The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has contracted a German firm- HJP Consulting, to provide Consulting and Test Services for the ongoing national identity card (eID card) project, TheMaiguard Post has learnt. Other technologies and suppliers aboard the project include: MasterCard‘s prepaid functionality, Pakistan’s NADRA System, NXP Semiconductors‘ SmartMX secure microcontrollers, and Smart Packaging Solutions (SPS) micro-module technology....read on : http://www.themaiguard.com/2013/11/german-eid-consultancy-firm-to-provide-testing-services-to-nimc/

The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has contracted a German firm- HJP Consulting, to provide Consulting and Test Services for the ongoing national identity card (eID card) project, TheMaiguard Post has learnt. Other technologies and suppliers aboard the project include: MasterCard‘s prepaid functionality, Pakistan’s NADRA System, NXP Semiconductors‘ SmartMX secure microcontrollers, and Smart Packaging Solutions (SPS) micro-module technology....read on : http://www.themaiguard.com/2013/11/german-eid-consultancy-firm-to-provide-testing-services-to-nimc/

he Internet can be a dark and dangerous place, filled with all kinds of viruses, spyware, hackers, phishing sites, etc. You therefore cannot afford to be unprotected. However this can be costly for the average computer owner in Nigeria especially as you’re required to pay again and again every year to stay up-to-date. This has forced most users to resort to buying pirated copies which of course is illegal and most times ineffective.

Given the quality of free antivirus products currently available, there’s just no excuse for going without protection or buying pirated copies. So if you’re tired of buying annual antivirus subscriptions, read on…
http://www.themaiguard.com/2013/11/6-best-free-anti-virus-software-you-can-trust/

Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA), Abuja Chapter is delighted to invite you to her 3-day International Conference dated 26th – 28th November, 2013. The conference is the flagship of IT Governance, Information Systems Security and Assurance as well as enterprise Risk Management educational programme in Nigeria and always attracts the interest of renowned professionals in the Nigerian ICT industry and beyond. It provides valuable platform for policy dialogue, professional training and networking among participants. click the link below for details:
http://www.themaiguard.com/ai1ec_event/293/?instance_id=32

Microsoft recently released its January-to-June 2013 Security Intelligence Report (SIR). The timing of the report seem a bit awkward though, as we’re already two-thirds of the way through the next reporting period. The report also contains infection rates and threat trends in 106 locations worldwide including Nigeria. Details here: http://www.themaiguard.com/2013/11/latest-malware-infection-rates-and-threat-trends-in-nigeria-microsoft-security-report/

Microsoft recently released its January-to-June 2013 Security Intelligence Report (SIR). The timing of the report seem a bit awkward though, as we’re already two-thirds of the way through the next reporting period. The report also contains infection rates and threat trends in 106 locations worldwide including Nigeria. Details here: http://www.themaiguard.com/2013/11/latest-malware-infection-rates-and-threat-trends-in-nigeria-microsoft-security-report/

BYOD is making significant inroads in the business world. Whether you’re an IT administrator or end user, BYOD is becoming the rule rather than the exception in today’s workplace. Although it may be a convenience to your employees, you need to think about its impact on your organization’s corporate security programme.
Check it out: http://www.themaiguard.com/2013/10/tech-talk-live-it-experts-discuss-everything-byod-video/

Here is another niche blogging site about Information Security:
TheMaiguard Post: http://www.themaiguard.com

The Nigerian government has formally inaugurated the Smart Identity Cards (ID) programme powered by the system developed by National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA).Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan at a ceremony in the capital Abuja was among the first to enrol for national identity cards issued through the new system.
Read More: http://www.themaiguard.com/2013/10/nigeria-adopts-pakistans-nadra-system-for-nimcs-smart-id-card-programme/

In the last few years, our lives have become more intertwined, due to increased online interactions on social media sites such as Facebook. It is therefore not surprising that social media sites are constant targets for spam, scams and other online attacks. According to Mark Risher, CEO of Impermium(anti-spam software company), spammers own as much as 40% of the accounts on social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter.
Read More: http://www.themaiguard.com/2013/10/we-have-been-invaded-by-email-scammers-on-facebook/

If you are an ethical hacker or security professional, you may be interested in this Nigerian IT security site: http://www.themaiguard.com
There you can share your exploits, research work and many more...
Here is a few posts:
http://www.themaiguard.com/2013/10/virus-alert-ransom-demanding-trojan-on-the-loose-on-the-internet/
http://www.themaiguard.com/2013/10/japan-needs-80000-extra-information-security-professionals/
http://www.themaiguard.com/2013/09/nigerian-yahoo-boys-exposed/

In the last few years, our lives have become more intertwined, due to increased online interactions on social media sites such as Facebook. It is therefore not surprising that social media sites are constant targets for spam, scams and other online attacks. According to Mark Risher, CEO of Impermium(anti-spam software company), spammers own as much as 40% of the accounts on social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter. They use these fraudulent accounts to infiltrate legitimate users with....Read More: http://www.themaiguard.com/2013/10/we-have-been-invaded-by-email-scammers-on-facebook/

Technology is quickly transforming business operations and public services in Nigeria. We are witnessing an unprecedented growth in e-commerce and digital government adoption. The choice of the theme for the Nigerian Computer Society (NCS) 2013 international conference – e-Government and National Security attests to this fact. Businesses, government agencies, health sector, educational institutions, etc are increasingly making their services assessable online via database driven web portals. Unfortunately, some if not most of these online services are probably....
Read More@: http://www.themaiguard.com/2013/09/making-case-modern-datacenters-nigeria

A few days ago I was going through my mails on Gmail when I noticed a flashing pop-up notifying me of changes to Google’s terms of service. At first I ignored it, but somehow it kept flashing so I reluctantly clicked to read. You can find the...
Read More: http://www.themaiguard.com/2013/10/google-ads-may-now-feature-your-face-and-name-without-your-consent/

By Tony Bradley (Via PC World)

With BlackBerry on life support, it’s time to accept the likelihood that there won’t be a BlackBerry a year from now. Your business will be in for a rude awakening if it relies on the once-mighty smartphone for mobile communication and productivity.

You don’t need to abandon BlackBerry immediately and run for the lifeboats, but you do need to....
Read More@: http://www.themaiguard.com/2013/10/five-things-you-must-do-to-prepare-for-the-end-of-blackberry/

A new deadly ransomware virus is currently spreading like wildfire across the Internet and infecting computers. Users of infected computers are in danger of losing their personal files forever – yes forever! The virus known as Cryptolocker was discovered recently by security researchers and is mostly targeting corporate organizations. The infection was originally spread via emails that pretend to be customer support related issues from companies such as FedEx, UPS, DHL, etc. There are also reports of PCs getting.....
Read more@: http://www.themaiguard.com/2013/10/virus-alert-ransom-demanding-trojan-on-the-loose-on-the-internet/

Virus alert: Ransom demanding Trojan on the loose on the Internet
A new deadly ransomware virus is currently spreading like wildfire across the Internet and infecting computers. Users of infected computers are in danger of losing their personal files forever – yes forever! The virus known as Cryptolocker was discovered recently by security researchers and is mostly targeting corporate organizations. The infection was originally spread via emails that pretend to be....
Read More@: http://www.themaiguard.com/2013/10/virus-alert-ransom-demanding-trojan-on-the-loose-on-the-internet/

http://www.themaiguard.com/2013/09/making-case-modern-datacenters-nigeria

Making a case for modern datacenters in Nigeria


Technology is quickly transforming business operations and public services in Nigeria. We are witnessing an unprecedented growth in e-commerce and digital government adoption. The choice of the theme for the Nigerian Computer Society (NCS) 2013 international conference – e-Government and National Security attests to this fact. Businesses, government agencies, health sector, educational institutions, etc are increasingly making their services assessable online via database driven web portals. Unfortunately, some if not most of these online services are probably hosted offshore in foreign data centers located mostly in the U.S; making them subject to the U.S Patriot Act and Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). This raises genuine national security concerns especially as sensitive data are involved. The recent revelations by the former U.S NSA contractor Edward Snowden once again calls for a rethink in this practice.

A recent survey conducted by Cloud Security Alliance (U.S based nonprofit organization that establishes security for cloud computing) showed that foreign companies are now reluctant to use US-based cloud services after Snowden’s NSA leaks. John Naughton (Emeritus Professor of the Public Understanding of Technology at the British Open University) in his article Edward Snowden’s not the story. The fate of the internet is puts it this way:

“The fact is that Google, Facebook, Yahoo, Amazon, Apple and Microsoft are all integral components of the US cyber-surveillance system. Nothing, but nothing, that is stored in their “cloud” services can be guaranteed to be safe from surveillance or from illicit downloading by employees of the consultancies employed by the NSA. That means that if you’re thinking of outsourcing your troublesome IT operations to, say, Google or Microsoft, then think again.

And if you think that sounds like the paranoid fantasizing of a newspaper columnist, then consider what Neelie Kroes, vice-president of the European Commission, had to say on the matter recently. “If businesses or governments think they might be spied on,” she said, “they will have less reason to trust the cloud, and it will be cloud providers who ultimately miss out. Why would you pay someone else to hold your commercial or other secrets, if you suspect or know they are being shared against your wishes? Front or back door – it doesn’t matter – any smart person doesn’t want the information shared at all. Customers will act rationally and providers will miss out on a great opportunity.”

Spot on. So when your chief information officer proposes to use the Amazon or Google cloud as a data-store for your company’s confidential documents, tell him where to file the proposal. In the shredder.”

Consequently, the need for private clouds and high-end data centers (tier 1, 2, 3 & 4) in Nigeria cannot be overemphasized. The advancements in virtualization technology pioneered by VMware and the many international fiber cables (pioneered by Globacom, MainOne Cable and WACS) terminating at the shores of Lagos have a least reduced some perceived technological and infrastructural concerns. Thankfully, some private organizations are beginning to realize the business potential of a localized datacenter and are channeling funds in that direction. There are already reports of ongoing construction of tier 3 and 4 datacenters in Nigeria by companies such as MainOne Cable, Venema Advies, BCX Nigeria and Globacom.

It now behooves on the Nigeria government to create the enabling business environment for these projects to succeed and remain sustainable. Stable power supply, security, policies, and proper legislation & regulation remain the key success criteria.

Your comments and suggestions are welcome.