Telecom
Cyber Security Expert Urges Organisations to Apply Proactive Measure Against Cyber Attacks
Cyber security expert has urged organizations susceptible to cyber attacks to adequately and proactively deploy solutions that will mitigate such incidences.
Chuks Udensi, MD/CEO Infodata,Nigeria stated this over the weekend at ‘the human point story: Reinventing Cybersecurity conference’ organized by Infodata and Forcepoint held in Lagos.
He noted that the typical security challenges we have is that fraudsters are always trying to steal peoples information noting that organizations susceptible to these attacks should adequately and proactively deploy solutions that will mitigate such incidences from occurring.
He stated that their partnership with Forcepoint is to deploy cutting edge IT solutions for all types of industries in the country.
According to him, “Infodata is partnering with Forcepoint to provide IT solutions to all types of industries in the country, like financial services providers, telecommunications, oil and gas and so on.
“So the solutions are quite broad and they consolidate these solutions to be able to provide cybersecurity solutions for web, emails, DLP and so on.
“These solutions are focused around human centric and security.
“So what Infodata has done is to partner with them to deliver these solutions to the local market.”
Udensi emphasized that we can check the prevalence of cyber security challenges as being witnessed in Nigeria today by deploying solutions like Forcepoint to enable us identify and proactively mitigate some of these incidences.
He further revealed that Ransomeware is expected to evolve in 2018 and beyond more than it already has now.
He added that Artificial Intelligence (AI) will take a bit of the cybersecurity burden and that the IoT and Serverless apps will increase consumer vulnerability.
He identifies Challenges confronting cybersecurity as shortage in skilled employees, noting that fewer people are entering the industry with the need for experts on the increase.
H e stated that the future of cybersecurity should be a marriage between the Human Point and machine.
Christo Van Staden, Forcepoint’s Regional Director, Sub-Saharan Africa, speaking on the ‘Human Point Story’ said that they are cybersecurity organization specifically geared in dealing with cybersecurity challenges in a modern day world.
He explained that forcepoint solution is focused on how people are interacting with corporate data and corporate exits.
In his words,” Forcepoint is focused on how people and irrespective of what you think of those people are interacting with corporate data and corporate data exits and we protect how data flows.
“I mean who can distribute the data, who can copy it, who can paste it and by doing that we protect the organization in compromising of data, we protect organizations in data exploitation.
“We also protect against anomalist behavior typically known as malwares and ransomeware.”
He noted that it’s a phenomenal opportunity for them to be in Nigerian market, noting that their solution is relevant for majority of leading banks in Africa.
Van Staden also decried the harsh political climate that strife and prohibits the growth of mature information security solutions in the country.
“I think Nigeria I’ve got a unique political climate which tends to prohibit growth specifically in the public sector.
“I think that is a challenge that prohibits adoption of mature information security solutions,” he stated.
He stated that their solutions are based on subscription modules, meaning that it’s a solution that can start with individual solutions.
Lynda Saint-Nwafor, chief Enterprise business officer, MTN Nigeria, has assured the network subscribers that the new end-user billing system for the use of USSD services will jot affect them.
USSD, otherwise Unstructured Supplementary Service Data codes are commonly used for banking transactions, airtime recharges, and other mobile services.
The telco said that there is no significant impact or change other than the fact that they will now pay the same N6.98 per session (120 seconds) with their airtime instead of direct bank debit.
Saint-Nwafor, said this during a chat with MTN MIP fellows, explaining that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) have ordered telecom operators to ensure that the new billing model resolves trust issues and ensures transparency in the billing process.
“Our regulator insisted that at the end of every month, we are going to be providing history and statistics on the performance of the service across the board”, she explained.
Saint-Nwafor added that the new billing model has standardized messaging across all operators and ensures consistent communication with customers.
“We will take all the error codes and map them into messages that are standardised across the board. So, if you initiate a transaction, you will know if it is failing. And, when the transaction fails, you will know if it is from your bank or the telco,” she explained.
The U.S. government has recovered $225 million in what is now the largest seizure of funds linked to a cryptocurrency investment scam.
In a statement released Wednesday, June 18, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said the recovery followed an extensive investigation by the FBI and the U.S. Secret Service, using blockchain analysis and other forensic tools. The statement did not confirm whether any arrests had been made.
According to the authorities, the stolen funds originated from fraudulent cryptocurrency investment schemes that tricked victims into believing they were making legitimate investments. More than 400 individuals around the world, including dozens in the United States, were reportedly affected.
The operation involved a sophisticated money laundering network that carried out hundreds of thousands of blockchain transactions to obscure the source and ownership of the stolen assets.
“These scams prey on trust, often resulting in extreme financial hardship for the victims,” said Shawn Bradstreet, Special Agent in Charge at the U.S. Secret Service office in San Francisco.
Bradstreet added that U.S. officials hope the recovered funds can eventually be returned to the rightful victims.
Cryptocurrency investment fraud accounted for over $5.8 billion in reported losses in 2024 alone, according to the statement.
In a rousing declaration that is electrifying minds across the continent, Hon. Nnaemeka Ani, Special Adviser on ICT to Enugu State Governor, Dr. Peter Mbah, has called for a homegrown digital revolution under the banner “Africa Will Rise: By Code, By Courage, By Us.”
Hon. Nnaemeka Ani
The message, part challenge, part philosophical—seeks to galvanize African innovators to move beyond buzzwords and build technology with impact and legacy in mind.
“Let’s stop building for hype. Let’s start building for legacy,” Ani urged while speaking to ICT journalists over the weekend. “Let’s stop waiting for someone else. Let’s start creating the future—on our own terms.”
At the heart of Ani’s vision is a shift from tech consumerism to tech authorship. With innovation hubs sprouting across cities like Enugu, Lagos, Kigali, Jo’Burg, and Nairobi, and a growing community of developers, engineers, and entrepreneurs determined to solve Africa’s unique challenges, the movement is already taking shape.
Ani emphasized that Africa’s future lies not in flashy apps or international admiration but in persistent, intentional solutions that uplift communities—solutions that digitize public services, bridge rural-urban divides, empower women and youth, and build resilience in food and climate systems.
“We have the talent,” he said. “Now it’s time to harness it—to stop building for likes and start building for lasting impact.”
With support from leaders like Ani and rising momentum in Africa’s tech corridors, it seems that a new chapter is being written—one line of code at a time.
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