E-Business
Why the Backup is the Must-do Digital Practice
Over the past year, we’ve spent a lot of time on our digital devices and this will often have resulted in an increased volume of data and a need for additional storage.
Data can mean important personal documents, that work project you have been working on over the last few weeks or even treasured photographs that capture important moments in your life.
With data living everywhere, regular backups can be essential in protecting yourself from the loss of valuable files as well as in minimizing the damage that can be caused by malware that encrypts your data.
Many of us have found ourselves in that regrettable situation where we dropped a smartphone or spilled coffee on our laptop, leaving us with that nervous wait to find out if our device still works and has our saved data.
At best it is an inconvenience and at worst lost data will require considerable time and effort to be recovered, if it is even possible.
With malware attacks increasing over the last year and more people online than ever before, backups have become even more important. As smartphones have become an essential tool in our lives it comes as no surprise that these devices are a prime target for criminals; leading to an increase in theft. If phones aren’t recovered and the data hasn’t been backed up, then every memory on that device is gone.
As the pace of digital growth and transformation is increasing, we rely heavily on the convenience, speed and efficiency of our digital devices to help us work, live and play.
This requires greater awareness on not only about backing up our data but ensuring we use the best technology to help us do that.
Western Digital has built a trusted reputation among consumers and businesses alike with its range of storage options. As we become increasingly mobile, reliable portable external storage has become a necessity.
You don’t have to know any of the technical details to become a boss of the backup because Western Digital makes backing up your work simple — so you can focus on living. Just plug, install and relax to begin saving the content you make every day, like pictures, videos and more.
Though features like auto-back up require some configuration and additional steps but once activated are easy to navigate. You pick the drive that’s right for you, and Western Digital can handle the rest with a range of devices in a variety of sizes and capacities, so you can find the storage solution that suits your data needs.
Whether we want to enjoy our collection of movies and music or have enough space to save those photos we took during a recent staycation, storage must go where we go. This is where the ultra-thin and modern design of WD’s My PassportTM external storage delivers exceptional performance.
Extra protection is provided by the built-in AES hardware encryption to help keep your personal data safe. My Passport portable storage is ready right out of the box including all necessary cables.
It is available in capacities from 1TB to 5TB* based on your need as well as a choice of blue, white, red, and classic black colors. Mac users do not miss out either with the My Passport for Mac.
For exceptional performance look to Western Digital’s new portable SSD portfolio offering outstanding storage capacity. Save time storing and transferring data with powerful NVMe™ solid state performance featuring up to 2000MB/s** read and up to 2000MB/s** write speeds on the new SanDisk Extreme Pro® Portable SSD.
The latest My Passport SSD from WD also offers blazing fast NVMe TM technology with a bold metal design that is both stylish and durable. The drive is shock and vibration resistant and drop resistant up to 6.5 feet (1.98m), and comes in a range of colors including Gray, Blue, Red, Gold and Silver.
Recognizing the extension of your PC to include smartphones and other devices, Western Digital has also developed a range of versatile and flexible mobile storage solutions. The SanDisk Ultra® Dual Drive Luxe USB Type-C™ Flash Drive is equipped to easily move files between USB Type-C smartphone, tablets and Macs and USB Type-A computers, freeing up valuable space.
With automatic back-up for photos, videos, music, documents and contacts with the SanDisk® Memory ZoneTM app1 for Android™ (available on Google Play™) you can manage your device’s memory and content effortlessly. With up to 1TB* of storage, files can be moved quickly with up to 150MB/s** read speeds. It is also small enough to be hooked up to a keyring, so it is always with the user.
For Apple users, invest in the iXpand Flash Drive Go from SanDisk. Designed to be the perfect companion for their iPhone or iPad2, the iXpand Go Flash Drive offers an easy way to free up space, automatically backs up the camera roll3, and even lets users watch popular-format videos straight from the drive.
From there, you can transfer the files onto a Mac computer or PC or store them on the drive. Files are password protected so personal content remains private4. Available in sizes ranging from 64GB to 256GB* means there is an option for every requirement
Fifty selected young unemployed Nigerians have completed a four-week intensive digital skills bootcamp under the Digital Literacy for All (DL4ALL) initiative, gaining practical training in Data Science, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and IT Essentials.
The programme, a collaborative effort between the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and Cisco, was hosted at NITDA’s South West Zonal Office in Victoria Island, Lagos.
Speaking on behalf of the Director General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa , the Head of the South West Zonal Office, Mrs. Chioma Okee-Agugwo, described the initiative as a vital component of Nigeria’s digital future. “This is not just a closing ceremony. It is the launchpad for new journeys—anchored in digital knowledge and powered by innovation,” she remarked.
According to the Director General, the initiative is rooted in NITDA’s Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP 2.0) and reflects key focus areas including Digital Literacy, Emerging Technologies, and Youth Empowerment. It also aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which seeks to accelerate economic diversification through digitisation, innovation, and skills development.
Inuwa noted that the DL4ALL initiative forms part of Nigeria’s broader commitment to digital inclusion—ensuring that no one is left behind in the evolving digital economy. It also supports the ambitious goal of achieving 70% digital literacy by 2027, championed by the Honourable Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani. This national vision aims to equip millions of Nigerians with the skills required to thrive in a tech-driven world.
He further emphasized the importance of empowering youth with globally relevant skills. “They are no longer just consumers of technology. They are creators, innovators, and future employers,” he said.
The NITDA boss explained that throughout the bootcamp, participants engaged in hands-on learning experiences designed to build both technical proficiency and digital leadership capabilities.
“This is only the beginning,” he stated. “Through our zonal strategy, we are bringing innovation closer to local communities. This is how we democratise access and unlock Nigeria’s full digital potential.”
Inuwa expressed appreciation to Cisco for delivering high-impact training and called on stakeholders to continue investing in partnerships, people, and platforms that drive digital inclusion.
He asserted that the newly certified participants are now equipped to contribute meaningfully to Nigeria’s digital economy—armed with the skills to build solutions, secure infrastructure, and launch tech ventures that solve real-world problems.
At the end of the bootcamp, participants demonstrated their knowledge through impressive presentations that showcased the integration of skills acquired across Data Science, AI, and IT Essentials. Many spoke passionately about how the programme had expanded their technical competence and sparked a drive to create job opportunities—not only for themselves but also for others—as entrepreneurs and digital solution providers in their communities.
Coinbase forecast a hit of between $180m and $400m from a cyberattack that breached account data of a “small subset” of its customers, the crypto exchange said in a regulatory filing on Thursday.
The company received an anonymous email on May 11, claiming to have information about certain customer accounts as well as internal documents.
While some data — including names, addresses and emails — was stolen, the hackers did not get access to login credentials or passwords, Coinbase said.
Still, it will reimburse customers who were tricked into sending funds to the attackers.
Hackers had paid multiple contractors and employees working in support roles outside the US to collect information.
The company has fired those involved, it said.
Separately, the New York Times reported that the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) was investigating whether the company had misstated its user numbers.
Coinbase shares extended losses after the report and were last down 6.5%.
“This is a hold-over investigation from the prior administration about a metric we stopped reporting two-and-a-half years ago, which was fully disclosed to the public,” said Paul Grewal, Coinbase’s chief legal officer.
“While we strongly believe this investigation should not continue, we remain committed to working with the SEC to bring this matter to a close.”
The SEC declined to comment.
The latest developments come days before the company is set to join the benchmark S&P 500 index, casting a shadow over what was expected to be a landmark moment for the crypto industry.
Security remains a challenge for the crypto industry despite its growing mainstream acceptance.
In February, Bybit disclosed a hack in which about $1.5bn worth of digital tokens were stolen — widely described the biggest crypto heist ever.
“The cyberattack may push the industry to adopt stricter employee vetting and introduce some reputational risks,” said Bo Pei, an analyst at US Tiger Securities.
Funds stolen by hacking crypto platforms amounted to $2.2bn in 2024, according to a report from Chainalysis, a US-based blockchain analysis firm.
“As our nascent industry grows rapidly, it draws the eye of bad actors, who are becoming increasingly sophisticated in the scope of their attacks,” said Nick Jones, founder of crypto firm Zumo.
Coinbase has refused to pay a ransom of $20m demanded by the attackers and is working with law enforcement agencies. Instead it has established a $20m reward for information on the hackers.
The company is also opening a new support hub in the US and taking other measures to prevent such cyberattacks, it said.
The Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA) presents its report on .ng domain name registration and renewal statistics for the first quarter of 2025, highlighting the continued expansion of Nigeria’s digital footprint. The data underscores a consistent and significant adoption of the nation’s Country Code Top-Level Domain (ccTLD), reinforcing its pivotal role in the burgeoning Nigerian digital economy.
During the period spanning January to March 2025, a total of 40,791 .ng domain names were recorded. This figure comprises 22,236 new registrations and 18,555 renewals, indicating a healthy balance between the acquisition of new digital identities and the sustained commitment of existing domain name holders to their online presence.
Analysis of the registration trends within the quarter reveals a notable upward trajectory, with a 13.92% increase in domain name registrations observed between February and March 2025.
This growth signifies an increasing recognition of the importance of a localized online identity by a diverse range of stakeholders, including individuals, startups, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs), and larger organizations.
Notably, the .com.ng extension continues to be the dominant choice, accounting for over 60% of both new registrations and renewals. This reaffirms its status as the preferred domain name extension for Nigerian businesses seeking to establish a credible and locally relevant online brand presence while maintaining global accessibility. The sustained popularity of .com.ng underscores its perceived value among Nigerian entrepreneurs and enterprises seeking to secure their digital real estate.
This upward trajectory isn’t happening by chance. The Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA) has remained intentional in its drive for digital inclusion and domain adoption. Through public education, training via the .ng Academy, outreach campaigns, and partnerships with stakeholders across the tech ecosystem, NiRA has consistently advocated for the importance of owning a local domain. The current standing of .ng as the second most registered ccTLD in Africa reflects the efficacy of these efforts.
Digital adoption in Nigeria is no longer just about being online—it’s about owning your digital identity. And with a .ng domain, Nigerians are better positioned to assert that identity, connect with local and international audiences, and gain better control over their digital footprints.
As we look toward the rest of 2025, the Q1 results serve as a strong signal: more people are embracing the digital future, and the .ng domain is increasingly becoming their first step.
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