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More Knocks for CyberSecurity Law, Traitors Cause Havoc

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The Cyber Security Law (2015) has been described as not sophisticated to combat the growing trend of cyber related crimes in the country.

Mr. Peter Asolo, an IT security expert in an email interview with Nigeria CommunicationsWeek, said that the reason many think the law is not so much in alignment with the actual threats been experienced in the field of Internet and network is based on but not limited to its assumed cyber space is only confined to the computers designated by the President as those carrying important National data.

Asolo’s remarks came on the heels of third quarter IT Threat Evolution report released by Kaspersky Security Network (KSN) and obtained by Nigeria CommunicationsWeek, detailing the key security incidents of the quarter, especially in Nigeria.

According to Kaspersky Security Network (KSN), in the third quarter of 2015 overall 45.3% of KSN participants in Nigeria encountered malware that spread in local networks, via USBs and storage disks, while 13.8% faced cyberthreats emanating from the Internet. This puts the country on the 64th and 128th place worldwide by the percentage of users who encountered the two types of malware.

Globally according to KSN data, Kaspersky Lab solutions detected and repelled a total of 235.4 million malicious attacks from online resources located all over the world.

Kaspersky Lab’s web antivirus detected 38.2 million unique malicious objects: scripts, exploits, executable files, etc. – this is 46.9% higher than in Q2.

There were 5.68 million registered notifications about attempted malware infections that aim to steal money via online access to bank accounts.

The overall trend so far for 2015 has continued in Q3: exploits for Adobe Flash Player and Internet Explorer are most popular with cybercriminals.

Speaking on the report, David Emm, principal senior security researcher at Kaspersky Lab’s Global Research and Analysis team, said, “The developments in Q3 demonstrate that the global threat landscape is continuing to evolve at a fast pace. Malicious mobile programs are on the rise, and with 5.6 million cases of attempted theft from online bank accounts, and cybercriminals continually developing sophisticated attacks, the use of high quality cybersecurity products has never been more important. It’s vital that all those using the Internet – both individuals and organisations – protect themselves from these growing threats.

Reacting to the report viz-a-viz the role Cyber Security Law (2015) ought to play in the fight against the trend, Asolo told Nigeria CommunicationsWeek that knocks against the Law are valid following its gives the idea of having to focus on tangible financial crimes via the ATM and payment devices only.

He said, “The Law in itself seem lost on the vast information age and the real definition of cyber space. For real professional hardware and software practitioners, there is nothing within the law that shows any type of protection for them during and after the cause of their profession. There was no clear information to how it can be proven that a cybercrime has been committed not until it causes one ambiguous damage or the other.

“As laudable as the Act may sound it is very ambiguous and not clear for anybody who had worked the cyber space from the onset in Nigeria. What this bring to fore is that the law may have been hurriedly put together to meet some specifics as it concerns the menace of cyber café e-rats or some other financial crimes been committed at that time”.

He recommended for an encompassing approach to engaging professionals from the field in enacting a well-rounded law for this sensitive component of the society, as the fact that innovative legal framework need to be complemented with reality is key.

“One starts to wonder who will implement cyber law when the legal system itself knows little or nothing about computing and systems. Despite the fact that an average person life now revolves computer, how prepared are the law departments in our schools?

“As the first indigenous innovator of a complete ERP for the judiciary I can tell you the huge gap between the courts and computers. I believe as a people we should always put into consideration the logical and applicable of laws when they are been drafted. It is also important to state that I did not see any comprehensive regulation as it affects software use and its resultant risks by individual users.

“Does it mean it is only registered businesses the law is targeting? As it stands today, the majority of the Internet users are individuals who are not well catered for by the law. How about innovative technology entrepreneurs like myself whose jobs are been duplicated with reckless abandon? Talking of intellectual property theft, most guilty are many government establishments themselves. How does this law answer all this questions and more that are the real issues and threats facing most participant within the cyber space?”

On mobile threats, the report found that 323,374 new malicious mobile programs were detected by Kaspersky Lab mobile security products in Q3.

This is a 10.8% increase on Q2 2015 and a 3.1-fold increase since Q1 2015.

There were more than 1.5 million malicious packages installed on mobiles during the quarter, 1.5 times more than in the previous quarter, among other findings.


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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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WHO Says Ebola Outbreak Worse than Reported

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World Health Organisation (WHO) at the weekend declared the Ebola outbreak linked to the rare Bundibugyo virus strain a global public health emergency.

WHO Says Ebola Outbreak Worse than Reported

WHO said there is currently no approved vaccine or specific treatment for this strain of Ebola.

At home, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) said there is “no confirmed case of Ebola Virus Disease in Nigeria” but had  tightened surveillance against the deadly virus.

The outbreak, linked to the rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, has already caused dozens of deaths in Congo and spread into Uganda, raising fears of wider transmission across the region.

In response, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention said that the country remains on alert because of growing movement across African borders.

Jide Idris, director-general said the agency was “closely monitoring the situation” and working with the Port Health Services and other health agencies to strengthen preparedness nationwide.

He added that surveillance has been increased at entry points and within Nigeria’s health system.

According to the WHO, the outbreak has recorded more than 240 suspected cases and about 80 suspected deaths in Congo’s Ituri province, while imported cases have also been confirmed in Uganda’s capital, Kampala.

The WHO said the outbreak is “extraordinary” because of uncertainty around the true number of infections and the lack of approved medical countermeasures for the Bundibugyo strain.

Health authorities advised Nigerians to maintain proper hygiene, avoid contact with infected persons and report symptoms such as fever, weakness, vomiting and bleeding to the nearest health facility immediately.

Nigeria was declared Ebola-free in 2014 after successfully containing an outbreak brought into the country by an infected traveler from Liberia.

 

 


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Digital PayExpo 2026 to Convene Africa’s Most Influential Payments Leaders in Lagos

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Africa’s digital payments ecosystem will take center stage as Digital PayExpo 2026 returns to Lagos on June 17–18, 2026, at the Landmark Centre, Victoria Island, under the theme: “Seamless Digital: Fostering Pan-African Market Expansion in the AI Era.”

At a time when artificial intelligence, cross-border commerce, and financial inclusion are redefining Africa’s economic future, the event is set to convene over 3,000 senior executives, policymakers, fintech innovators, and global technology providers.

The speaker lineup reflects a powerful blend of regulatory leadership, private sector innovation, and pan-African expertise.

Among the headline speakers:

  • Dr. Rakiya Yusuf, Director, Payment Systems Supervision, Central Bank of Nigeria — a key architect in Nigeria’s payment system reforms.
  • Dr. Folasade Femi-Lawal, Country Manager & Area Business Head (West Africa), Mastercard — a leading voice in digital payments expansion across Africa.
  • Clara B. Arthur, Managing Director, GhIPSS (Ghana) — driving Ghana’s interoperable payment ecosystem.
  • Wacera Maina, Chief Operations Officer, Kenwitch Kenya — an expert in East Africa’s payment infrastructure evolution.
  • Akeem Lawal, CEO, Interswitch Group — a pioneer in Africa’s fintech growth story.
  • Ngover Ihyembe-Nwankwo, Executive Director, NIBSS — shaping Nigeria’s core payment infrastructure.

The conference will explore:

  • AI-powered financial services
  • Cross-border payment systems and interoperability
  • Cybersecurity and trust frameworks
  • SME financing and financial inclusion
  • Infrastructure for a unified African digital economy

With participation from banks, fintechs, telcos, regulators, and global payment networks, Digital PayExpo 2026 is positioned as a critical marketplace for ideas, partnerships, and investment flows. Register: https://digitalpayexpo.com/register
Sponsorship Enquiries: [email protected]


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Only 1 in 3 Families Fully Secure their Devices, Kaspersky Study Reveals

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On International Day of Families observed on May 15th, a global Kaspersky study* reveals that while 47% of respondents talk about online safety, only 33% secure all their family devices – highlighting the need for proactivity from Family Digital Managers.

As online threats develop and every generation joins the online space, cybersecurity habits have become an essential part of life for every family. Typically, in every family, one or two people become so-called Family Digital Managers, responsible for managing subscriptions, setting up new devices, or thinking about cyber protection. Kaspersky has conducted a survey to find out what measures modern families take to stay safe online.

According to Kaspersky’s data, a significant portion of respondents adopt an educational approach to cybersecurity within their families:

47% regularly coach elderly relatives and children on safe online practices

45% advise family members to adopt password manager solutions

42% encourage the use of multi-factor authentication (MFA)

An equal 42% actively review and adjust privacy settings on both family devices and critical online accounts

Although a growing awareness of the importance of proactive, family-focused digital protection can be observed, when it comes to the implementation of security solutions, the trend is slightly different. 10% of respondents take no measures at all to protect their loved ones online, rising to 21% among those aged 55+.

As for the parental control apps, 67% of families with children under 18 years use this tool to monitor and secure their kids’ online activity. Parental control, such as the Kaspersky Safe Kids solution, can help restrict children’s access to inappropriate content and also gently manage their online habits by limiting access to certain websites and apps, controlling their screen time, and even enhancing their physical security by tracking their geolocation.

The most worrying number is that only 33% of respondents – just 1 in 3 – install security solutions on all family members’ devices. Kaspersky experts highlight that the current threat landscape shows that mobile devices and tablets as well as PCs all require comprehensive cyber protection, as they are often targeted by cybercriminals.

According to the survey, only 30% of respondents set up new devices for their families. Setting up a new device is not often regarded as a step that contributes to cyber safety; however, some actions performed before the device is put into use can significantly enhance its security.

For instance, experts recommend installing a security solution first, to scan the device for hidden threats and make web browsing safe from the first queries. What’s more, reviewing privacy settings on a new device allows you not to share data that you would like to keep private with some applications and services.

The research also shows that the older generation (55+) is generally less included in family security habits. Around 1 in 5 (21%) of this age group globally do not take any measures to protect their family online and only a quarter (24%) install security solutions for family members. The most popular security measure among them turns out to be a password manager, as 40% of this age group recommend their family members to use it.

“We are now using a lot of gadgets and digital services, and with every new device and every additional hour spent online, the potential entry points for cybercriminals continue to grow, exposing us to a wider range of cyber threats. At the same time, not every generation adapts to these rapid changes with the same ease.

“That’s why having someone in the family take on the role of a ‘Family Digital Manager’ can be so valuable, especially when it comes to protecting kids and elder people from digital cyberthreats, give advice and help with the use of trusted security solutions,” comments Brandon Muller, Technical Expert at Kaspersky.

 


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