Telecom
Stop using Free Public WiFi – Expert warns
Seyi Akindeinde, Chief Technical Officer (CTO), Digital Encode, has described free WiFi as the surest means for hackers to get access to people’s information.
Akindeinde, disclosed this recently while delivering a paper titled “The Friendly Enemy: The Perils of Free WiFi” at the NaijaSecCon 2018 in Lagos.
He said “There is proliferation of Cyber hacks all over the place and one of the things we want to achieve is to know how these people carry out hacking.
“And we discover that it is the way a lot of people are connecting to free WiFi and then sending out their critical information.
“And one of the things we wanted to achieve is to find out how easy hackers actually gain access to all these information as people log in to so many things from social media, online banking to even confidential information.”
He noted that his presentation was mainly to teach people how they can protect themselves against those that intrude into their privacy, adding that availability of Public WiFi can be of benefit if you know the organization that is offering it.
In his words, “Public WiFi can be of benefit if you know the organization that is offering it, but if you go to a hotel where anybody lodges in, or airport, anybody can be at the airport, you cannot afford to log in to such a WiFi, because you don’t know the person’s motive, or if it is a bait.
“For hackers they know the only way to get mass information is to give you something free. And that is why it is very difficult to control because it is free.”
“My advice is that if you log in to free WiFi, only log in to the news website or video website, don’t log into yahoo or facebook, google or what have you, because you are definitely going to be sending your username and password, to those hackers.”
Akindeinde, also spoke on the upcoming election, “As 2019 approaches, the public must also be careful as hackers are always on the prowl during election year.
“The hackers want your information, they want your details, so they want access to what you have, some free flash drives have virus, immediately you plug it in into your computer that is the end.”
He urged people to format their flash before use, adding that hackers use all manners of tactics because they know that people are vulnerable to free things.
On how to prevent hackers, he said “NaijaSecCon is an eye opener, because it brings exposure to the people, it also ensure they take preventive measures to protect themselves.
“Even if the hackers are here, they would know that their secrets have been exposed. If we don’t do this we are doing a disservice to the people.”
He stressed that the government can do more aside building Cyber Security Center; they need to try more on personnel development, the police, the EFCC.
He said “Technology is advancing every single day, and so they should be attending conferences like this especially ministries, departments and agencies.”
Telecom
Celebrating African Creativity: Made by Africa, Loved by the World’ Returns for Its Fifth Year
The “Made by Africa, Loved by the World” campaign is back for its fifth year, celebrating African creativity and global influence. This year’s theme, “Where Culture Meets Connection,” highlights how social media fosters conversations around cultural moments worldwide.
The campaign features three cinematic films premiering on the Meta Africa page, showcasing the groundbreaking work and personal stories of six dynamic African creatives.
These artists, from Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, and South Africa, represent diverse disciplines, including rap, animation, dance, photography, fashion, and videography.
Here are some of the featured talents:
- Ladipoe (Nigeria) – A BET-nominated rapper known for blending global hip-hop with African rhythms.
- Fatboy Animations (Kenya) – An animation studio founded by Michael Muthiga, recognized by Forbes for its original African storytelling.
- Lisa Quama (Ghana) – A dancer who gained fame after appearing in Beyoncé’s “Already” music video.
- Gilbert Asante (Ghana) – A photographer and creative director featured in GQ and Glam Africa.
- David Tlale (South Africa) – A fashion designer whose bold designs have been showcased at major fashion events, including the Met Gala.
- Ofentse Mwase (South Africa) – A filmmaker with over 24 international awards for his unique visual storytelling.
Kezia Anim-Addo, Communications Director for Africa, Middle East & Turkey, emphasized that the campaign not only celebrates individual success stories but also showcases how culture and social media drive meaningful connections and inspiration.
Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), has raised the alarm over a diesel supply crisis caused by an ongoing strike by the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG).
Mr Tony Emoekpere, president, ATCON in a statement said that the fuel supply disruption is critically affecting telecom base stations, pushing them to the brink of a shutdown and threatening millions of mobile and internet users in the region.
“This strike, which stems from the persistent harassment of tanker and petroleum product drivers by police officers in Lagos State, has effectively halted all truck loading operations and fuel movements,” Emoekpere stated.
He explained that diesel supply to telecom infrastructure has been severely impacted, leaving critical sites with dangerously low fuel levels.
According to him, if urgent measures are not taken, the situation could escalate into a full-blown network blackout, disrupting essential services, including mobile and internet access, business operations, emergency response systems, and daily communications.
ATCON has called on the governors of Lagos and Ogun states to intervene immediately by facilitating the release of diesel from depots to telecom operators to prevent further deterioration of the situation.
“This is not just a telecom issue—it is a national emergency that could cripple economic activities and compromise public safety,” Emoekpere stressed.
The association also appealed to security agencies and petroleum unions to resolve the crisis swiftly to safeguard Nigeria’s connectivity and economic stability.
ATCON emphasised that a prolonged disruption in fuel supply to telecom infrastructure could have far-reaching consequences for both businesses and individuals who rely on stable communication networks for daily operations.
In 2023, Nigerians spent a total of about ₦5.3 trillion on telecommunications services, which includes calls, data, SMS, and other telecom services, according to the Leadership.
Specifically for voice calls, Nigerians made approximately 408.5 billion minutes of local calls, generating around ₦3.28 trillion from outgoing calls and ₦3.23 trillion from incoming calls, totaling about ₦6.51 trillion in call-related revenue according to projections based on 2023 call volumes and tariff data.
However, the ₦5.3 trillion figure represents the overall telecom sector revenue, with voice calls being a major component but also including data and other services.
For individual spending, MTN subscribers spent an average of ₦2,508 monthly on voice calls in 2023, showing a 14.4% increase from 2022, while Airtel customers spent about ₦1,694 monthly on voice calls.
Total telecom spending (calls, data, SMS, etc.): ₦5.3 trillion in 2023
Estimated revenue from voice calls alone: around ₦6.5 trillion based on call minutes and tariffs
Average monthly spending on calls per subscriber: ₦1,694 to ₦2,508 depending on the network
Toll Collection on Lagos-Calabar Highway Begins December
NGX Clears Fidelity Bank MD of Insider Trading Allegations
CBN Introduces AML to Fight Financial Terrorism, Gives Banks Deadline
Peter Obi Denies Secret Meeting with Tinubu over Fidelity Bank
Luft Pay TV Launches in Lagos, Promises to Revolutionize Entertainment
Broadcasting3 days agoLuft Pay TV Launches in Lagos, Promises to Revolutionize Entertainment
E-Financial3 days agoCBN Introduces AML to Fight Financial Terrorism, Gives Banks Deadline
Telecom3 days agoCelebrating African Creativity: Made by Africa, Loved by the World’ Returns for Its Fifth Year
General News3 days agoOver 250,000 Cyberattacks Disguised as Anime – Report
E-Financial3 days agoFidelity Bank’s N10.5tr assets base reinforces stakeholders’ confidence -Insiders bid for more equity stakes
E-Financial3 days agoPeter Obi Denies Secret Meeting with Tinubu over Fidelity Bank
E-Financial3 days agoPremiumTrust Bank Reassures Customers of Continued Security after Cyberattack Foil
E-Business3 days agoINEC Sets Up AI Division to Strengthen Electoral System