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Cyberspace Turns Full-Blown War Zone-FireEye
Cyberspace has become a full-blown war zone as governments across the globe clash for digital supremacy in a new, mostly invisible theater of operations, according to an executive summary of a report released by FireEye at the weekend.
The report made available to Nigeria CommunicationsWeek said that, once limited to opportunistic criminals, cyber attacks are becoming a key weapon for governments seeking to defend national sovereignty and project national power.
From strategic cyber espionage campaigns, such as Moonlight Maze and Titan Rain, to the destructive, such as military cyber strikes on Georgia and Iran, human and international conflicts are entering a new phase in their long histories.
In this shadowy battlefield, victories are fought with bits instead of bullets, malware instead of militias, and botnets instead of bombs, the report contained.
A word of warning from the cyber security power house reiterated that the analytical waters surrounding cyber warfare are inherently murky, as these covert assaults are largely unseen by the public.
“Unlike the wars of yesteryear, this cyber war produces no dramatic images of exploding warheads, crumbled buildings, or fleeing civilians. But the list of casualties—which already includes some of the biggest names in technology, financial services, defense, and government —is growing larger by the day”.
A cyber attack is best understood not as an end in itself, but as a potentially powerful means to a wide variety of political, military, and economic goals.
“Serious cyber attacks are unlikely to be motiveless,” said Martin Libicki, Senior Scientist at RAND Corp. “Countries carry them out to achieve certain ends, which tend to reflect their broader strategic goals. The relationship between the means chosen and their goals will look rational and reasonable to them if not necessarily to us.”
Just as each country has a unique political system, history, and culture, state-sponsored attacks also have distinctive characteristics, which include everything from motivation to target to type of attack.
This report describes the unique characteristics of cyber attack campaigns waged by governments worldwide. We hope that, armed with this knowledge, security professionals can better identify their attackers and tailor their defenses accordingly.
A quick overview of the report painted Asia-Pacific as home to large, bureaucratic hacker groups such as the “Comment Crew” who pursue many goals and targets in high-frequency, brute-force attacks, while Russia/Eastern Europe, these cyber attacks are more technically advanced and highly effective at evading detection.
In the Middle East, the hackers are dynamic, often using creativity, deception, and social engineering to trick users into compromising their own computers and in the United States are the most complex, targeted, and rigorously engineered cyber attack campaigns to date.
FireEye noted that at the strategic level, governments desire to have a degree of plausible deniability.
“At the tactical level, military and intelligence organizations envelop such operations in layers of classification and secrecy. To be effective, information operations rely on deception—and the Internet offers an ideal venue for a spy’s smoke and mirrors.
“In practical terms, hackers often run their attacks through cyber terrain (such as compromised, third-party networks) that present investigators with technical and jurisdictional complications. And finally, cybercriminal tools, tactics, and procedures (TTPs) evolve so quickly that cyber defense, legislation, and law enforcement remain behind the attacker’s curve.
“The biggest challenge to deterring, defending against, or retaliating for cyber attacks is the problem of correctly identifying the perpetrator,” said Prof. John Arquilla, Naval Postgraduate School in an email interview with FireEye.®
“Ballistic missiles come with return addresses. But computer viruses, worms, and denial of service attacks often emanate from behind a veil of anonymity. The best chance to pierce this veil comes with the skillful blending of forensic back-hacking techniques with deep knowledge of others’ strategic cultures and their geopolitical aims.”
Cyber “attribution”—identifying a likely culprit, whether an individual, organization, or nation-state—is notoriously difficult, especially for any single attack. States are often mistakenly identified as non-state actors, and vice versa.
To make matters worse, ties between the two are increasing. First, a growing number of “patriotic cybercriminals” ostensibly wage cyber war on behalf of governments (examples include Chechnya and Kosovo in the 1990s, China in 2001, Estonia in 2007, Georgia in 2008, and every year in the Middle East).
“Second, cybercrime organizations offer anyone, including governments, cyber attack services to include denial-of-service attacks and access to previously compromised networks. FireEye researchers have even seen one nation-state develop and use a sophisticated Trojan, and later (after its own counter-Trojan defenses were in place) sell it to cybercriminals on the black market.
“Thus, some cyber attack campaigns may bear the hallmarks of both state and non-state actors, making positive attribution almost impossible. And finally, “false flag” cyber operations involve a hacker group behaving like another to mislead cyber defense researchers,” the report contained.
With nearly half of Nigeria’s population expressing interest in relocating abroad, as Gallup recent data indicates, the desire to seek greener pastures has become more prominent. When surveyed, 1 in 2 Nigerians say they would want to move abroad for work, school or to expand their business.
This trend, fueled by economic and political instability, suggests a rising number of skilled Nigerians could enrich foreign workforces and economies. While it offers opportunities for individual growth and development, it also raises concerns about a potential brain drain.
The desire to seek better opportunities abroad is understandable. Nigeria’s talented youth, often stifled by systemic challenges, are eager to contribute to the global workforce. It’s not just Nigeria, Liberia for instance according to the report by Gallup has more than 70% of its surveyed population showing interest in moving abroad.
“More than a third of Africans want to move permanently to live somewhere else, a new high, according to a 2023 survey by Gallup. In 2012, 29% wanted to migrate; last year the number was 37%”, says Alexandra Onukwue who writes for Semafor.
However, this exodus can have detrimental effects on the nation’s economic growth and development. As skilled professionals leave, the country loses valuable human capital that could drive innovation and create jobs.
To address this issue, it’s crucial to create an environment that fosters talent and innovation within Nigeria. This involves implementing policies that promote economic growth, reduce corruption, and improve the quality of life. Additionally, investing in education and skills development can equip young Nigerians with the tools they need to succeed.
This is why Vesti is playing an important role as a “Software Engineering Location of Choice” and its dedication to nurturing and developing top talent.
The company has ambitious plans to create over 600 engineering jobs in Lagos over the next two years and 1,500 new engineering jobs in the state by 2027. Although the Dallas-headquartered Vesti serves users from over 15 countries through its mobile apps and website, it has notable presence in the UK, Ghana, Zambia, Nigeria and recently expanded to Canada.
Olusola Amusan, CEO of Vesti, highlights the significance of this migration. “Nigeria is full of talented individuals eager to make a difference, and they are looking globally for opportunities.
Vesti is committed to making that transition as smooth as possible by equipping them with the right resources to succeed abroad,” Amusan said. Amusan emphasizes the importance of a balanced approach to migration. “We can’t stop migration, but we can make it seamless, while building room for creative ways for immigrants to send money back home and develop their home countries”, Amusan continues.
While it’s essential to support those seeking opportunities abroad, it’s equally important to create a thriving ecosystem within Nigeria. By investing in education, technology, and entrepreneurship, Nigeria can retain its talent and drive economic growth.
As global economies increasingly need skilled labor, platforms like Vesti are meeting a critical need, helping individuals navigate complex immigration processes.
However, the challenge is ensuring that this migration trend contributes positively to both Nigeria and host countries.
The UN Office on Migration warns against the risks of “brain drain” and emphasizes the need for balanced migration policies. Since the Vesti app allows people from other countries to move to Nigeria by showcasing Nigeria’s strategic advantages, the app is one the ways Amusan things we can balance the scales.
To fully harness the power of migration to create a better future for all, a concerted effort is needed from both the Nigerian government and the international community. The Nigerian government must prioritize education and skills development to equip young people with the tools they need to succeed in a globalized world.
Creating a conducive business environment, reducing corruption, and promoting transparency are essential for attracting investment and fostering innovation. By implementing these measures, Nigeria can retain its talent and encourage entrepreneurship. Retention is however becoming an old trick, countries are trying export, talent export.
The idea of talent export is to partner with multinationals in destination countries, cities, states and national governments, to export talent with the intent to bring foreign direct investment or simply remittances back to the home country. There are a couple of white papers that further explain this model.
International cooperation is crucial in addressing the complex issues surrounding migration. Countries should collaborate to establish skilled worker programs that benefit both sending and receiving nations.
Encouraging the diaspora to contribute to Nigeria’s development through investments and knowledge sharing can also have a significant impact. Additionally, it’s imperative to ensure fair labor practices and protect the rights of migrant workers.
With this trend likely to continue, countries need to recognize the value Nigerian immigrants bring. By easing entry for skilled Nigerian professionals, host countries stand to benefit from a motivated workforce ready to contribute.
At the same time, initiatives like Vesti with over 800,000 downloads in the Google Playstore, are crucial for empowering these professionals to be both successful and well-integrated abroad.
Despite how many people love Vesti, its current success is still a scratch in a market where Vesti wants to help 50m-100m people by 2028. Vesti’s apps can be downloaded in App Store and the Google Play store or via Wevesti.com
Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged President Bola Tinubu to order the investigation of alleged ₦57 billion of public funds “missing, diverted or stolen” in the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation in 2021 under President Muhammadu Buhari government.
This was contained in a statement on Sunday by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare.
SERAP urged the President to “direct the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, and appropriate anti-corruption agencies” to probe the allegations.
The missing funds were captured in the 2021 audited report released last week by the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation.
SERAP said: “The allegations amount to stealing from the poor. There is a legitimate public interest in ensuring justice and accountability for these grave allegations.
“The allegations also suggest a grave violation of the public trust, the Nigerian Constitution 1999 (as amended), the country’s anticorruption legislation, and international anticorruption obligations.”
According to SERAP, anyone found guilty should be punished by law, and “any missing public funds should be fully recovered and remitted to the treasury.”
The statement said: “Hundreds of billions of naira are also reportedly missing in other Ministries, Departments and Agencies.
“According to the 2021 annual audited report by the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation, the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, [the ministry] in 2021 failed to account for over N54 billion [N54,630,000,000.00] meant to pay monthly stipends to Batch C1 N-Power volunteers and non-graduate trainees between August and December 2021.
“The money was ‘not directly paid to the beneficiaries.’ The Auditor-General is concerned that the money ‘may have been diverted.’
“He wants the money recovered and remitted to the treasury. He also wants suspected perpetrators of the diversion to be sanctioned in line with the Financial Regulations.”
TEDxPAU 2024 brought together some of the brightest minds and boldest voices on November 16th at the Honeywell Auditorium, Lagos Business School. With over 500 attendees eager to explore new possibilities, the event’s theme, ‘Shaping the Future,’ set the tone for a day filled with inspiration, reflection, and transformative ideas.
The day opened with a TED talk by TED founder Chris Anderson, followed by welcome remarks from the Vice-Chancellor of Pan-Atlantic University, Prof. Enase Okonedo. She encouraged the audience to embrace the theme, saying, “The future is now, and it is up to all of us to join hands to shape tomorrow.”
The sessions featured inspiring talks from visionaries like Akose Enebeli, who emphasized sustainable urban living by “building upwards instead of outwards,” and Goodnews Igwe, who stressed that creating value is key to success.
Temitope Runsewe championed Africa’s family values as a foundation for economic recovery, describing family businesses as “the future of Nigeria.” Prof. Fabian Ajogwu, SAN, advocated for affordable education to drive literacy and digital skills, while Michael Oluwagbemi sparked intrigue with his bold statement that “CNG is the new garri,” promoting energy innovation.
Ziad Maalouf shared leadership insights, underscoring personal growth as the key to scaling success.
Adesuwa Ifedi, Senior Vice President at Heifer International, spoke about the significance of scaling innovation from the inside out, urging organizations to embrace change-driven solutions. Dr. Peter Bamkole, Deputy Vice Chancellor of PAU, described entrepreneurship as “a catalyst for systemic change,” calling for the transformation of problems into solutions with far-reaching impact.
Dr. Cosmas Maduka, who shared his journey from adversity to global success, inspired the audience to embrace their gifts and believe in limitless possibilities.
The event ended with a fireside chat between TEDxPAU organizer Bella Victor and Dr. Maduka, who spoke about the importance of legacy and purpose. He encouraged attendees to see themselves as part of Nigeria’s solution and to embrace both the challenges and triumphs of the country’s journey.
Beyond the talks, TEDxPAU 2024 captivated attendees with musical performances, a spoken word piece, and a high-energy dance performance by different talents from the university.
The event also recognized its sponsors and volunteers, thanking them for their critical role in making the day a success.
In his closing remarks, Bella Victor expressed heartfelt gratitude, stating: “TEDxPAU was founded with the goal of giving back to this incredible school and creating a 360-degree impact—supporting our students, raising awareness for our school, and giving innovators a platform to reach a global audience. It’s inspiring to see how this event has grown and how each of you have played a part in that mission today. I thank our speakers, sponsors, volunteers, and every attendee who believed in this vision. Together, we are shaping the future.”
Attendees also enjoyed networking opportunities during breaks, sponsor exhibitions, and a private lunch for VIP ticket holders, who engaged in deeper conversations with the speakers about shaping tomorrow.
TEDxPAU 2024 once again reaffirmed its commitment to “ideas worth spreading” and left attendees inspired to take action. For recordings of the event and updates on future editions, stay tuned.
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