Nigeria and Looming Cyber Arms Race

Cyber-warfare is no longer an abstract threat to countries—it is happening. It is a clear and present danger.

In fact, the new battle ground is the cyberspace which is becoming a full-blown war zone as governments across the globe clash for digital supremacy in the new, mostly invisible theater of operations.

Once limited to opportunistic criminals, cyber attacks are becoming a key weapon for any government 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.

Today, digital networks could be used as a conduit to gas lines, power grids and transportation systems to silently deliver devastating cyberattacks to countries.

Case in point, a computer worm was discovered in June 2010 that is called Stuxnet.

The malware is spread via Microsoft Windows, and targets Siemens industrial software and equipment.

The Siemens industrial software and equipment infected is literally the equipment that runs the world as we know it.
 
That means it can be programmed to target a specific operating system and take over the running of the program unbeknownst to even the most observant operator.

Terrorists are increasingly using online technology, including Google Earth and Street View, for attack planning.”

In Nigeria either by ignorance or lack of knowledge or both; the federal government has been unable to secure its official websites thus raising questions over claims by the government of efforts to reduce the growing threat of violation of its digital presence.

Any cyber attack on Nigeria’s critical infrastructure will shut down the country because she lacks any form of protection,

The country’s security managers must understand that tackling these new and emerging threats requires that the country’s technology must constantly evolve and adapt.

The federal government must heed the warnings of experts who have called for building of “high technical skill” including the setting up of “ethical hackers” to protect networks by hacking and stealing vital information and later returning them to show their vulnerability.

Nigeria must also learn lessons from attacks that have happened elsewhere and prepare for the possibility that they could be replicated here.

Additionally, legislation that encourages participation by streamlining processes and reducing legal uncertainty for industry is necessary to help the public and private sectors be more responsive and accountable. In the process, care must be taken to protect privacy and civil liberties.