E-Business
Ransomware: Microsoft Gives Details of Attack, Decries Govts’ Inaction
Microsoft has stressed the need for urgent collective action to keep people safe online, following the world’s biggest cyberattack at the weekend, sending countries into ‘disaster recovery mode.
In a blog post, ‘Lessons from last week’s cyberattack’, Brad Smith, president and chief legal officer at Microsoft, said the global tech giant takes every single cyberattack on a Windows system seriously.
Starting first in the United Kingdom and Spain, the malicious “WannaCrypt” software quickly spread globally, blocking customers from their data unless they paid a ransom using Bitcoin.
The WannaCrypt exploits used in the attack were drawn from the exploits stolen from the National Security Agency, or NSA, in the United States, Smith said. “That theft was publicly reported earlier this year. A month prior, on March 14, Microsoft had released a security update to patch this vulnerability and protect our customers. While this protected newer Windows systems and computers that had enabled Windows Update to apply this latest update, many computers remained unpatched globally. As a result, hospitals, businesses, governments, and computers at homes were affected.
“All of this provides the broadest example yet of so-called “ransomware,” which is only one type of cyberattack”.
He lamented that, unfortunately, consumers and business leaders have become familiar with terms like “zero day” and “phishing” that are part of the broad array of tools used to attack individuals and infrastructure.
“We take every single cyberattack on a Windows system seriously, and we’ve been working around the clock since Friday to help all our customers who have been affected by this incident. This included a decision to take additional steps to assist users with older systems that are no longer supported. Clearly, responding to this attack and helping those affected needs to be our most immediate priority.
“At the same time, it’s already apparent that there will be broader and important lessons from the ‘WannaCrypt’ attack we’ll need to consider to avoid these types of attacks in the future. I see three areas where this event provides an opportunity for Microsoft and the industry to improve.
“As a technology company, we at Microsoft have the first responsibility to address these issues. We increasingly are among the first responders to attacks on the internet. We have more than 3,500 security engineers at the company, and we’re working comprehensively to address cybersecurity threats.
“This includes new security functionality across our entire software platform, including constant updates to our Advanced Threat Protection service to detect and disrupt new cyberattacks. In this instance, this included the development and release of the patch in March, a prompt update on Friday to Windows Defender to detect the WannaCrypt attack, and work by our customer support personnel to help customers afflicted by the attack.
“But as this attack demonstrates, there is no cause for celebration. We’ll assess this attack, ask what lessons we can learn, and apply these to strengthen our capabilities. Working through our Microsoft Threat Intelligence Center (MSTIC) and Digital Crimes Unit, we’ll also share what we learn with law enforcement agencies, governments, and other customers around the world.
“Second, this attack demonstrates the degree to which cybersecurity has become a shared responsibility between tech companies and customers. The fact that so many computers remained vulnerable two months after the release of a patch illustrates this aspect.
“As cybercriminals become more sophisticated, there is simply no way for customers to protect themselves against threats unless they update their systems. Otherwise they’re literally fighting the problems of the present with tools from the past. This attack is a powerful reminder that information technology basics like keeping computers current and patched are a high responsibility for everyone, and it’s something every top executive should support.
“At the same time, we have a clear understanding of the complexity and diversity of today’s IT infrastructure, and how updates can be a formidable practical challenge for many customers. Today, we use robust testing and analytics to enable rapid updates into IT infrastructure, and we are dedicated to developing further steps to help ensure security updates are applied immediately to all IT environments.
“Finally, this attack provides yet another example of why the stockpiling of vulnerabilities by governments is such a problem. This is an emerging pattern in 2017. We have seen vulnerabilities stored by the CIA show up on WikiLeaks, and now this vulnerability stolen from the NSA has affected customers around the world.
“Repeatedly, exploits in the hands of governments have leaked into the public domain and caused widespread damage. An equivalent scenario with conventional weapons would be the U.S. military having some of its Tomahawk missiles stolen. And this most recent attack represents a completely unintended but disconcerting link between the two most serious forms of cybersecurity threats in the world today – nation-state action and organized criminal action”.
Smith noted that the governments of the world should treat the attack as a wake-up call. “They need to take a different approach and adhere in cyberspace to the same rules applied to weapons in the physical world. We need governments to consider the damage to civilians that comes from hoarding these vulnerabilities and the use of these exploits.
“This is one reason we called in February for a new ‘Digital Geneva Convention’ to govern these issues, including a new requirement for governments to report vulnerabilities to vendors, rather than stockpile, sell, or exploit them. And it’s why we’ve pledged our support for defending every customer everywhere in the face of cyberattacks, regardless of their nationality. This weekend, whether it’s in London, New York, Moscow, Delhi, Sao Paulo, or Beijing, we’re putting this principle into action and working with customers around the world.
“We should take from this recent attack a renewed determination for more urgent collective action. We need the tech sector, customers, and governments to work together to protect against cybersecurity attacks. More action is needed, and it’s needed now. In this sense, the WannaCrypt attack is a wake-up call for all of us. We recognize our responsibility to help answer this call, and Microsoft is committed to doing its part”.
Brad Smith is Microsoft’s president and chief legal officer. Smith plays a key role in representing the company externally and in leading the company’s work on a number of critical issues including privacy, security, accessibility, environmental sustainability and digital inclusion, among others.
Nigeria’s Presidential Office of Digital Engagement and Strategy (PODES) has forged a pioneering alliance with Cyberpedia Internet Governance, AI powerhouse an African Artificial Intelligence, Data, and Cybersecurity corporation, to deploy cutting-edge artificial intelligence tools and grassroots networks in redefining civic participation.
This is in a strategic counterstrike against the global infodemic.
The collaboration, spearheaded by Otega Ogra, senior special assistant to the President, seeks to “reimagine civic communication in Nigeria,” according to official statements.
The announcement precedes Cyberpedia President Abiodun Sowemimo’s keynote address at the global CloudFest conference in Frankfurt, Germany.
The core objective of the partnership is to “strengthen the government’s digital resilience by equipping citizens with innovative tools to identify and counter misinformation in real-time.”
This initiative directly addresses the challenges posed by “disinformation, misinformation, and fractured digital attention,” as outlined in the official release.
The partnership rests on two key pillars: Mapping Public Sentiment, which involves “utilising artificial intelligence to capture real-time insights across Nigeria’s diverse linguistic and cultural landscape,” acknowledging the complexities introduced by the nation’s over 400 languages; and Grassroots Empowerment, which focuses on “collaborating with local influencers, content creators, community leaders, and cultural ambassadors to co-develop relatable, engaging content that promotes clarity and national values, combats misinformation, and fosters constructive dialogue among citizens.”
“This initiative is not about controlling the narrative. It is about equipping Nigerians with the tools to lead their own informed conversations,” stated Otega Ogra.
“In an age of digital disruption, trust is the ultimate currency. Our goal is to build transparency by empowering Nigerians directly, meeting them on platforms where they already engage, debate, and form opinions,” he explained.
Abiodun Sowemimo, president of Cyberpedia Internet Governance, emphasised the broader implications of the partnership, describing it as “an innovative model for governance in a disrupted digital era.”
He further stated, “This initiative goes beyond Nigeria. It is about demonstrating how democracies can harness technology ethically, ensuring greater citizen participation without compromising democratic principles.”
The partnership, currently in its early stages, will prioritise “digital literacy initiatives designed to equip citizens with tools to identify and counter disinformation proactively.”
Plans include the development of “interactive mobile applications and gamified educational experiences to help citizens recognise manipulated content, fake news, and deepfake technology.”
This initiative arrives at a crucial juncture as democracies worldwide grapple with the spread of misinformation amplified by emerging technologies.
Nigeria, with its “vibrant digital landscape and one of the continent’s youngest populations,” is poised to “pioneer scalable solutions and set new standards for digital engagement and public trust globally.”
Further details of the partnership’s initiatives will be unveiled in the coming months.
Sowemimo will formally introduce the initiative at CloudFest in Frankfurt, Germany, highlighting “Nigeria’s commitment to innovation-driven civic engagement on the global stage.”
By Oluwole Alao
In total alignment with the presidential priority area of Reforming the Economy for Sustained Inclusive Growth and Accelerating Diversification through Industrialisation and Digitisation, the Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa CCIE, has announced the nationwide expansion of the Hub Managers training programme in harnessing technological innovation to improve the lives of Nigerians, create jobs and foster economic diversification.
The DG made this known at the iHatch Cohort 4 -Onsite Training for Hub Managers, which was organised by the agency in partnership with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and Office for Nigerian Digital Innovation (ONDI) at the Hotel De Horizon, Wuse 2, Abuja.
The on-site training programme, which had 37 hub managers from the 36 states of the federation, including the FCT, will empower hubs to build robust incubation systems to support startups locally, develop strong regional ecosystems through partnerships and engagement, enhance their operational and mentorship capacity and provide access to international exchange programmes towards the adoption of best global practices.
While emphasising the current administration’s commitment to reforming the economy for sustained and inclusive growth, Inuwa highlighted that the key to achieving this goal lies in leveraging digital technology at the grassroots level to solve local problems across various sectors, including agriculture and small-scale trade.
“We don’t want technological innovation to be concentrated only in Lagos and Abuja. We want to take it to the grassroots and use it to solve real-life problems. That is why we designed the iHatch initiative,” he noted.
Inuwa disclosed that the pilot phase of the iHatch, which was conducted in Abuja, successfully trained 50 startups, which led to the creation of 179 direct jobs and over 1,500 indirect jobs, Inuwa stated that the expansion of the initiative to accommodate all the 37 states will create 740 direct jobs and 7,400 indirect jobs before the end of the year.
He said, “this initiative will domesticate innovation in states and enable start-ups solve real-life problems in areas of agriculture, healthcare, transportation and other sectors, that are peculiar to their different states”.
While stressing that innovation thrives in clusters where critical stakeholders can exchange ideas and incubate solutions, the NITDA DG underscored the importance of collaboration, networking and ecosystem development in driving innovation.
“To sustain this initiative, we must build a strong community where startups, entrepreneurs, and stakeholders can continuously share ideas and collaborate. We don’t want startups to just pass through the programme; we want them to remain within the iHatch ecosystem because we want this initiative to expand to all the 774 local governments of the country.” Inuwa explained.
He noted that in addition to job creation and ecosystem building, the initiative aligns with the Nigeria Startup Act, which aims to provide legal backing and incentives for startups.
Inuwa therefore urged the participants in the iHatch programme to act as champions in their respective states, spreading awareness about the Act and encouraging other startups to register and benefit from its provisions.
“In line with the president’s mandate, our ultimate goal is to see every Nigerian digitally literate, using technology to access government and private sector services. We also want our market women to leverage technology to expand their businesses,” he added.
He stated that the iHatch model ensures investment in local capacity where national potentials can be unleashed, he said “we at NITDA are proud to walk this journey with you. Let’s keep building, let’s keep innovating, and let’s continue to shape the future of Nigeria, one innovation at a time.”
“MyLagos App,” which was launched with fanfare by the Lagos State Government in collaboration with MTN Nigeria has remained unavailable for download on app stores, raising questions about its immediate accessibility.
Hours after its official introduction on March 13, a search on Google PlayStore for the app returned the message, “No results for MyLagos App.”
Similarly, attempts to locate it on the Apple Store yielded no results, prompting concerns over the rollout’s status.
The digital platform was introduced as a comprehensive solution to enhance city navigation and improve the overall experience for Lagos residents.
It was touted to provide essential features, including real-time traffic updates, personalized navigation, emergency services, utility payments, business listings, and tourism information.
This reporter’s attempt to download the app proved unsuccessful. Furthermore, tests by Lagos-based individuals mirrored these findings, suggesting the app may not yet be publicly accessible.
The absence of the app has sparked speculation: could it be a work in progress, or was its availability restricted post-launch for undisclosed reasons?
Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, Lagos State Deputy Governor, described the app as a revolutionary tool aimed at improving governance and service delivery.
“Technology has evolved from being a luxury to a necessity. In our fast-paced world, effectively utilising technology can significantly enhance governance, improve service delivery, and simplify the lives of every resident in this vibrant state.
“With the launch of the MyLagos App, Lagos State is poised to remain at the forefront of digital transformation, not just in Nigeria but across Africa,” he said.
Abdulhakeem Giwa, manager of Digital Channel Management, MTN Nigeria, echoed this sentiment, highlighting the app’s potential to transform urban living and enhance navigation for residents.
While the app’s unavailability casts doubt on its immediate implementation, stakeholders remain optimistic about its promised benefits once fully operational. Whether technical challenges or strategic decisions have delayed its rollout remains unclear.
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