E-Business
Kaspersky Warns as Cyber Criminals Target Public WiFi

Of the approximately 32 000 public WiFi networks in FIFA World Cup 2018 host cities, 7 176 of them do not use traffic encryption, meaning that hackers need only be located near an access point to intercept network traffic and steal confidential information.
This was revealed by Kaspersky Lab’s analysis of public WiFi spots in 11 FIFA World Cup 2018 host cities, including Saransk, Samara, Nizhny Novgorod, Kazan, Volgograd, Moscow, Ekaterinburg, Sochi, Rostov, Kaliningrad, and Saint Petersburg.
According to the company, global sporting events result in a large number of people connecting to networks to upload posts, communicate with friends and suchlike.
However, public WiFi is also used to transfer financial and other sensitive information across the Internet. “And it’s this information that third parties, not necessarily criminals, can intercept and use for their own purposes.”
The company said almost two-thirds of all public WiFi networks of the locations analysed use the WiFi Protected Access (WPA/WPA2) protocol family for traffic encryption, a protocol which is considered to be one of the most secure for WiFi use.
However, even reliable WPA/WPA2 networks can allow brute-force and dictionary attacks, as well as key reinstallation attacks, meaning they are not 100% secure.
Easy access
Denis Legezo, senior security researcher at Kaspersky Lab, says the lack of traffic encryption, together with large-scale events, make WiFi networks a target for criminals who want easy access to user data.
“Despite about two-thirds of all access points in FIFA World Cup host cities using encryption based on the most secure WiFi Protected Access (WPA/WPA2) protocol family, even these access points can’t be considered secure if the password is visible to everyone.”
Kaspersky research shows, once again, that cyber security involves addressing not just certain aspects, but the entire infrastructure. “FIFA World Cup 2018 has confirmed that the event itself is secure, but users should be aware that clearly its host cities’ public WiFi hotspots are often not.”
Taking precautions
He says people visiting FIFA World Cup 2018 host cities who are planning to use open WiFi networks should follow several simple rules to secure themselves.
“Whenever possible, connect via a virtual private network, which sees encrypted traffic transmitted over a protected tunnel, rendering data unreadable to criminals even if they gain access to it.”
Secondly, he says not to trust networks that are not password-protected or have easy-to-guess or easy-to-find passwords.
In addition, even if a network requests a strong password, users should remain vigilant, as criminals can find out the password at a coffee shop for example, and create a fake connection using the same password.
“Only trust network names and passwords given to you by employees of the establishment.”
To maximise your protection, he advises to turn off any WiFi connections whenever they are not being used.
“If you are not 100% sure the wireless network you are using is secure, but you still need to connect to the Internet, try to limit activity to basic user actions such as searching for information.
“Refrain from entering login details for social networks or mail services, and definitely do not perform any online banking operations or enter your bank card details anywhere.”
Finally, Legezo says to avoid being a target for cyber criminals, enable the “always use a secure connection” (HTTPS) option in the device settings.
“Enabling this option is recommended when visiting any Web site you think may lack the necessary protection.”
E-Business
South Korea Joins List of Countries Banning DeepSeek over Security Concerns

South Korean authorities have temporarily blocked new downloads of the DeepSeek artificial intelligence (AI) app, citing concerns over the company’s handling of user data.
The country’s Personal Information Protection Commission (PIPC) announced the decision on Monday, saying that the Chinese AI startup had failed to fully comply with South Korea’s data protection laws.
According to PIPC, DeepSeek recently appointed legal representatives in South Korea and admitted to partially neglecting regulatory considerations regarding user privacy.
“The Chinese startup appointed legal representatives last week in South Korea and had acknowledged partially neglecting considerations of the country’s data protection law,” the PIPC said.
The commission added that the app’s service would resume once the company implements improvements in accordance with national privacy laws.
According to Reuters, when asked about South Korea’s move, a spokesperson for China’s foreign ministry said the Chinese government prioritises data privacy and security, ensuring compliance with legal standards.
The spokesperson also said China does not require companies or individuals to collect or store data in violation of laws.
The ban follows similar actions by other governments.
On February 4, Australia prohibited the use of DeepSeek on government devices due to security concerns.
Italy’s privacy regulator recently blocked the AI service, citing the company’s failure to address data policy issues.
Taiwan has also warned about potential risks related to cross-border data transmission and information leaks.
Also, regulators in Ireland and France have launched investigations into DeepSeek’s data-handling practices.
DeepSeek gained global adoption for its advanced human-like reasoning capabilities and open-source model.
In January, it surpassed OpenAI’s Chatgpt as the most downloaded free app on the Apple store.
E-Business
AU Endorses Nigeria as AfCFTA Digital Trade Champion

The African Union (AU) has officially designated Nigeria as the Digital Trade Champion under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Digital Trade Protocol, citing the country’s leadership in digital enterprise and innovation.
The endorsement came at the 38th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government, which concluded on Sunday in Addis Ababa.
Nigeria’s proactive role in advancing the digital trade protocol, adopted in February 2024, was a key factor in the decision.
The AfCFTA Digital Trade Protocol encompasses eight annexes covering crucial areas such as rules of origin, digital identities, cross-border data transfers, online safety, and financial technology. The protocol is expected to provide a robust framework for Africa’s digital economy.
According to a statement issued on Monday by Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, former President of Niger Republic and AU AfCFTA Champion, Mahamadou Issoufou, praised Nigeria’s leadership, particularly for convening the Digital Economy Roundtable in January.
“No organization, region, or continent has negotiated or adopted such a comprehensive legal instrument on digital trade, positioning the African continent to benefit from the digital economy for innovation and job creation,” Issoufou said in his progress report to the AU Assembly.
He also highlighted Africa’s growing influence in digital innovation, particularly in mobile banking and financial technology, and noted that the protocol would create an enabling environment for young African entrepreneurs.
“The AfCFTA Protocol on Digital Trade will establish a conducive environment for these young people to fully participate in Africa’s digital economy,” Issoufou added.
Reflecting on the roundtable in Abuja, he commended President Bola Tinubu and his administration for facilitating discussions with key stakeholders.
“The Roundtable was attended by young pioneers in Fintech, mobile banking and other areas of the digital economy. It was evident from the discussions that young people are eager to take advantage of Africa’s digital economy through the AfCFTA Protocol on Digital Trade”, he said.
Speaking at the AU summit, Nigeria’s Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, described the AU’s endorsement as a milestone in Africa’s economic development.
“Africa has demonstrated global leadership by pioneering the first-of-its-kind AfCFTA Protocol on Digital Trade—establishing a comprehensive regulatory framework,” Dr. Oduwole stated.
She emphasized that the protocol is a “game changer” for the continent, predicting that it would generate millions of jobs, contribute billions to Africa’s GDP, and attract significant investments in digital infrastructure.
E-Business
Schmidt, Ex Google Chief Says AI Risky in Terrorist Hands

Eric Schmidt, former Google CEO has expressed concerns about the extreme risks posed by artificial intelligence (AI) falling into the hands of terrorists or rogue states.

Eric Schmidt, former Google CEO
He warned that nations such as North Korea, Iran, and Russia could adopt AI technologies to develop weapons capable of causing significant harm, including biological weapons.
Schmidt urged governments to oversee private tech companies, emphasising, “The real fears I have are not the ones most people discuss about AI, I talk about extreme risk.”
“I’m always worried about an ‘Osama Bin Laden’ scenario, where truly evil individuals take control of some aspect of modern life to harm innocent people,” he added.
With private companies driving AI advancements, he stressed the need for careful government monitoring and regulation. “It’s really important that governments understand what we’re doing and keep their eye on us,” he said.
His remarks followed a two-day AI summit in Paris, where the UK and the U.S. declined to sign a communiqué outlining the future direction of AI. The declaration on “inclusive and sustainable artificial intelligence for people and the planet” was endorsed by 57 countries, including India, China, the Vatican, the EU, and the African Union Commission.
The UK justified its decision, stating that the agreement lacked “practical clarity” on global AI governance and national security concerns.
Schmidt supports U.S. export controls restricting the sale of advanced AI microchips to certain countries, aiming to slow adversaries’ progress in AI research.
He also highlights the importance of international collaboration on AI safety, suggesting that cooperation with nations like China is essential to addressing global AI challenges.
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