Fresh concerns over cybercrime menace in Nigeria
Source: google
Experts in the Information Communications Technology (ICT) sector have raised fresh concerns over increasing cybercrime menace in the country.
According to them, the menace has taken new dimensions, as more Nigerians; including businesses are falling prey almost on a daily basis.
They disclosed that criminals are now launching attacks, especially malwares on mobile devices across all channels.
A report from IBM confirmed that over 138 billion apps have been downloaded since 2014.
The report noted that mobile malware is growing and becoming the new form of attack. It disclosed that at every given time, malicious code is infecting 11.6 million mobile devices. This implies that the mobile devices and apps relied on are under threat. Also, 97 per cent and 87 per cent of top paid Android and IOS apps have been hacked so far.
This challenge came on the heels of a disclosure yesterday by Facebook that about 1.5 billion WhatsApp users across the globe may likely report several degrees of breaches.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO), ITANDT Solutions limited, Akpos Okoro, advised businesses to be more proactive in taking security measures against malwares.
Speaking during the Enterprise Security workshop on Enterprise ICT Security Challenges in partnership with IBM, Okoro added that cyber security firms should collaborate and build a stronger force against cyber criminals.
“Cyber criminals work as group so to be ahead of them, we need to collaborate. There are many cloud solutions that organisations can employ. We are now in a cyber-world and we need to automate all business processes to be at par with technology innovations,” he added.
Urging businesses to be cyber ready, the CEO noted that there are increasing concerns about threats but solutions are available to manage them per time.
Chief Information Security Officer (CISO), Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Rakiya Mohammed, said increasing broadband penetration has presented better opportunities to financial institution.
Speaking on Mobile Devices and Corporate Networks- Security Challenges, she noted that internet penetration is speculated to be at 70 per cent by 2020.
“Business environment has changed due to deepened mobile use. Companies are now competing at intense rate considering change in consumers’ taste,” she said.
Represented by Cloud and Mobile Security Lead, CBN, Kyuka Ibrahim, she noted that regulation in the cyber space is still on the soft area.
On security challenges, she added that poor government regulation, data leakage, impersonation and weak infrastructure are the major bottlenecks in business data and information management.
“There is a need for stricter control on payment platform. This is because information on stolen phone or SIM card can be used to defraud the owner. We need to adopt more cloud solutions and enact cyber security risk frameworks to control mobile risk,” she added.
The CISO stressed that government is working on having one data platform rather than different customer data collation.
Noting that over 20 billion devices will be connected by 2020, Client Technical Professional, IBM, Ronald Marcey, said IBM is protecting the world from cyber uncertainty with top notch technology.
“Businesses cannot input a 100 per cent security because it is not going to work. It is has to be based on priority by picking from the most important to the least. Prioritising security this way will help business manage and monitor their cyber space effectively,” he added.
Middle East & Africa Talent, IBM, Khalid Shaban, stressed that cybercriminal attack the weakest link, hence the need for integration.
He added that businesses can control what level of access visitors and staff can have to certain information by using the MaaS 360 IBM cyber cloud solution.
On security breach on WhatsApp, a spokesman said the attack was sophisticated and had all the hallmarks of a “private company working with governments on surveillance.”
“WhatsApp encourages people to upgrade to the latest version of our app, as well as keep their mobile operating system up to date, to protect against potential targeted exploits designed to compromise information stored on mobile devices,” a spokesman said.
“We are constantly working alongside industry partners to provide the latest security enhancements to help protect our users,” he said.
WhatsApp informed its lead regulator in the European Union, Ireland’s Data Protection Commission (DPC), of “serious security vulnerability” on its platform.
“The DPC understands that the vulnerability may have enabled a malicious actor to install unauthorized software and gain access to personal data on devices which have WhatsApp installed,” the regulator said in a statement.
“WhatsApp are still investigating as to whether any WhatsApp EU user data has been affected as a result of this incident,” the DPC said.
Cyber security experts said the vast majority of users were unlikely to have been affected.
Earlier, the Financial Times reported that vulnerability in WhatsApp allowed attackers to inject spyware on phones by ringing up targets using the app’s phone call function.
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