking at a call forwarding scam India’s cybercrime authorities have been…
WhatsApp Bank Alert Scam: Why You Should Never Reply NO
I have spent three decades in technology, and the scams that worry me most need no technical skill at all. The WhatsApp…
Travel
All travel posts →
Indian Vegetarian in Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Turkey: What I Actually Ate
What an Indian vegetarian who eats eggs actually ate across Azerbaijan, Georgia, Armenia and Turkey, dish by dish, with prices where I…
Cappadocia Balloon Ride: Why I Paid €110 in Soğanlı, Not €250 in Göreme
I paid €100 to €150 for a Cappadocia balloon ride from Soğanlı Valley while Göreme operators asked €250 to €300. Here is…
Istanbulkart or Credit Card Tap? The Maths From My Trip
A ride cost 46.20 lira on an Istanbulkart and 65 lira by credit card tap. Here is the break-even maths from my…
Money
View all →Retire Sooner? Your Quick Guide to Early Retirement in India!
Most people serious about early retirement in India start thinking about it in their 40s or…
Geo-Arbitrage: Turbocharge your FIRE in India
Most people trying to hit FIRE in their 40s or 50s focus entirely on earning more.…
Mutual Funds India: Your Path to Wealth
Most people keep money in a savings account well past the point it makes sense, because…
Technology
View all →Shadow AI Policy: The One Page I Would Write First
A ban does not stop shadow AI. It stops you seeing it. Here is the one-page…
What Keeps CTOs Up at Night: Ten Pressures and What I Would Do First
Ten pressures keep CTOs and CIOs awake in 2026, from AI that has to show a…
What Keeps Indian CTOs and CIOs Up at Night: Ten Pressures and What Helps
Ten pressures Indian CTOs and CIOs carry, from old systems to DPDP and CERT-In deadlines, with…
Growth
View all →Bad Bosses as Teachers: Turning Experiences Into Growth
Some of the most useful lessons I’ve had came from a manager I actively dreaded reporting…
Tech Career India: Beat the Promotion Trap with Strategic Lateral Moves
In Indian IT, “promotion” is treated like a mantra — climb every year or fall behind.…
Beyond the Paycheck: Reclaiming Your Identity Outside of Work
When I stepped away from my CTO role, the hardest question wasn’t strategy or money —…
Cyber: scams and how to stay safe
All cyber posts →
Family Code Word: The Ten-Minute Habit That Stops Fake Emergency Calls
A code word is an OTP for people. Ask for it before you send money to a relative’s voice, and a cloned…
eSIM Scam India: A Thief Cannot Take Your eSIM, So Scammers Ask You for It
An eSIM cannot be taken out of a stolen phone, so the scammers ask you to move it for them. Here is…
Why Tech-Savvy People Fall for Scams: Six Attacks Built for Smart Targets
Careful people lose to attacks that hide inside routine work. Six real attacks, what I could not verify, and what stops each…
Test your scam instincts in 3 minutes
BeCyberSmart.in is a free daily scam-awareness quiz for Indian families, in English, Hindi, Marathi and Tamil.