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Concerns over FG’s “Eavesdropping” Satellites

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The federal government has said that it will go ahead to build and launch two new satellites, despite an alleged loss of about $10 billion to foreign geospatial information sourcing firms due to what insiders term as lack of awareness on the space potential of Nigeria, according to the Independent.

Nigeria, it would be recalled, already has two satellites in the orbit, Nigeria Sat 1 and Nigeria Sat X, the second built exclusively by Nigerian scientists.

Announcing government’s decision, Adebayo Shittu, Minister of Communications, recently said that the government would build and launch the two satellites with an expected $550 million from China’s Export-Import Bank.

The money, he explained, covered 85 percent of the cost of the project, while investors and government in Nigeria would fund the rest 15 percent of the cost.

Inside sources at the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) told Independent that one of the proposed satellites has eavesdropping capabilities.

According to him, “The satellite can capture signals from all telecommunication installation in areas it is tasked to cover. What this means is that things like voice calls, video calls, e-mails can be captured.”

The minister, so far, has not been able to shed more light on this, except his public pronouncement on the plans to procure the new satellites.

Apart from the controversial capability attributed to one of the new satellites, there are also other matters bordering on the propriety of the procurement of the two new space facilities at a time Nigeria is experiencing tough economic situation, when it was alleged that the two previously built and launched satellites are being underutilised.

Until it was rested some six years ago, Nigeria Sat 1, the predecessor of Nigeria Sat 2 and Nigeria Sat X, reportedly generated about N1 billion annually.

The amount was said to have come mostly from other countries like South America that needed spatial imaging capacity of the satellite.

But, with the installation of Nigeria Sat 2 and Nigeria Sat X, there had been complaints that the facilities were being underutilised by ministries, department and agencies (MDAs) in the exploitation of geospatial images and information in Nigeria.

Independent reliably gathered, for instance, that through a growing list of brokers from offshore space images acquisition firms, MDAs acquire geospatial information on agriculture, town planning, oil prospecting, water resource, road constructions, mining and maritime needed for operation in the country paying huge money into accounts of the offshore firms.

Thus, the government-owned satellites, Nigeria Sat 2 and Nigeria Sat X, had been denied the necessary patronages needed to sustain it, despite their capability to generate most of the required information.

“In some of these instances, the offshore firms channel the requests to us, here, in

Nigeria, because Nigeria Sat 1 and Nigeria Sat-X have better capabilities in garnering the needed information”, a source said.

The source, an officer with National Administration of Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA), Nigeria’s satellite agency and space information repository body, disclosed that Nigeria loses $10 billion to foreign satellite companies annually due to space images demand from MDAs and corporate bodies in the country.

Apart from the huge revenue loss, Independent gathered that NASRDA also loses the repository rights to these images as they are then domiciled offshore.

Stephen Adeyemi, Deputy Director, Ministry of Science and Technology, the supervisory body of NASRDA, while not denying the figure, nor confirming it, attributed the trend to ignorance, stating that the agency had embarked on moves to get the MDAs and others concerned to see the potential in Nigerian satellite.

He also stressed that the move to procure new satellites should be seen as a way to launch Nigeria into the league of nations with space technology capabilities.

It would be noted that Nigeria Sat 2 and Nigeria Sat-X are improvements on their predecessor, Nigeria Sat 1.

For instance, where the Nigeriasat-1 could only capture images of 32 meters in size and above, Nigeriasat-2 could see images of 2.5 meters in black and white. Nigeria Sat-X can capture images not less than 22 meters and in colours.

The satellite is meant to provide a bridge between Nigeria Sat-1 and Nigeria Sat-2. This means that Nigeria’s satellite project is useful in security, delineating electoral constituency, agriculture, climate change, mitigation of disaster and environmental monitoring.

The Nigerian satellites have more uses. For instance, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with NASRDA for the coverage in of elections.

In the agreement, NASRDA would provide high resolution imagery covering the entire country. The imagery is meant to show new settlements in Nigeria; population density; locality list of Nigeria; digital terrain model of Nigeria showing among other things, road network, lowland, highland, drainage pattern, swampy areas, Niger Delta areas, arid and semi-arid areas.


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Nigeria CommunicationsWeek believes that technology makes life more exciting and helps improve the lives of people around Nigeria and indeed the world. So since 2007, we have devoted our energy to independent reportage of technology and how they affect lives.

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New CAMON Device Set to Redefine Mobile Content Creation

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TECNO is gearing up to launch the next CAMON series device, which promises to be the next evolution in mobile photography.

TECNO

The CAMON lineup has always been known for its innovation in capturing and sharing cherished moments. Now, TECNO is taking it to the next level with a groundbreaking camera innovation that aims to redefine what’s possible.

For years, the CAMON series has been the driving force behind countless memorable shots, empowering users to unleash their creativity and capture the world in stunning detail. With the upcoming device, TECNO promises to exceed your expectations and deliver an unparalleled photography experience that’s second to none.

The new CAMON device will feature cutting-edge technology and unparalleled performance, setting a new standard for mobile photography and content creation. Imagine being ten steps ahead of the curve, armed with a device that empowers you to capture the perfect shot every time.

Stay updated on the latest news and announcements regarding the upcoming TECNO CAMON device by following TECNO on FacebookInstagram, and X(Twitter). Join TECNO on this exciting journey towards the future of mobile photography!


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Data Protection: NIMC’s Licensees to Face More Scrutiny

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Following the reported incident of unauthorized NIN verification by expressverify.com, investigation reveals that a third-party who, among others, was originally authorized to provide verification services to citizens and genuine businesses might have allowed expressverify.com to use its NIN verification credentials to conduct verification. The circumstances surrounding this permission is still under investigation.

 

To remedy this incident, National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), in line with established remediation protocols, barred all forms of access to its database.

Though necessary, barring all forms of access affected all genuine and crucial verification requests. After a painstaking review, limited access has been granted to few establishments that are providing pivotal public services such as education and security.

Ongoing investigation – by relevant agencies – seeks to establish the medium through which expressverify.com obtained the credentials of bona fide third parties and to determine the liability of persons involved in line with extant laws.

At the moment, data processing by licensees generally are to be scrutinized and only those that are cleared based on credible evidence of regulatory compliance will be permitted to carry out NIN verification going forward.

Furthermore, series of intensive trainings will be conducted in order to ensure that personnel and licensees are abreast of the duty of care and the standard of care mandated by the Nigeria Data Protection Act, NIMC’s Privacy Policy and other relevant regulatory protocols.

In the meantime, NDPC calls on members of the public to see NIN as an essential data for sustainable development. While existing technical and organizational measures are being strengthened to ensure the protection of this data, it is important for citizens to ensure that they are not left unidentified in various frameworks for development. It is equally important to be vigilant when sharing personal information on various online platforms.


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5 Common Backup Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

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Are you confident that your valuable data is protected from unexpected disasters or cyber threats? Consider this: 1 in 10 computers fall victim to viruses, and a staggering 113 phones are stolen every minute every day[1].

With data loss being a sudden and potentially irretrievable nightmare, ensuring reliable backups is non-negotiable. March 31st, celebrated as World Backup Day, is a poignant reminder of this essential task. Let’s delve into the common backup mistakes people make and how to steer clear of those.

1. Skipping regular backups:

The most common mistake is forgetting to back up data regularly. Whether personal files or crucial business documents, not establishing a consistent backup routine leaves you vulnerable to data loss.

Unexpected system crashes or malware attacks can happen anytime, making your precious data inaccessible or permanently lost. But you can help avoid such a situation by setting up automatic backups.

SSD Backup Mistakes to avoid
2. Putting all faith in a single backup device:

A device can get damaged or stolen, putting your backups at risk, so depending entirely on one storage medium is playing a dangerous game with your data’s safety.

 Instead, diversify your backup storage solutions with a combination of external HDDs, NAS, and cloud storage.

Portable HDDs like those from WD like Western Digital’s My Passport offer up to 5TB for simple, cost-effective backups. For smartphones, 2-in-1 flash drives such as SanDisk Ultra Dual Drive Go USB Type-C and SanDisk iXpand Flash Drive Luxe are convenient options.

These drives, compatible with USB Type-C devices, automatically back up photos, videos, and more. Just plug and play for seamless data transfer across devices.

If you need a device to store huge amounts of data, then the desktop drive called My Book  from WD is just the product for you, with up to 22TB of storage capacity.

SSD Backup Mistakes to avoid
storage device

3. Forgetting version control:

Overlooking version control during backups is another blunder. Not keeping multiple versions of files increases the chance of saving corrupted or wrong data over previous versions.

Without a proper versioning system, fixing mistakes or retrieving older versions can become a challenge. To prevent forgetting version control, establish a system that tracks changes to your files over time.

This ensures that you can always revert to earlier versions if needed, helping protect against accidental data loss or corruption.

Regularly maintaining this system will help you stay organized and prepared for any unforeseen issues.

Additionally, it’s crucial to verify the version you’re backing up to ensure it’s the correct one.

This simple step can help prevent accidental overwriting of important data with potentially corrupted or incorrect versions.

Double-checking ensures that you’re safeguarding the most up-to-date and accurate information, minimizing the risk of errors during backups.

SSD Backup Mistakes to avoid
4. Ignoring off-site backup solutions:

Many people overlook off-site backup solutions, assuming local backups are foolproof. However, relying solely on local backups makes you vulnerable to site-specific disasters like fires or theft.

Using off-site backups means keeping copies of your data in different places so that if something bad happens in one area, your data stays safe.

As an alternative, you could use cloud storage. Cloud backup devices are popular for remote data storage accessible via the internet. Various online cloud services offer features like file synchronization, sharing, and encryption for secure data storage.

5. Underestimating encryption:

Not prioritizing encryption in backups can be a costly mistake. Storing unencrypted backups makes your sensitive data vulnerable to unauthorized access or breaches.

Implementing strong encryption ensures even if your backups fall into the wrong hands, the data remains protected.

However, it is equally important to remember not to opt for out-of-the-box encryption solutions, as they might make it difficult for you to retrieve the backed-up information later.

My Passport HDD and My Book from WD come equipped with built-in 256-bit AES hardware encryption with password protection that helps keep content secure.

Additionally, maintaining proper key management practices is essential to ensure smooth decryption and access to your data when needed.

SSD Backup Mistakes to avoid
Monitor and storage device

This World Backup Day, Western Digital urges you to back up your data safely, and at the same time, prepare for the unexpected by having a contingency plan in place for device mishaps like crashes, theft, or damage.

Worrying about losing data isn’t something you have to lose sleep over if you have an active data backup strategy.

A common rule of thumb for keeping important data from disappearing forever is the 3-2-1 Rule. It dictates that you should:

3. Have THREE copies of your data. One is a primary backup and two are copies.

   2. Save copies of your backups on TWO different types of media or devices.

   1. ONE backup copy should be kept offsite in case of disaster.

Determine where and how you’ll store backup files and identify support contacts for swift assistance.

These proactive measures ensure quick data recovery and safeguard your cherished memories for the long haul.


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