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Check Point Software Warns of the Four Most Common Mistakes on Social Networks
As of January 2022, more than half of the world uses social media. In other words, we are talking about 4.62 billion people for whom social media is already part of their daily lives and often takes up more of their time than they would like.
However, although these platforms can be fun and are a great way of sharing experiences with friends, they also present a potentially dangerous cyber security risk.
So, what dangers do we need to look out for and what are the most common mistakes we make? Check Point Software, a leading provider of cybersecurity solutions globally, highlights the top four risk factors to bear in mind in order to stay safe when using social media:
- Sharing personal information: this is a very common and dangerous mistake that happens every day on social networks. Cyber criminals are, first and foremost, looking to steal your personal information. Armed with this data they can then launch multiple phishing campaigns or even steal your cash. If we add to this, the fact that most people will use the same login details for different social media platforms, stealing credentials from one, gives hackers potential access to all of your social media accounts. So, it’s vital that you don’t share personal data and that you use different passwords to minimize the damage if you were to become the victim of an attack.
- Watch out for unsolicited password reset emails: there are so many social platforms around today that it is very easy to think that at some point there may be an incident with one of them and this is where hackers can take advantage. If you get an email asking you to change your password, even if you have not requested it, your first impulse is to click on the link and reset. This is dangerous, as it can give the cybercriminal access to your entire account. To avoid this, you should go directly to the social media platform’s page (don’t click on the link in the email) and renew your password from the same page (and then do the same for other accounts where you have the same password).
- Clicking on any link: Cybercriminals often use links to redirect users to malicious sites. These links can come in the form of an innocent looking email or SMS. If you receive such a link, the best way to protect yourself is to go to the site in question, via your usual browser, and check for any messages there, rather than clicking on a link in an unsolicited email or text message.
- Not checking URLs: Another trick that attackers use to steal your data is to change a URL to make it look like the genuine article. Using this technique, hackers can get a user to visit a website they believe to be trustworthy, such as their Facebook page where they are then asked to change their password, to redirect them to a cloned website so that they can steal as much information as they like. We have seen this recently with LinkedIn dominating Check Point’s Brand Phishing Report for the first time, accounting for more than half (52%) of all phishing attempts in the first quarter of this year. To avoid falling for these scams , it is important to check the URLs that you access, making sure that the website has an SSL security certificate. If it does have a security certificate you will see the letter “s” in the address bar. So, it should read: https://. Thanks to this technology, any confidential information sent between two systems is protected and this prevents cybercriminals from being able to access the data being transferred, including information that could be considered personal.
“It is clear that social networks play an important part in our daily lives, but we need to be on our guard. Social networks are one of the main targets of cybercriminals and knowing their techniques is the only way to be able to defend oneself properly. Today, on Social Networking Day, it is essential for us to alert users and warn them of the existing risks so that they remain safe from any type of attack through these platforms,” says Pankaj Bhula: Check Point’s EMEA Regional Director: Africa.
News
Airtel Africa Foundation Unveils ‘Airtel Africa Fellowship Program’ to Empower Students at IIT Madras Zanzibar
The Airtel Africa Foundation has announced the launch of the prestigious ‘Airtel Africa Fellowship Program’ for the undergraduate students at IIT Madras Zanzibar, the first-ever foreign campus established by an IIT.
The Fellowship aims to support deserving students from diverse socio-economic backgrounds enrolled in the Bachelor of Science in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence at the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IITM) in Zanzibar. Starting with an outlay of US$500,000, this program will benefit 10 undergraduate students, for their entire course duration of 4 years.
Founded in 2024 with a vision to foster a prosperous Africa, the Airtel Africa Foundation is dedicated to advancing digital and financial inclusion across the continent along with key focus on education and environmental protection.
This Fellowship is the maiden initiative undertaken to enhance educational opportunities for meritorious students, especially from disadvantaged backgrounds, enrolled at IIT M Zanzibar.
It is designed to support students from 14 African countries, which are namely Nigeria, Kenya, Malawi, Uganda, Zambia, Tanzania, Rwanda, DRC, Niger, Chad, Congo B, Gabon, Madagascar and Seychelles.
Recipients of this scholarship will be known as ‘Airtel Africa Fellows’. They will receive 100% of their college fees i.e. US$12,000 as per the course fee structure of the Institute for a 4-year program.
Additionally, to cover the living expense cost, US$500 will be given to all eligible students. This initiative will aspire to transform, shape lives and nurture future leaders who will contribute to technological innovation and economic growth of Africa.
Commenting on the fellowship scheme, Zanzibar’s Minister of Education and Vocational Training, H.E. Ms Lela Mohamed Mussa said, “IITM Zanzibar is charting a wonderful path in technical education in the region.
Providing access to this high quality education to students from Tanzania and the rest of the continent, who are topping the IITM Zanzibar screening and test processes, through financial assistance, is an important priority for us. We are thankful to this support from Airtel Africa Foundation, which will enhance our own efforts in this direction.”
Dr. Olusegun Ogunsanya, the Chairman of the Airtel Africa Foundation, said, “We are pleased to partner with IIT Madras Zanzibar to provide opportunities for young Africans to access quality education.
“This initiative aims to contribute towards creating a prosperous and sustainable continent. We look forward to creating even more opportunities not just in education, but also in financial and digital inclusion, and environmental protection”.
The Director of IIT Madras, Prof. V. Kamakoti said, “IIT Madras is committed to establishing a world class campus in Zanzibar. We are delighted that Airtel Africa Foundation is joining hands with us in this effort.
“We look forward to welcoming the second cohort of bright young students to the IITM Zanzibar campus this year. We are immensely grateful to Airtel Africa Foundation for providing financial assistance for these future global leaders.”
Association of Mobile Money and Bank Agents of Nigeria (AMMBAN) has berated the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) over its move to enforce the directive that point of sale (POS) terminal operators should register with it by September 5, 2024.
Fasasi Atanda, National President of AMMBAN, told Nigeria CommunicationsWeek that the action of CAC is tantamount to contempt of court as the case is in court.
“AMMBAN and CAC are in court over this issue of mandatory registration with CAC. We are surprised that CAC lawyer who is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria can be going the part of contempt of court as the court has ordered that the status quo be maintain.
“Our lawyer has notified the court about this development and have written to CAC that their action of threatening to enforce their earlier directive is pre-judicial. We have also notified law enforcement agencies about the implication of adhering to the request of CAC,” he said.
In a statement released last week by the Commission, the CAC said that it is now working closely with law enforcement agencies and other relevant stakeholders to develop and implement a robust enforcement and sanction framework.
This framework, according to the CAC, will not only target the shutdown of non-compliant businesses but could also involve more severe legal actions against defaulters.
The Commission expressed concern over the low level of compliance by POS operators, despite the large number of such businesses operating across the country.
They also commended those operators who adhered to the directive, noting their responsible approach to formalizing their operations.
“We are to make it clear that the Commission is working with Law Enforcement Agencies and other relevant stakeholders to deploy a comprehensive enforcement and sanction framework that may include not only possible shutdown but other severe legal Consequences,”
However, the Commission criticized what it termed “recalcitrant operators,” many of whom have either refused or failed to comply with the registration requirement.
The CAC suggested that some of these operators might be engaging in “unwholesome activities” or have other undisclosed reasons for resisting formalization.
“As the CAC moves towards enforcement, it urges all unregistered POS operators to take immediate steps to formalize their businesses or face the consequences of their inaction,” the statement concluded.
Recall that in May 2024 the CAC announced that PoS agents have been given a deadline of July 7, 2024, to register their business but later extended it to September 5, 2024.
Omniverse Africa has disclosed that UEL Esports Inc., Unanimous Games and Game Evolution Esports will be premier partners for the Gaming Center at Omniverse 2025.
Charles Emembolu, co-convener of Omniverse Africa
This significant partnership will play a crucial role in delivering an exceptional gaming experience, highlighting Omniverse Africa’s dedication to innovation and excellence within the digital and creative ecosystems.
UEL Esports Inc., renowned for its one of a kind, multi genre gaming league, cutting-edge advancement and visionary contributions, will be integral in shaping the Gaming Center, promising an immersive and dynamic environment for all attendees.
Additionally, Game Evolution will serve as the gaming ecosystem and delivery partner for the center, ensuring top-tier experiences and seamless execution.
In a major highlight of this collaboration, an exhilarating gaming tournament will be featured at the Gaming Center.
This tournament, expected to be a central attraction of Omniverse 2025, will offer participants the chance to compete for a staggering prize pool of up to $1 million.
Nigerian gamers will have the opportunity to vie for these substantial rewards and gain invaluable experiences that could propel their gaming careers to new heights.
Charles Emembolu, co-convener of Omniverse Africa, commented: “We are thrilled to partner with UEL Esports Inc., and Game Evolution towards the Omniverse 2025. This collaboration aligns with our vision to create a transformative and engaging gaming environment. We are excited to witness the innovation and talent that will unfold through this partnership.”
Hannatu Musa-Musawa, minister of Arts, Culture, and Creative Economy, stated, “Omniverse Africa has taken a bold step to position Nigeria as a global leader in gaming by launching this major league with partners from Nigeria and USA. The Ministry stands behind this vision, and we look forward to fostering partnerships that will strengthen our creative economy and provide new opportunities for our youth,”
Briant Biggs, CEO of Unanimous Games, USA, added, “This partnership offers an exciting opportunity to inspire and empower gamers globally. Omniverse 2025 is the perfect platform for this mission.”
Titus Walker, CEO of UEL Esports Inc., also stated that’ “Becoming the premier partner for the Gaming Center at Omniverse 2025 is a remarkable opportunity for UEL Esports Inc. We look forward to showcasing our latest innovations and contributing to an exceptional event that will set new standards in the global gaming industry.”
Kunmi Adebimpe, founder of Game Evolution Esports, commented: “As the gaming ecosystem and delivery partner for the Omniverse Africa Gaming Center, Game Evolution is committed to bringing unparalleled experiences to the forefront. We are excited to collaborate with Omniverse Africa, UEL Esports Inc. and Unanimous Games to elevate the gaming experience and provide a platform for gamers to shine, globally.”
Omniverse Africa, Africa’s premium platform for integrating digital and creative ecosystems across the continent, will host its annual summit in Lagos, Nigeria, in February.
The synergy between UEL Esports Inc., Omniverse Africa, Unanimous Games and Game Evolution promises to make Omniverse 2025 an extraordinary event, celebrating talent and innovation in the gaming world.
Stay tuned for more updates on the tournament and how to participate, collaborate, compete or partner. The Omniverse Africa Summit 2025 promises a thrilling experience for gamers and enthusiasts alike.
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