As much as we always want you to be informed, it is our duty to get you
materials that will keep you safe on
this interphase we use to communicate with you, even though already bastardized
by people. This is a well thought out piece from Don Okereke. Please go
through it, there is never too much to know to keep you safe
materials that will keep you safe on
this interphase we use to communicate with you, even though already bastardized
by people. This is a well thought out piece from Don Okereke. Please go
through it, there is never too much to know to keep you safe
Scientists, engineers and inventors
toil day and night to discover or invent a tool or product that will advance
the cause of humanity and before you say Jack, that same invention has been
tailored by criminals to perpetuate their nefarious activities. There are so
many criminals out there in the cyber and real world’s. Cyber crime or Cyber
warfare transcends physical boundaries and as such erecting perimeter fencing
and all that offers no help.
toil day and night to discover or invent a tool or product that will advance
the cause of humanity and before you say Jack, that same invention has been
tailored by criminals to perpetuate their nefarious activities. There are so
many criminals out there in the cyber and real world’s. Cyber crime or Cyber
warfare transcends physical boundaries and as such erecting perimeter fencing
and all that offers no help.
At the time of writing this piece,
news filtered in that names, addresses, bank account details etc of some
serving and retired personnel of Nigeria’s State Security Service was published
online. What a national embarrassment and a threat to National Security. This is a wake
up call. This kind of act may not necessarily be carried out by external
criminal elements. A disgruntled staff could have done it as well.
news filtered in that names, addresses, bank account details etc of some
serving and retired personnel of Nigeria’s State Security Service was published
online. What a national embarrassment and a threat to National Security. This is a wake
up call. This kind of act may not necessarily be carried out by external
criminal elements. A disgruntled staff could have done it as well.
Many a time cyber criminals deploy
‘Social engineering’- the art of cleverly influencing people- to outsmart and
swindle their unsuspecting victims.
‘Social engineering’- the art of cleverly influencing people- to outsmart and
swindle their unsuspecting victims.
Some of the fantasies we read in
science fiction novels or watch in James Bond movies that seem impracticable
are now common place. There is no gainsaying the fact that advances in
technology has thrown up a lot of security challenges.
science fiction novels or watch in James Bond movies that seem impracticable
are now common place. There is no gainsaying the fact that advances in
technology has thrown up a lot of security challenges.
Sequel to Nigeria’s staggering
population of about 160 million people precipitate the advent and penetration
of internet and automatic teller machines,
Nigerians should brace up for increased levels of cyber and financial crimes.
It is not impossible to clone ATM cards, clone a website, hack into or
completely take the website down. Cases abound in the Western world of
criminals installing very tiny cameras on automatic teller machines to capture
the PIN numbers of unsuspecting bank customers. Desist from entering your debit
or credit card details in dodgy road side shops or online websites.
population of about 160 million people precipitate the advent and penetration
of internet and automatic teller machines,
Nigerians should brace up for increased levels of cyber and financial crimes.
It is not impossible to clone ATM cards, clone a website, hack into or
completely take the website down. Cases abound in the Western world of
criminals installing very tiny cameras on automatic teller machines to capture
the PIN numbers of unsuspecting bank customers. Desist from entering your debit
or credit card details in dodgy road side shops or online websites.
As we strive to catch-up with
technological innovation in advanced countries, we also need to brace up to the
challenges inherent with such technologies; there is always a learning phase or
curve. The following comprehensive guide and tips are
geared towards making us conscious of the dangers out there and what to do to
protect ourselves.
technological innovation in advanced countries, we also need to brace up to the
challenges inherent with such technologies; there is always a learning phase or
curve. The following comprehensive guide and tips are
geared towards making us conscious of the dangers out there and what to do to
protect ourselves.
1. Be careful what you do on a
computer especially a public computer like the so-called cyber cafes. When you
use a public computer or the so-called cyber cafes to check your emails, ensure
you uncheck the ‘’keep me signed or logged in’’ box before you sign in to your
online accounts. Failure to do this means your email/online account can still
be opened even after you sign or log out. It’s also easy for criminals to
install key-loggers in public computers that secretly records information of
users. And very importantly, after downloading sensitive documents, ensure you
clear the download folder otherwise your downloaded document will still be
there after you have gone. So it goes without saying that one must avoid using
public computers or networks for financial and private transactions. If you
cannot avoid it then take care to protect yourself and your transactions.
computer especially a public computer like the so-called cyber cafes. When you
use a public computer or the so-called cyber cafes to check your emails, ensure
you uncheck the ‘’keep me signed or logged in’’ box before you sign in to your
online accounts. Failure to do this means your email/online account can still
be opened even after you sign or log out. It’s also easy for criminals to
install key-loggers in public computers that secretly records information of
users. And very importantly, after downloading sensitive documents, ensure you
clear the download folder otherwise your downloaded document will still be
there after you have gone. So it goes without saying that one must avoid using
public computers or networks for financial and private transactions. If you
cannot avoid it then take care to protect yourself and your transactions.
Don’t presume because you have
deleted information from a computer therefore it cannot be retrieved. Bad guys
beware! There are forensic tools that can be used to scan and recover deleted
information from a computer.
deleted information from a computer therefore it cannot be retrieved. Bad guys
beware! There are forensic tools that can be used to scan and recover deleted
information from a computer.
2. Watch out the type of website you
enter your personal information. These days, websites can be cloned. The
website you thought is your bank’s, may not be after all. Its safer to
personally enter the URL (Universal Resource Locator) of the website you want
to visit on the address bar than to Google it. It is risky to click on every
link emailed to you by friends etc. Scrutinize emails claiming to emanate from
your bank, PayPal and other financial institutions. Don’t give out personal
information over the phone unless you are sure of the caller.
enter your personal information. These days, websites can be cloned. The
website you thought is your bank’s, may not be after all. Its safer to
personally enter the URL (Universal Resource Locator) of the website you want
to visit on the address bar than to Google it. It is risky to click on every
link emailed to you by friends etc. Scrutinize emails claiming to emanate from
your bank, PayPal and other financial institutions. Don’t give out personal
information over the phone unless you are sure of the caller.
3. Be wary of text messages or even
calls supposedly originating from a particular phone number or company you
think you are familiar with. This writer has gotten a lot of phony text
messages telling him he has won a lottery that he never entered into. If it
looks too good to be true, it is. A chap approached me lately telling me he got
an email telling him he won the American Visa lottery. Without even reading the
content of the email I told him it is definitely fraud because I am aware the
United States Department of State no longer sends emails to lucky winners of
its Visa lottery. Winners are now required to personally check in www.dvlottery.gov whether
they won or not. This is not even the gist, he subsequently told me they asked
him to wire money via western union to an address
domiciled in the United Kingdom. This is also why it pays to be INFORMED of
developments around us!
calls supposedly originating from a particular phone number or company you
think you are familiar with. This writer has gotten a lot of phony text
messages telling him he has won a lottery that he never entered into. If it
looks too good to be true, it is. A chap approached me lately telling me he got
an email telling him he won the American Visa lottery. Without even reading the
content of the email I told him it is definitely fraud because I am aware the
United States Department of State no longer sends emails to lucky winners of
its Visa lottery. Winners are now required to personally check in www.dvlottery.gov whether
they won or not. This is not even the gist, he subsequently told me they asked
him to wire money via western union to an address
domiciled in the United Kingdom. This is also why it pays to be INFORMED of
developments around us!
My wife got a call sometime from
somebody telling her they both did their mandatory one year national youth
service in a particular state. He went ahead to recite my wife’s NYSC call-up
number and all that. He asked my wife if she was still searching for a job, she
said yes. He instantly guaranteed her a place in Shell where he claimed to be
working. There and then, I told wify that the guy was a scammer. People can get your
information from so many ways. It could be the guy had access to the Corper’s
magazine of that particular State/year and got all the details he needed from
there. Its amazing people still fall for such trash!
somebody telling her they both did their mandatory one year national youth
service in a particular state. He went ahead to recite my wife’s NYSC call-up
number and all that. He asked my wife if she was still searching for a job, she
said yes. He instantly guaranteed her a place in Shell where he claimed to be
working. There and then, I told wify that the guy was a scammer. People can get your
information from so many ways. It could be the guy had access to the Corper’s
magazine of that particular State/year and got all the details he needed from
there. Its amazing people still fall for such trash!
With bulk SMS and internet text messaging, one can send a text
message with a personalized user I.D or phone number probably claiming to be
someone else or originating from a specific phone number. For example criminals
can send you a customized bank transaction SMS alert purporting to emanate from
your bank and anything can happen from there.
message with a personalized user I.D or phone number probably claiming to be
someone else or originating from a specific phone number. For example criminals
can send you a customized bank transaction SMS alert purporting to emanate from
your bank and anything can happen from there.
Voicemail and phone calls can be
hacked too. Justice Salami has had a running legal battle with OyinloIa/the PDP
over alleged text messages and calls purported to have transpired between him
and an ACN gubernatorial candidate. One is not necessarily holding brief for
Justice Salami; it’s just to highlight the possibilities of technology. The
case is still in court; let’s see how it pans out.
hacked too. Justice Salami has had a running legal battle with OyinloIa/the PDP
over alleged text messages and calls purported to have transpired between him
and an ACN gubernatorial candidate. One is not necessarily holding brief for
Justice Salami; it’s just to highlight the possibilities of technology. The
case is still in court; let’s see how it pans out.
Computer/Phone hacking is a global phenomenon. Lately, United Kingdom’s widely
read tabloid- the News of the World closed shop over phone hacking scandal.
Prominent celebrities have had their phones etc hacked into
at one point or the other.
Please if you use a wireless internet subscription on your PC or mobile
device, it is very important you use a very STRONG password to protect it
otherwise just about any body within your vicinity can log or hack into your
network and use it. With ‘’remote log in’’, somebody can hack into your
Personal Computer via your unsecured network and access all the information on
your PC or device.
device, it is very important you use a very STRONG password to protect it
otherwise just about any body within your vicinity can log or hack into your
network and use it. With ‘’remote log in’’, somebody can hack into your
Personal Computer via your unsecured network and access all the information on
your PC or device.
You cannot exonerate yourself if your network is hacked into and used to
perpetuate negative acts. Always switch off the Bluetooth on your computer or
mobile device because it is an easy gateway to the information in your device.
Your voicemail too needs to be password protected.
4. Use ‘strong’ passwords and change
it as frequently as possible. Eschew using such things as your date of birth
etc as passwords. Mix letters, numerals, capital and lower case letters if
possible. If you fancy it, try using a memorable sentence for a password. E.g.
‘’AbujaIsTheCapitalOfNigeria’’. Take note that the aforementioned password has
every word starting with a capital letter. Yes, its a long one but also easy to
remember. Most importantly, it is STRONG, cannot be easily cracked.
it as frequently as possible. Eschew using such things as your date of birth
etc as passwords. Mix letters, numerals, capital and lower case letters if
possible. If you fancy it, try using a memorable sentence for a password. E.g.
‘’AbujaIsTheCapitalOfNigeria’’. Take note that the aforementioned password has
every word starting with a capital letter. Yes, its a long one but also easy to
remember. Most importantly, it is STRONG, cannot be easily cracked.
5. Be careful who you send or email
your CV and important documents to. This applies mostly to our numerous job
seekers out there. I cringe whenever I see a plethora of job seekers copying
and pasting their resumes, degree results, passport photos, NYSC discharge
certificates etc on every available website and to giddy recruitment websites.
Armed with all these information about you, what else does some
criminally-minded bloke out there need to claim to be you or ‘clone’ you?
‘Identity Theft’ may not be big business here in Nigeria but it is a
multi-billion dollar business in most Western countries.
your CV and important documents to. This applies mostly to our numerous job
seekers out there. I cringe whenever I see a plethora of job seekers copying
and pasting their resumes, degree results, passport photos, NYSC discharge
certificates etc on every available website and to giddy recruitment websites.
Armed with all these information about you, what else does some
criminally-minded bloke out there need to claim to be you or ‘clone’ you?
‘Identity Theft’ may not be big business here in Nigeria but it is a
multi-billion dollar business in most Western countries.
As a job-seeker, alarm bell’s should
ring in your head when you come across a company online claiming to be say,
Shell and having an email address shell@y****.com. If indeed it is Shell, then
their email address should be customized to their name e.g shell@shell.com.
ring in your head when you come across a company online claiming to be say,
Shell and having an email address shell@y****.com. If indeed it is Shell, then
their email address should be customized to their name e.g shell@shell.com.
6. Be wary the type of information
you leave on social networking sites such as facebook, twitter,
beebo, hi5 etc. Be careful who you allow as your ‘friend’ or socialize with on
facebook et al. Recently a postgraduate student and daughter of a retired Major
General by the name Cynthia Osokogu was brutally murdered in Lagos. She was
alleged to have ‘met’ one of her assailant through Blackberry Messenger. You
can see the hazard in blindly trusting people you come across on social
networking sites. Over here, particularly amongst teens, there seem to be some
kind of competition as to who has the highest number of ‘friends’ on facebook.
People may not be who they claim they are on social networking sites. It’s easy
to copy and paste or upload another person’s picture and claim to be that
person. There is lot of impersonation, make-believe and facade going on in
Social Networking websites.
you leave on social networking sites such as facebook, twitter,
beebo, hi5 etc. Be careful who you allow as your ‘friend’ or socialize with on
facebook et al. Recently a postgraduate student and daughter of a retired Major
General by the name Cynthia Osokogu was brutally murdered in Lagos. She was
alleged to have ‘met’ one of her assailant through Blackberry Messenger. You
can see the hazard in blindly trusting people you come across on social
networking sites. Over here, particularly amongst teens, there seem to be some
kind of competition as to who has the highest number of ‘friends’ on facebook.
People may not be who they claim they are on social networking sites. It’s easy
to copy and paste or upload another person’s picture and claim to be that
person. There is lot of impersonation, make-believe and facade going on in
Social Networking websites.
If you are travelling, why must you post/advertise it on a Social Networking
website. You are unwittingly telling potential goons that you won’t be around.
People have lost jobs and precious
career opportunities courtesy of inappropriate information they inadvertently
posted on Social Networking sites. The just concluded London 2012 Olympics
recorded athletes being booted out because of their tweets. Some of the
information you innocently put on Social Networking sites today may come to
haunt you say in 10-20 years time especially for those with Political or
leadership prospects.
career opportunities courtesy of inappropriate information they inadvertently
posted on Social Networking sites. The just concluded London 2012 Olympics
recorded athletes being booted out because of their tweets. Some of the
information you innocently put on Social Networking sites today may come to
haunt you say in 10-20 years time especially for those with Political or
leadership prospects.
On a related note, you unwittingly
make your self a target or a suspect if you allow a wanted criminal or
terrorist as your friend on a social networking site. Do I have to also say
that these sites are very addictive! So many folks waste a lot of productive
hours on facebook et al. This is not to say that social networking is bad, not
at all. They also have their good side.
make your self a target or a suspect if you allow a wanted criminal or
terrorist as your friend on a social networking site. Do I have to also say
that these sites are very addictive! So many folks waste a lot of productive
hours on facebook et al. This is not to say that social networking is bad, not
at all. They also have their good side.
A lot of folks ask me if I am not on
facebook because they cannot ‘find’ me when they search for me. Please it’s
high time you made good use of the ‘privacy settings’ on some of these social
networking sites. The privacy setting allows you to decide for example if you
want your full date of birth to show or for the general public to see you.
facebook because they cannot ‘find’ me when they search for me. Please it’s
high time you made good use of the ‘privacy settings’ on some of these social
networking sites. The privacy setting allows you to decide for example if you
want your full date of birth to show or for the general public to see you.
7. Have manifold email addresses. You
can dedicate one of the emails for social activities- networking and all that.
Another one can be for your financial transactions and may be a third one for
career-related transactions. The raison d’être for this is that if the email
for social activities is compromised, it will not affect the sensitive
information in your career or business emails.
can dedicate one of the emails for social activities- networking and all that.
Another one can be for your financial transactions and may be a third one for
career-related transactions. The raison d’être for this is that if the email
for social activities is compromised, it will not affect the sensitive
information in your career or business emails.
8. Phone browsing has more security
implications than browsing on a typical desk top or laptop computer. That is to
say that phone browsing is not quite secured. A lot of times folks complain
that their email accounts have been hacked into or compromised but on closer
scrutiny one finds out that they have at one time or the other, accessed their
email accounts on their phones. It often happens that cookies, malwares and
Trojans may have infiltrated the said email account and will automatically
start sending phony emails to all the addresses in the person’s contacts list.
implications than browsing on a typical desk top or laptop computer. That is to
say that phone browsing is not quite secured. A lot of times folks complain
that their email accounts have been hacked into or compromised but on closer
scrutiny one finds out that they have at one time or the other, accessed their
email accounts on their phones. It often happens that cookies, malwares and
Trojans may have infiltrated the said email account and will automatically
start sending phony emails to all the addresses in the person’s contacts list.
It is not news that most of these
Smart phones available today have software’s or applications that can track
their owner’s geographical location or movements. Nigerians like to flaunt
their wealth and gadgets; we just like to rub it in. It may interest you to
know that Google officially admitted that more than 90% of android phones have
mobile software’s with serious security vulnerabilities. It is advisable to
install a mobile security antivirus on your smart phone.
Smart phones available today have software’s or applications that can track
their owner’s geographical location or movements. Nigerians like to flaunt
their wealth and gadgets; we just like to rub it in. It may interest you to
know that Google officially admitted that more than 90% of android phones have
mobile software’s with serious security vulnerabilities. It is advisable to
install a mobile security antivirus on your smart phone.
Talking about phone tracking, the
late Col Gadaffi was alleged to have placed a call via a satellite phone shortly
before he was killed. The hypothesis suffices that his call was intercepted and
the coordinates of his location was extrapolated. With satellite phones, the
origin or location of the call can be tracked in real time. It’s not only
satellite phone calls that can be tracked. It also applies to everyday phone
calls we make. The nearest phone mast can be deduced and that reveals one’s
approximate location.
late Col Gadaffi was alleged to have placed a call via a satellite phone shortly
before he was killed. The hypothesis suffices that his call was intercepted and
the coordinates of his location was extrapolated. With satellite phones, the
origin or location of the call can be tracked in real time. It’s not only
satellite phone calls that can be tracked. It also applies to everyday phone
calls we make. The nearest phone mast can be deduced and that reveals one’s
approximate location.
So before you start flaunting that your latest toy, take time to consider its
disadvantages precipitate security implications.
9. Remember that each computer/phone
or whatever device you connect to the internet have a specific I.P (Internet
Protocol) address. There is a tendency that at every point in time your I.P
address is embedded in an email or online transaction that originates from you.
With the I.P address, the location or the nearest telecommunication mast where
that of that particular transmission emanates from can be deduced.
or whatever device you connect to the internet have a specific I.P (Internet
Protocol) address. There is a tendency that at every point in time your I.P
address is embedded in an email or online transaction that originates from you.
With the I.P address, the location or the nearest telecommunication mast where
that of that particular transmission emanates from can be deduced.
Please don’t drag this thread into
the promise of altering or hiding an I.P address; using a ‘Virtual PC’ to
browse or ways around some of these things. This thread is aimed to dissuade
the bad guys.
the promise of altering or hiding an I.P address; using a ‘Virtual PC’ to
browse or ways around some of these things. This thread is aimed to dissuade
the bad guys.
To the bad guys, please desist from your nefarious online activities because
the law enforcement agents will sniff you out if they are determined.
Recall that most of these insurgent
or terrorist groups in and outside Nigeria issue their Press Releases online
and have online presence hence they cannot afford not to leave an online
fingerprint trail no matter how meticulous or IT savvy they are.
or terrorist groups in and outside Nigeria issue their Press Releases online
and have online presence hence they cannot afford not to leave an online
fingerprint trail no matter how meticulous or IT savvy they are.
One is quite impressed with the progress been made by the Nigerian Police in using technology to fish out
culprits responsible for killing Cynthia Osokogu.
It’s encouraging that the Nigeria
Police recently enlisted Computer/IT professionals into the force because
policing has gone beyond brandishing unserviceable rifles and mounting road
blocks.
Police recently enlisted Computer/IT professionals into the force because
policing has gone beyond brandishing unserviceable rifles and mounting road
blocks.
10. Regularly updating your computer
also makes it more secured. Similar to this is also to update your web browsers
as older versions may be riddled with security flaws. Uninstall programs or
software’s you no longer use from your computer. Avoid downloading or opening
programs/files if you are not sure of the sites authenticity or credibility.
also makes it more secured. Similar to this is also to update your web browsers
as older versions may be riddled with security flaws. Uninstall programs or
software’s you no longer use from your computer. Avoid downloading or opening
programs/files if you are not sure of the sites authenticity or credibility.
