Danbatta: ‘We must protect Nigeria against Cyber-attacks’
Telecoms Consumers Sensitized on Safe Practices Online
The federal government through the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) is on the verge of introducing Internet and Phone Etiquette policy as one of the interventions to checkmate cyber-attack on Nigeria and Nigerians online.
The Executive Vice Chairman NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta made this known at the 53rd Edition of Consumer Town Hall Meeting (CTM) held on Thursday at Ilora, in Oyo state.
Present at the forum were retail and enterprise internet-data subscribers, telecommunication consumers, civil society groups, communication advocacy groups, Internet Service Providers (ISPs), Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) and senior staff members of the commission among other industry stakeholders.
Burning issues in the voice and data sector as it affects consumers and service providers’ top agenda of the one-day forum with the theme: “Mitigating Effects of Cybercrimes: The Roles of Telecom Consumers”.
Dnabatta who was represented at the forum by NCC’s, Deputy Director, Consumer Affairs Bureau, Alhaji Ismail Adedigba, explained that the commission has reached a final stage in the process of instituting the Internet Code of Practice policy for the telecom industry.
According to Danbatta the Internet Code Policy when eventually instituted will foster safe and appropriate conduct on the internet and, will by extension keep mobile and enterprise internet users safe against cyber-attacks and the country at large.
He explained further that “since the liberalization of the telecoms industry, there has been an unprecedented increase in the usage of Internet-based solutions and services in Nigeria. NCC deems it necessary to institute an Internet Industry Code of Practice to guide the governance process and addressing attendant challenges of stakeholders.
“The Internet Code is a regulatory intervention expected to secure the country’s cyber space against imminent threats from cyber attackers as well as addressing issues such as online child protection, privacy and data protection among others.”
According to Danbatta who noted that while the regulatory intervention and other initiatives are ongoing to sanitise, and protect the country on the internet space, explained that telecoms consumers really have a major role to play.
He there advised internet users to be cautious of the type of information they post online and urged them to imbibe responsible Internet and phone usage etiquette.
However, the said NCC has mapped out sensitisations programs against the waves of cybercrimes for telecommunication consumers nationwide.
“For national security and citizenry protection, consumers need to be aware not only on the danger and the implications of cybercrimes but also about the role they are expected to play as telecoms consumers in the bid to reducing the impacts of Cybercrimes in the country. This really informed by the commission have to bring together telecom consumers in the Urban and Suburban areas to a forum like this one,” he said.
“Hacking of phones, data identity theft, and sim-card replacement methodology are some of the common hacking practices and before you know it will just shut down your phone and before you know they have swindled all your money.
“Again, consumers should know what to do on protect from being victims of these cyber criminals. Many Nigerians had lost their lives as a result of trauma caused them by ICT fraudsters, so consumers must protect their personal data from being stolen by them.
“These fraudsters attack consumers on social media, website where consumers carry out financial transactions by using credit/debit cards. Our mobile devices and computers are the targets of yahoo boys.
“So, users must be aware that this fraud and attacks can emanate from any part of the world as long as the devices are connected to the global super highway known as Internet.
“So, we must take precautions on our SIM cards by not using pre-registered cards. Follow guidelines on SIM replacement and when you lose your phone or SIM, quickly contact your bank and place ‘no debit’ instruction on your account,” he advised.
