Tech

Strengthening Africa’s Cybersecurity for a Fortified Digital Economy

Published

1 year ago

July 27, 2023

Freelancer

In today’s interconnected world, the rapid digitization of economies has brought immense opportunities for growth and development, and Africa is no exception.

With the continent experiencing a surge in internet access and mobile penetration, Africa’s digital economy holds significant promise.

To unlock its full potential, the African digital market, characterised by digital payments, e-commerce, some of the best options trading platforms, and more, needs robust cybersecurity measures.

However, with this growth comes an alarming rise in cyber threats, necessitating urgent action to fortify Africa’s cybersecurity landscape and protect its digital future.

best options trading platforms

To address this problem, global management consultancy Kearney has developed a white paper titled “Cybersecurity in Africa: A Call to Action.” It sheds light on the pressing need for Africa to enhance its cybersecurity resilience. Before we discuss strengthening Africa’s cybersecurity, it would be best to have an overview of this paper.

Africa’s Cybersecurity Gap

The potential of Africa’s internet economy to significantly contribute to its overall economic growth is undeniable. However, to unlock this potential, the continent must address the pressing issue of cybersecurity.

The impact of cybercrime on Africa’s GDP has already been substantial, causing a reduction of over 10% in 2021 and incurring a staggering cost of $4.12 billion.

Recent reports from Statista.com shed light on the severity of the situation. In 2022, about 31% of surveyed companies in East Africa experienced cyber-attacks, surpassing the rate in the Southern Africa region, where approximately 23% of businesses reported similar attacks. These numbers highlight the urgent need for robust cybersecurity measures across the continent.

Globally, the seriousness of cybercrime is evident. Nearly 1 billion emails are exposed yearly, affecting 1 in 5 internet users. The financial consequences are substantial, with data breaches costing businesses an average of $4.35 million in 2022.

The alarming 236.1 million ransomware attacks occurring worldwide in the first half of 2022 further emphasises the scale of the challenge. Phishing remains the most common cyber threat facing businesses and individuals worldwide.

Within Africa, specific countries have faced significant cybercrime challenges. South Africa has reported many cybercrime victims, while Nigeria struggles with malware-infected applications on mobile phones.

Additionally, the alarming allegations of cyber espionage at the African Union’s headquarters underscore the critical need for strengthened cybersecurity measures.

The uniqueness of Africa’s situation lies in its potential for economic growth through the internet economy, juxtaposed against the growing threat of cybercrime that poses severe risks to this potential.

Addressing cybersecurity issues is crucial for Africa to safeguard its economic interests, protect its citizens and businesses, and pave the way for a prosperous digital future.

African leaders and stakeholders must prioritise cybersecurity efforts and work together to fortify the continent’s digital landscape for a secure and prosperous future.

Africa Union’s Approach to Cybersecurity

Despite the challenges, some African countries have committed to strengthening their cybersecurity landscape. Ghana, for example, has invested in a robust cybersecurity structure, becoming a potential model for other African countries.

Additionally, several African states have adopted national strategies for cybersecurity, and regional collaborations have been established to develop frameworks and build capacity.

The 2014 African Union’s adoption of the Malabo Convention report on Cyber Security and Personal Data Protection was a significant step toward a unified approach to cybersecurity.

Although the progress has been slow, with only 8 out of 54 African countries adopting a national strategy on cybersecurity by 2018, it remains a crucial foundation for future efforts.

In 2019, the AU hosted the Global Forum on Cyber Expertise (GFCE) in Ethiopia, a platform to strengthen cyber capacity and expertise globally. Additionally, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) adopted a regional strategy for cybersecurity in 2021, showing a commitment to tackle cyber threats collectively.

While the African Union (AU) has tried to enhance cybersecurity collaboration through the African Union Convention on Cyber Security and Personal Data Protection, broader participation and a more robust coordination mechanism are still needed.

Harmonising cybersecurity policies and strategies across the continent will ensure a unified and effective defence against cyber threats.

Some African countries have already developed national cybersecurity strategies, but the white paper stresses the importance of accelerating these efforts and achieving regional coherence.

By doing so, Africa can present a united front against cyber threats and position itself as a formidable force in the digital economy.

Accelerating the Gains

While commendable progress has been made, more must be done to fortify Africa’s digital economy. African leaders must increase their efforts and allocate more resources to cybersecurity initiatives. Prioritising improved infrastructure, raising awareness, and engaging in strategic collaborations at the global level are essential steps.

African regional bodies such as the African Union and ECOWAS must focus on cybersecurity capacity building, encompassing technical expertise and policy development.

Collaboration between African countries and external stakeholders for peer learning and sharing best practices is critical to bolster the continent’s cybersecurity defences. Countries like Tanzania and Mauritius, which have excelled in the ITU’s Global Cybersecurity Index, can serve as role models.

Solutions for Africa’s Cybersecurity Challenge

One of Africa’s most significant challenges in combating cyber threats is the lack of cybersecurity talent and resources.

There is a critical shortage of just 7,000 certified security professionals for a population of approximately 1.24 billion people. The continent urgently needs to bridge the 100,000-person gap in certified cybersecurity professionals to counter cyber threats effectively.

Furthermore, Africa’s commitment to cybersecurity and its capacity to respond to threats remain lower than other continents, as indicated by the International Telecommunication Union’s ranking.

The paper by Kearney emphasises the importance of a comprehensive agenda that addresses the core challenges faced by Africa’s cybersecurity ecosystem.

It talks about elevating cybersecurity on the regional policy agenda, which entails recognizing cybersecurity as a top priority and ensuring it is an agenda at the highest levels within regional economic dialogues.

By placing cybersecurity at the forefront of these discussions, African countries can work together to develop harmonised policies that are robust and effective in countering cyber threats.

Secondly, it calls for sustained commitment to cybersecurity. Cyber threats constantly evolve, and Africa must demonstrate an unwavering commitment to staying ahead.

It calls for consistent investment in cybersecurity infrastructure, research, and training to ensure that the continent remains proactive in the face of emerging challenges.

The third point on the agenda is fortifying the cybersecurity ecosystem. In its argument, the firm says traditional fragmented approaches to cybersecurity can leave vulnerabilities unaddressed.

It, therefore, calls for a collaborative effort among stakeholders to defend against sophisticated attacks that can simultaneously target multiple entities. Public-private partnerships, information sharing, and cross-border collaboration are vital components of this fortified ecosystem.

Lastly, it calls on Africa to build next-generation cybersecurity capabilities for Africa’s long-term cybersecurity resilience. Such a move would involve investing in education and skill development to nurture a pool of cybersecurity experts within the continent.

Developing local expertise will strengthen Africa’s defences and open up new opportunities for innovation and technology-driven growth.

The white paper also highlights the increasing attractiveness of Africa as a target for cyber threats. Cybercriminals view Africa as a lucrative playground as the region’s internet access and mobile penetration continue to expand.

Coupled with the fact that cyberattacks and reputational damage cost the continent over $3.5 billion annually, it underscores the urgency for action.

Closing Remarks

Africa stands at a critical juncture in its digital transformation journey. As the continent continues to embrace the digital economy, bolstering cybersecurity is imperative to secure its potential for economic growth and innovation.

The white paper by Kearney serves as a wake-up call, urging African nations to take decisive action, elevate cybersecurity on their policy agendas, foster collaboration, and invest in the next generation of cybersecurity capabilities. Through concerted efforts, Africa can fortify its digital economy and ensure a prosperous and secure future.

Tech

US: A Judge Mandates that Google Allow Competing App Stores to Access Android

Published

2 months ago

October 8, 2024

Salman

(VOR News) – The ruling is that Google, the greatest technology firm in the world, is required to make its Android smartphone operating system available to merchants that supply applications that are in direct rivalry with Google’s. This decision was reached by a judge in the United States of America.

The Android Play store, which is owned and operated by Google, was found to be an example of an illegal monopoly arrangement by a jury in the state of California on Monday. The finding was reached by a jury. Monday is the day that this decision was come to.

An earlier federal judge ruled Google’s search engine illegal.

This finding, which came after that decision, has forced the company to suffer yet another setback. As a result of the corporation having already encountered its initial obstacle, this decision has been established. This particular decision was made by the judge during the month of August, when the month was in progress.

In light of the fact that the decision was made, what exactly does it mean that the choice was accepted?

In accordance with the verdict, Google is obligated to make it possible for users to download Android app stores that are offered by third-party competitors. For a period of three years, the corporation is prohibited from imposing restrictions on the usage of payment mechanisms that are integrated into the application.

In addition, it is important to keep in mind that Google does not possess the right to impose restrictions on the utilization of ways to make payments online.

Additionally, the verdict makes it unlawful for Google to give money to manufacturers of smartphones in order to preinstall its app store. Smartphone manufacturers are prohibited from doing so.

Furthermore, it prevents Google from the possibility of sharing the revenue that is generated by the Play store with other companies that are in the industry of delivering mobile applications.

In addition to this, the court has mandated the establishment of a technical committee that will be made up of three different people chosen at random.

The committee will be responsible for monitoring the implementation of the reforms and finding solutions to any disagreements that may occur as a consequence of the implementation of the reforms while they are being implemented. This task will fall under the committee’s purview so that it may fulfill its duties.

However, certain components were allowed to be put into action until July 1st, despite the fact that the judge’s statement suggested that the ruling would take effect on November 1st. The statement was the basis for the ruling, which ultimately became effective.

Particularly, I wanted to know what Google’s reaction would be.

There is a fact that Google does not adhere to this directive, which has been brought to their attention. This document argued that the alterations that the judge had ordered to be made would “cause a range of unintended consequences that will harm American consumers, developers, and device makers.”

The judge had ordered the modifications to be implemented. The alterations were to be carried out as indicated by the judge’s ruling. The judge made it clear that he expected these revisions to be carried out in accordance with his guidance.

The company’s regulatory affairs vice president, Lee-Anne Mulholland, provided the following statement: “We look forward to continuing to make our case on appeal, and we will continue to advocate for what is best for developers, device manufacturers, and the billions of Android users around the world.”

On average, over seventy percent of the total market for smartphones and other mobile devices is comprised of mobile devices that are powered by the Android operating system. Both smartphones and other small mobile devices are included in this category.

In the event that the Play app store continues to be shown on the home page and that other Google applications are pre-installed prior to the installation of the Android application, smartphone manufacturers are entitled to install the Android application at no cost at their discretion.

Additionally, the Android application can be installed on devices that are manufactured for smartphones.

SOURCE: DWN

Tech

WhatsApp Now Features a “Mention” Tool for Status Updates and Stories.

Published

2 months ago

October 6, 2024

Salman

(VOR News) – Those who use WhatsApp now have the ability to mention other people in their stories or status updates as a consequence of a feature that was only recently enabled on the platform.

Previous to this point, this capability was not available. It wasn’t until quite recently that this capability became available to the public.

According to the information that was provided by the company, users now have the opportunity to tag close friends in their stories, and the person who is mentioned will have the option to go back and re-share an earlier version of that story. This information was provided by the company. The corporation was kind enough to reveal this information to us.

Because of a new feature that has been added to the WhatsApp app, users now have the opportunity to like individual stories and status updates.

This capability was previously unavailable to WhatsApp users.

A significant amount of progress has been made in this context. Alternative readers now have the chance to “like” a work, which is comparable to liking a post on Facebook. This feature was introduced in recent years. When compared to the past, this is a tremendous shift.

At one point in time, viewers were only permitted to observe the total number of views that a particular story had gotten. These restrictions were eliminated in later versions of the software.

Additionally, it is essential that the likes and reactions to a story be kept anonymous during the entire process. One of the factors that contributes to the general mystery that surrounds this characteristic is the fact that this is one of the elements.

The person who brought it to the attention of others is the only person who will be able to judge who enjoyed it and who did not care about it. These individuals will be able to make this determination.

A notification will be issued to the individual who was referenced earlier in the sentence and who was named in the story or status update that was discussed. A notification of this nature will be sent to the individual via WhatsApp.

This message will be sent to the user in question whenever that person makes a reference to another person while they are in the process of elaborating on a narrative or updating their status. You will receive a notification alerting you that you have been tagged in the narrative.

This notification will be delivered to the person who receives this message. In addition, students will be provided with the opportunity to re-share the tale for themselves.

It is important to note that if the names of individuals who have been referenced in a narrative or a status update are included in any of these, then the names of those individuals will not be accessible to any third party through any of these. In light of the fact that the identities of those individuals will be concealed from public disclosure, this is the condition that will be required.

While WhatsApp recently made the announcement that it will be incorporating this functionality, it is highly likely that not all users will have access to it at the same time.

This is despite the fact that WhatsApp recently made this announcement.

Despite the fact that WhatsApp has only recently made a public announcement that it will move forward with the deployment, this is the situation that has presented itself.

As soon as a short period of time has elapsed, access will be made available to each and every person on the entire world.

Additionally, WhatsApp has hinted that new functionalities might be introduced to the status and updates tab in the future months.

The purpose of these capabilities is to provide users with assistance in maintaining healthy connections with the individuals who play a vital role in their living experiences. This is done in order to give users with support in maintaining close relationships with the folks who are the subject of the inquiry.

It is with the purpose of supporting users in successfully keeping close ties with the individuals in question that this step is taken.

SOURCE: DN

Tech

Over The Planned “Link Tax” Bill, Google Threatens to Remove NZ News Links.

Published

2 months ago

October 4, 2024

Salman

(VOR News) – Google has sent a strong message to the New Zealand government, threatening to stop boosting local news content should the Fair Digital News Bargaining Bill become law.

The law, put up by the Labour government and backed by the coalition in power at the moment, mandates that digital companies such as Google pay back news organizations for links to their material.

News publishers, on the other hand, charge the tech giant with “corporate bullying.”

Google says this measure may have unanticipated effects.

Google New Zealand’s country director, Caroline Rainsford, voiced her worries that the law, which is being referred to as a “link tax,” is not doing enough to support the media industry in New Zealand right now.

She underlined that Google would have to make major adjustments if the previously mentioned law were to pass, including cutting off links to news articles from its Search, News, and Discover platforms and cutting off financial ties with regional publications.

According to Rainsford, similar legislation has been proposed and approved in other nations including Australia and Canada, but it has not been proven to be effective there and breaches the principles of the open web.

She drew attention to the fact that smaller media outlets will be most negatively impacted, which will limit their capacity to reach prospective audiences.

Google says its alternative options will protect smaller, local media from negative effects.

Conversely, it conveys apprehension regarding the possible fiscal obligations and vagueness of the legislation, which it feels generates an intolerable level of ambiguity for enterprises functioning within New Zealand.

The New Zealand News Publishers Association (NPA) has reacted to Google’s warnings by alleging that the internet behemoth is using coercive tactics.

They specifically contend that the need for regulation stems from the market distortion that Google and other tech giants have created, which has fueled their expansion into some of the most significant corporations in global history.

The legislation aims to create a more equal framework that media businesses can use to negotiate commercial relationships with technological platforms that profit from their content.

New Zealand Media Editors CEO Michael Boggs stated that he was in favor of the bill, citing the fact that Google now makes a substantial profit from material created by regional publications.

He also emphasized that the use of artificial intelligence by Google—which frequently makes references to news articles without giving credit to the original sources—highlights the significance of enacting legislation.

Paul Goldsmith, the Minister of Media and Communications, has stated that the government is now evaluating various viewpoints and is still in the consultation phase.

He stated that the government and Google have been having continuous talks and will keep up these ongoing discussions.

However, not all political parties accept the validity of the Act.

The ACT Party’s leader, David Seymour, has voiced his displeasure of the proposal, saying that Google is a game the government is “playing chicken” with. He threatened the smaller media companies, saying that they would suffer from worse search engine rankings if the internet giant followed through on its promises.

Seymour contended that it is not the government’s responsibility to shield companies from shifts in the market brought about by consumer preferences.

The things that have happened in other nations are similar to what has happened in New Zealand.

Google has agreements with a number of Australian media firms that are in compliance with its News Media Bargaining Code. These agreements contain provisions that permit an annual cancellation of these agreements.

Due to the government’s decision to exempt Google from the Online News Act, the company has committed to supporting news dissemination by contributing annually to the Canadian journalistic community.

The New Zealand measure is consistent with global approaches aimed at regulating the relationships that exist between technology corporations and media organizations.

It’s hard to say what will happen with the Fair Digital News Bargaining Bill as the discussion goes on. Google and the New Zealand media landscape are preparing for what might be a protracted legal battle.

SOURCE: TET