Telecom
Smartphones Face High Hacking Risk this Year – Report
Global smartphone users are expected face higher risk of hacking in 2020 when compared with the previous years.
According to report recently released, there was 54 per cent increase in data breaches in 2019 as compared to 2018, and 2020 will see significant rise in the number of mobile-focused malware and banking Trojans, a new report has predicted.
With 5G and Internet of Things (IoT) devices arriving on the horizon, data speed will increase but the speed of cyber-attacks would also rise, said the report from leading accounting and consulting firm Grant Thornton.
“Threat actors are expected to deploy advanced Artificial Intelligence (AI)-led attacks to boost the speed and impact of their campaigns. IoT will throw new challenges to data security,” said the report titled ‘Cyber Trends in 2019 and Predictions for 2020’.
“Cyber-attacks are on the rise and will continue to rise. It’s not a matter of if but a matter of when. A framework-driven approach with continuous monitoring will help companies mature their cyber security posture and address incidents proactively,” said Akshay Garkel, Partner, Cyber security & IT Risk Advisory, Grant Thornton India LLP.
According to the report, cyber security incidents including cyber bullying have skyrocketed by more than six times from the last year and data analytics will be critical to predict crime patterns and to reduce cybercrimes.
The report expects the number of smartphone users in India to reach 673 million this year.
“Ninety-five per cent of cyber security breaches are expected to arise due to human error. Human-centric security continues to be a major concern and requires people-centric solutions as well as technology,” the findings showed.
In 2019, 4.3 billion estimated records were breached as 34 per cent of reported cyber security breaches involved internal actors.
“Every 14 seconds, a ransomware attack was carried out on companies in 2019 while 71 per cent of reported breaches were financially motivated,” the report said.
Telecom
Galaxy Backbone Deploys Fibre Optic Network in Lagos, Ibadan and Ilorin
Galaxy Backbone (GBB), the information technology and shared services provider of the Federal Government of Nigeria, has announced the successful expansion of its state-of-the-art fibre optic network to Lagos, Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State in southwestern Nigeria, and Ilorin, capital of Kwara State in the north-central region.
What is described as a remarkable milestone is part of Phase II of the country’s National Information and Communication Technology Infrastructure Backbone (NICTIB) project.
With a robust cross-country optical fibre backbone now extending over 5,000 kilometres and across 27 state capitals, GBB says it has solidified its role as the digital backbone of Nigeria. This development seamlessly integrates the nation’s six geopolitical zones.
The newly completed Abuja-to-Lagos route, traversing key cities such as Minna, Bida, Mokwa, ilorin, Ogbomoso, Oyo, Ibadan and Lagos, is a strategic enhancement designed to strengthen network reliability. By establishing a closed network ring linking Lagos – the nation’s economic hub – to Abuja, the capital city, GBB says it ensures service redundancy and minimises potential downtime.
Professor Ibrahim A Adeyanju, managing director/CEO of Galaxy Backbone, says: “The expansion of our fibre optic network to Lagos, Ibadan and Ilorin is a significant step forward in our mission to bridge the digital divide and position Nigeria as a leader in the global digital economy. This advanced infrastructure empowers us to deliver innovative, customer-centric solutions that serve the needs of both the public and private sectors.”
He adds: “This expansion not only supports the government’s digital economy agenda but also sets the stage for meaningful collaboration with private sector organisations seeking to leverage our infrastructure.”
Telecom
NBS Says 25m Phones Stolen in Nigeria in 12 Months
National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has reported that over 25 million phone thefts between March 2023 and April 2024, according to its Crime Experience and Security Perception Survey 2024.
The Crime Experience and Security Perception Survey 2024, indicated that an estimated 17,965,741 people had their phones stolen during the reference period
Phone theft, which is a common individual crime in the country, shows that seven out of every 10 stolen phones happened at home or public places, with a mere 11.7% of people who reported to the police expressing satisfaction with their response.
Less than 10% of the victims of phone theft reported the case to the police, while over 90% failed to report to the police for various reasons.
“At the individual level, 21.4 per cent of Nigerians reported being victims of crime, and the most common crime was phone theft (13.8%),” the report read in part.
Telecom
Airtel Once Again Wins Partnership of the Year Award at SERAS 2024
Airtel Nigeria has once again been recognized for its commitment to sustainable development, carting away the Partnership of the Year award at the 18th edition of the Sustainability, Enterprise, and Responsibility Awards (SERAS) held at the Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, on Saturday, 14th December, 2024.
The award celebrates Airtel’s continued success with its Re-imagine Education Initiative, a ground-breaking collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) aimed at transforming education in Nigeria through technology.
Airtel’s consistent focus on creating social value through strategic partnerships reflects its position as a key enabler of progress in the Nigerian education sector.
Commenting on the award, Femi Adeniran, Director, Corporate Communications and CSR, highlighted the significance of the winning the Partnership of the Year award for the second time with the Airtel collaboration with UNICEF to provide digital access to quality educational resources for more than 1,200 schools in Nigeria.
“Winning this award for the second consecutive year is a reflection of our enduring belief in the transformative power of technology in education. We are deeply committed to making a meaningful difference in the lives of Nigerians, and this recognition fuels our resolve to do even more,” he said.
The SERAS Awards, widely regarded as Africa’s most prestigious platform for celebrating sustainability and corporate social responsibility, brought together leaders from various industries to honour organizations driving impactful change.
Airtel Nigeria remains steadfast in its mission to foster inclusive growth, empower communities, and champion a sustainable future for its stakeholders and the environment.
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