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Science & Technology

Cyber crime: NCC to establish Internet Industry Code of Practice

Cyber crime
By Temitope Salami
Ago-Iwoye (Ogun), June 3, 2019 (NAN) Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) says it will establish “Internet Industry Code of Practice” for
service providers in the country to mitigate the effects of cyber crimes on broadband consumers.

Alhaji Ismail Adedigba, Deputy Director and Head, Information and Reference Unit, NCC Consumer Affairs Bureau, disclosed this on Monday
during the 50th edition of the organisation’s Consumer Town Hall Meeting (CTM) in Ago-Iwoye, Ogun.

The CTM had the theme: “Mitigating Effects of Cyber crimes: The Roles of Telecom Consumers.”

Adedigba said that the move became necessary as the liberalisation of the telecoms industry led to unprecedented increase in the usage of
internet-based services, which exposed more consumers to cyber threats.

He added that “the Internet Code is another regulatory intervention by NCC, expected not only to help secure cyberspace but to also
address issues relating to online child protection, privacy and data security.

“Let me emphasise that while the regulatory intervention and other initiatives are ongoing to sanitise our internet space, telecom consumers
must play their roles as well.

“Consumers must be cautious of the type of information they post online and imbibe responsible internet and phone usage etiquette.

“Telecom consumers must install filtering software that helps to block access to inappropriate websites and exercise caution while
clicking on flashing pop-ups or adverts as this may open up other compromised pages.

“They must also monitor the contents accessed by children or wards, as well as sign up into sites that can be remotely monitored for digital
footprints and activities.

“Cyber-Security is a collective effort we must jointly address to reduce the effects of cyber crimes on telecom consumers in this broadband
era.”

Adedigba highlighted the importance of the CTM at the grassroots toward ensuring consumer safety, saying consumer ignorance was the most
important advantage preyed on by cyber criminals and hackers.

He said that the NCC believed that one of the most effective ways to protect telecom consumers from cyber crime was continuous consumer
education such as nationwide CTM outreach.

He added that “our consumer awareness programme, especially the CTM, has been very effective because we use local languages to pass
messages.

“We also work with police. If there are cyber-attacks, we always encourage consumers to inform the police.”

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that NCC holds CTM monthly in rural and semi-urban areas in states and major cities across the country.

The programme brings together telecom consumers with network operators and the NCC to identify, discuss and jointly proffer solutions to
issues affecting consumers and operators. (NAN)
TDS/COF/HA
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Editing by Oluyinka Fadare/Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu

Science & Technology

Cybercrime: Mobile banking, target of cyber criminals

Cybercrime: Mobile banking, target of cyber criminals
NAN-H-31
Cybercrime
By Chiazo Ogbolu
Lagos, Oct. 26, 2017 (NAN) The Legal Attache, United States Consulate, Mr Rolland Avedician, says mobile banking is now target of cyber criminals.
Avedician made this known during a programme to commemorate October as National Cybersecurity Awareness Month organised by the Public Affairs Section of the United States Consulate General Lagos on Thursday in Lagos.
The programme was in partnership with the International Centre for Leadership Development Nigeria (ICLDN).
“The World Wide Web (WWW) has allowed criminals to operate across borders and this is within the age gap of 19 to 29, a statistic from FBI and Interpol on West Africa.
“The criminals in West Africa are operating in an organised and well sophisticated way due to the fact that they take classes and discuss what the law enforcement agencies are doing to checkmate them.
“They are now looking for the most vulnerable targets and mobile banking is now the target of cyber criminals.
“The criminals in West Africa are becoming more knowledgeable with their mobile device to perpetuate the crime,” he said.
Mr Olatunji Igbalajobi, Chief Operating Officer, Cyber Code Ltd, said that cyber ethics should be the moral behaviour of internet usage.
Igbalajobi while speaking on the topic “Cyber Ethics”, urged the public to understand the moral implications of what they do online.
“There is need to understand the basic role of information security and the need not to share confidential information about family and business online.
“One needs to have a secure password, build cyber security resilience system, pay attention to critical vulnerabilities, avoid cyber stocking and virus propagating,” he said.
He listed some tips that would aid in improving cyber security safety in the workplace as to follow the department cyber security policies and procedures.
Others, he said, are to use department owned and approved hardware, software and removable media on department systems, be wary of social engineering and other threats carried out via email and social media.
He said that people should learn to properly mark, handle and disseminate classified information, and look for warning signs for insider threats and taking advantage of diplomatic security training centres.
He also advised that a good password should be one that was long, complex and temporary, adding that a different password should be used for each device. (NAN)
CAN/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola