General News
Beware! Internet of ‘Threats’ 2015 Loading
As F5 Networks puts it, “Promiscuous sharing of personal information is putting identity data at greater risk than ever”, a series of stunning cyberattacks drew headlines in 2014, and the situation will only worsen in 2015 as hackers use more advanced techniques to infiltrate networks, security researchers have revealed.
McAfee Labs’ 2015 Threats Predictions report sees increased cyber-warfare and espionage, along with new strategies from hackers to hide their tracks and steal sensitive data.
According to the report, “Cyber espionage attacks will continue to increase in frequency.
“Long-term players will become stealthier information gatherers, while newcomers will look for ways to steal money and disrupt their adversaries.”
McAfee said small nations and terror groups will become even more active and will “attack by launching crippling distributed denial of service attacks or using malware that wipes the master boot record to destroy their enemies’ networks.”
At the same time, cybercriminals will use better methods to remain hidden on a victim’s network, to carry out long-term theft of data without being detected, the researchers said.
“In this way, criminals are beginning to look and act more like sophisticated nation-state cyberespionage actors, who watch and wait to gather intelligence,” the report said.
The report also said hackers are looking to target more connected devices, including computers in the farming, manufacturing, and health care sectors.
“The number and variety of devices in the Internet of Things (IoT) family is growing exponentially. In the consumer space, they are now seen in appliances, automobiles, home automation, and even light bulbs,” McAfee said.
Meanwhile, many of the concerns relating to the theft of healthcare data arise from the increasing availability of health-tracking wearables.
In the health care hacks, McAfee said it is already seeing hackers targeting devices such as webcams with weak security and industrial control systems. But it sees health care as an especially worrisome sector.
“With the increasing proliferation of healthcare IoT devices and their use in hospitals, the threat of the loss of information contained on those devices becomes increasingly likely,” the report said.
McAfee noted that other threats will also grow, including “ransomware,” which locks down data and forces the victim to pay a ransom to retrieve it, and attacks on mobile phone operating systems.
In the retail sector, digital payments may cut the risk of credit-card skimmers, but hackers may be able to exploit wireless systems such as Bluetooth and near field communications (NFC) used for mobile payments.
“With consumers now sending payment information over a protocol with known vulnerabilities, it is highly likely that attacks on this infrastructure will emerge in 2015,” the report said.
The report comes in the wake of news about large-scale cyberattacks that have been linked to Russia or China, and a major infiltration of Sony Pictures which stole massive amounts of data.
In retail, Home Depot and others have reported data breaches affecting millions of customers.
“The year 2014 will be remembered as the year of shaken trust,” said Vincent Weafer, senior vice president at Intel-owned McAfee.
“Restoring trust in 2015 will require stronger industry collaboration, new standards for a new threat landscape, and new security postures that shrink time-to-detection.”
Still on health care hack, Keith Bird, Checkpoint’s UK MD cautions that, “As more IP-based appliances are introduced into the workplace and home environments, enabling a better-connected, more efficient world, it also gives criminals a better connected, more efficient network for launching attacks.”
WatchGuard’s Corey Nachreiner, however, took the opposite stance: “Embedded computing devices (IoT or IoE) are everywhere and have security flaws. But today’s cyber-criminals typically don’t just hack for the heck of it; they need motive. There’s not much value to having control of your watch or TV at this point.”
Whether or not fears about the IoT amount to doom-mongering at this point will only be apparent with the benefit of hindsight, but one relatively new tech trend that still represents fertile ground for hackers is mobile devices, particularly given their increased use as payment mechanisms.
Also, Alexander Gostev, Kaspersky Lab’s chief security expert, said that the increasing adoption of Apple Pay “will inevitably attract many cyber-criminals looking to reap the rewards of these transactions.”
Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved the launch of four satellites aimed at strengthening Earth observation capabilities and improving national security, according to Uche Nnaji, minister of Innovation, Science and Technology.
Uche Nnaji, minister of Innovation, Science and Technology
Speaking at the 22nd National Council on Innovation, Science and Technology (NCIST) in Abuja, Nnaji said the satellites include three Earth Observation models and one Radar Aperture satellite. The council meeting was held from 12 to 14 May under the theme: “Research, Develop, Innovate and Commercialise: A Cycle for National Prosperity.”
“Just last week, the Federal Executive Council approved that Nigeria launch four satellites—three Earth Observation satellites and one search satellite,” the minister said.
According to him, the Radar Aperture satellite will be capable of capturing images under various conditions, including nighttime and rainfall.
“The search satellite is the one that will pick images both day, night, during rain, every time of the day, and that is technology in play. The military can use it effectively,” he said.
Nnaji noted that this will reduce Nigeria’s reliance on purchasing data and imagery for monitoring remote areas like the Sambisa forest.
On policy development, he said an inter-ministerial committee is reviewing the National Science, Technology and Innovation Policy and working on establishing a National Research and Innovation Fund.
“As a country, we can no longer afford to ignore the widening gap between research and real-world impact,” Nnaji said. “For decades, valuable research conducted in our universities and institutions has remained underutilised, disconnected from industries and policy.”
He pointed out the challenges faced by young innovators, including a lack of structured support and financing to transform ideas into marketable products.
“Let this 22nd edition of NCIST mark the beginning of a new chapter, one where every research has a roadmap to industry,” he said.
Nnaji called for sustained efforts from researchers, private investors, and regulators to ensure innovations are protected and supported. “The government must build and enforce regulatory frameworks that protect, support, and incentivise innovation at every level,” he added.
He said the council’s resolutions would be forwarded to FEC for formal adoption and reaffirmed the ministry’s plan to restore the council’s annual meeting schedule after delays pushed the 22nd edition into 2025.
Esuabana Nko-Asanye, the ministry’s permanent secretary, described the meeting as a platform to promote inter-sectoral collaboration and address challenges such as insecurity, unemployment, and climate change. She said 109 memoranda were presented, highlighting proposals on issues like commercialising research, boosting funding for innovation, and building capacity in emerging technologies.
“The richness and diversity of these submissions underscore the growing recognition of science, technology and innovation as a cornerstone of Nigeria’s sustainable development,” Nko-Asanye said.
George Akume, secretary to the Government of the Federation, represented by Morris Mbaeri, said building a resilient innovation ecosystem is key to national development. “This cycle is very essential in addressing real-world challenges and unlocking long-term prosperity,” he said.
Azikiwe Onwualu, president, African University of Science and Technology (AUST), urged the government to increase research and development spending to 3% of GDP and proposed the establishment of more RDIC clusters that integrate academia, industry, and startups.
He said: “We should operationalise the National Research and Innovation Council Fund to coordinate RDIC efforts as envisaged in the STI policy.”
Shell Plc has reported a significant 122% increase in operational oil spill incidents in Nigeria in 2024, driven largely by equipment failures and persistent sabotage, according to its newly released 2024 Annual Report and Accounts.
The company’s Nigerian subsidiary, the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC), which operates the SPDC Joint Venture (JV), recorded 20 oil spill incidents exceeding 100 kilograms during the year up from just 9 incidents in 2023.
The report attributed the surge in operational spills primarily to defective pipeline clamps.
These clamps, which were locally manufactured and used in pipeline repairs after the removal of illegal connections, were found to have factory faults.
Shell confirmed that the manufacturer has since recalled the faulty batch, and SPDC has begun replacing the affected components.
As a result, the volume of operational oil and product spills spiked to 0.37 thousand tonnes, compared to just 0.005 thousand tonnes recorded in the previous year.
Two major spills one onshore along the Trans Niger Pipeline and one offshore at a terminal loading buoy accounted for 89% of the total volume.
SPDC JV has said it is implementing a comprehensive pipeline maintenance and replacement program aimed at reducing such incidents in the future.
Beyond equipment failures, Shell identified third-party interference and crude oil theft as a continuing challenge, noting that 81% of spill incidents in 2024 were caused by sabotage.
There were 84 theft- or sabotage-related spills totaling 2,000 tonnes of crude oil in 2024, compared to 139 such incidents amounting to 1,400 tonnes in 2023.
While the number of incidents declined, the volume spilled increased, indicating that larger-scale breaches may have occurred despite improved surveillance and protection measures.
Shell’s report highlighted ongoing efforts to combat vandalism and protect infrastructure.
The SPDC JV continued to deploy aerial surveillance, drone monitoring, and on-ground patrols to detect and respond to illegal activities and spills more rapidly.
Key anti-theft protection measures were further enhanced in 2024, including:
Reinforced wellhead and manifold cages
Use of anti-theft nuts
Upgraded CCTV systems and networking technologies
In addition, Shell reported ongoing collaboration with Nigerian government security agencies to maintain surveillance and secure the pipeline network and operational areas.
“SPDC JV continued to work closely with authorities to address third-party interference, particularly along our pipelines,” the report stated.
Shell reiterated its commitment to reducing environmental impact through proactive infrastructure upgrades and improved response systems, while also calling for stronger enforcement against crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism issues that have plagued Nigeria’s energy sector for years.
Dr. Obiageli Amadiobi, director general and chief executive officer, National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP), has advocated Franchising as a sustainable business model for the South East entrepreneurs.
Dr. Obiageli Amadiobi, DG/CEO, NOTAP
She made this call during a one-day sensitization and unveiling of the NOTAP Franchising Guidelines for south east stakeholders and entrepreneurs for a successful franchising business.
The DG who was represented at the event by Mr. Emeka Orji, head of Department Corporate Planning (CP) Department, NOTAP, said that franchising business model had globally been proven to be successfully sustainable due to low business risks associated with it.
She defines franchising as a contractual business relationship between a licensor (the franchisor) and a licensee (the franchisee) that allows the business owner to use the licensor’s brand and methods of doing business to distribute products or provide services to consumers.
She added that in essence, the franchisee pays the franchisor for the opportunity to use his established business model and brand name in running his business.
Dr. Amadiobi said the essence of the workshop was not just organised to explore the possibility of adopting franchising as a strategic platform to transform local dreams into national and global business realities.
She described the programme as an opportunity for business owners and intending entrepreneurs from the Zone to latch into the huge and untapped potentials provided by franchising business models in becoming business and brand ambassadors.
With over 800,000 franchise establishments across the globe, generating trillions in revenue, she described Franchising as a pathway to economic empowerment.
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