Security
Governor Bello: Disbandment of SARS dampened police morale
Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, has said the disbandment of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad of the Nigeria Police Force dampened the spirits of police officers across the country. The governor was reacting to the nationwide violence and looting by hoodlums in the aftermath of the #EndSARS protests. Many Nigerians have wondered why rampaging hoodlums are having a field day destroying lives and properties in the country despite the presence of security operatives. There have been reports of hoodlums overpowering police officers to burn down police stations and other infrastructure they guard. Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily programme on Tuesday which was monitored by newsmen, Bello explained that the pronouncement by the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, affected...
7 Ways to Reduce Cybersecurity Risks
Most corporate employees are still using remote working tools to help beat COVID-19, according to a recent survey by human resources consultants 21st Century. South Africa’s Internet Service Providers’ Association (ISPA), however, cautions work from home employees that the high-speed data connections, cloud-based file sharing and other remote working tools that enable the new normal are not without risk. “The shift to remote working has many benefits, but also creates new security risks because employees working from home may not have the expertise to properly secure themselves against online threats,” says ISPA chair, André van der Walt. Fortunately, here are seven practical tips to reduce cybersecurity risks: Backup your data. Not only does a backup protect you from a physical hard drive...
#EndSARS: HURIWA charges President Buhari to set up assets recovery panel
Foremost rights advocacy group, the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, HURIWA, has condemned what it called the silence of President Muhammadu Buhari over protests against operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, a unit of the Nigeria Police Force, in the past two weeks. The group in a statement issued by its national coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, on Thursday, claimed that “certain ethno-religious extremists have been paid by some government officials to stoke the embers of ethno–religious division to graphically paint the #EndSARS movements with ethnic and religious colourations.” The statement noted that youths of the country are angry “because the elders who have had access to public offices and those wielding political powers have continuously feasted on the comm...
NSA: President Buhari to announce critical solution to #EndSARS protest in hours
The National Security Adviser (NSA) to the President, retired Maj.-Gen. Babagana Monguno, says President Muhammadu Buhari is to announce a critical solution to the #EndSARS protest in a couple of hours. Monguno, who made this known at the end of the fourth National Security Council meeting, presided by the president in Abuja on Thursday said Buhari also directed all security agencies to always operate within the confine of legitimacy and legality. He said the president also urged the security agencies to always avoid anything that would aggravate the nation’s security challenges. He also stated that the president would soon come up with certain solutions to address the security challenges in the country, saying the president directed that government would also do all it could to arrive at ...
Protecting Consumers at Every Level with Enhanced Protection for Windows
ESET, a global leader in cybersecurity, has today launched new versions of its Windows security products for consumers. The new versions upgrade the protection in ESET Internet Security, ESET NOD32 Antivirus and ESET Smart Security Premium. The wide range of security improvements covers malware detection, online banking, password security and smart home support – in line with ESET’s goal to create a safer digital world for everyone to enjoy. With the ever-increasing volume of reported cyberattacks, it is vital that users are secured in their online activities. These product updates address key issues, including online payments and banking-related threats, identity theft and leaking of personal information, stolen passwords and connected device security. ESET is continuously imp...
Leveraging Communications Technology to Enhance Physical Security
Crime remains an ever-present danger in South Africa, and this has driven a demand for private security services, citizens are turning to private security companies to ensure their safety. It is perhaps not surprising then that the private security industry in South Africa is among the largest in the world, with over 9 000 registered companies and 450 000 registered active private security guards. Security companies in South Africa play a crucial role in terms of crime mitigation, providing a range of services – from access control to armed response – to companies and private consumers. However, as mobile devices and data become increasingly ubiquitous, communication technology can play a pivotal role in aiding security companies to react far more quickly, potentially saving lives. Traditi...
Realising Abundant Connectivity through Open Access Fibre
The concept of open access (OA) business model is here to stay. It provides the most effective way of driving competition between internet service providers (ISPs) while giving customers the freedom of choice at affordable rates. Under an open access model, the fibre network operator (FNO) provides an infrastructure that can be used by any number of licensed ISPs. This creates a clear distinction between the responsibilities of both parties. The roll-out and maintenance of the physical infrastructure, for example, the fibre cables, are the domain of the FNO. The ISPs, in turn, are responsible for the value-added services offered on top of that, i.e. the internet access sold to the customer. It is also why many operators in smaller towns are still clinging to a traditional approach that see...
The State of Cybersecurity in Africa
Sourced from IDG Connect Modern technologies require a certain level of skills when it comes to accessing information. While most countries have strict laws about internet security, countries all across Africa are falling behind the rest of the world. The digital era has brought many new forms of communication. Sadly, some use technology to steal information and compromise entire state governments. Africa is currently one of the fastest developing areas globally, and it’s estimated that over 1 billion Africans will have internet access by the end of 2022. That puts many people in danger as cybersecurity laws are still waiting for confirmation across the continent. Let’s take a look at the current state of things in Africa. Trends in Cybercrime Many countries in Africa face enormous challen...
Google to Warn Users if their Passwords are Hacked
Sourced from IOL. Google has revealed that it would notify Chrome users if their passwords have been compromised. In an official blog post, the tech company said that it would be improving password security on both Android and iOS devices. To find out whether your passwords have been compromised, Chrome will send users a copy of their usernames and Passwords using a special form of encryption – this lets Google check them against lists of credentials known to be compromised, but “Google cannot derive your username or password from this encrypted copy”. “We notify you when you have compromised passwords on websites, but it can be time-consuming to go find the relevant form to change your password. To help, we’re adding support for “.well-known/change-password” URLs that let Chrome take user...
4 Tips to Securing your Safety while Shopping Online
With the start of lockdown in South Africa now over six months ago, certain behavioural and shopping trends have started to become clear. The extreme regulations necessary in Level 5 significantly contributed to an increased uptake in online shopping, and put eCommerce into the focal point as a viable way to buy everyday goods. Speaking in light of Cyber Security Awareness month OneDayOnly.co.za spokesperson, Matthew Leighton says that cyber safety is a big part of shopping online, but not nearly as scary or unknown as some may think. “E-commerce is no doubt starting to mature in South Africa. Our retail sales grew by 100% during lockdown and we are seeing an uptake in first-time users making it even more important for consumers to familiarize themselves with online safety. As soon as you ...
Unpacking Intelligent Infrastructure in the Modern Data Centre
As the world’s largest IT companies realise the importance of ‘intelligent infrastructure’ in the modern data centre, the race is on between storage competitors to provide products and solutions that are actually truly intelligent, and not merely standard infrastructure. So says Marcel Fouché, Networking and Storage General Manager at value-added distributor Networks Unlimited Africa, which partners in South Africa with Tintri, a provider of intelligent infrastructure for virtualised and non-virtualised enterprise IT environments. He clarifies, “In order to get to grips with this challenging issue, Tintri recently held a free webcast to unpack the differences between intelligent and standard infrastructure, looking at the topic from the perspectives of the customer, the vendor and th...
McAfee Founder is Arrested for Tax Evasion
Image sourced from Al Jeezera Cybersecurity company founder, John McAfee has been arrested in Spain after allegedly evading taxes. The US Justice Department revealed that an indictment from 15 June delivered by the Tax Division claims McAfee failed to file tax returns from 2014 to 2018 despite earning “millions in income from promoting cryptocurrencies, consulting work, speaking engagements, and selling the rights to his life story for a documentary”.’ The cybersecurity pioneer is reportedly also facing charges of cryptocurrency promotion from the SEC. According to Engadget, “the SEC explains that the charges are for McAfee promotion initial coin offerings (ICOs) via Twitter without admitting that he was getting paid as much as $23 million for it”. “It details the alleged scheme, as M...
