Nigeria Ranked Sixth In Internet Security Threat

This year’s Internet Security Threat Report has ranked Nigeria sixth for overall Internet security threat and third in Africa for virus activities.

According to a report, which was released yesterday by global security firm, Symantec Corporation, Nigeria is ranked sixth in Africa after South Africa, Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria and Mauritius.

The report also stated that, globally, her overall security threat profile improved from being ranked 59th in 2011 to 68th in 2012.

Confirming the report, Mr. Oseme Osobase, the Territory Manager, West Africa, Symantec said; “This year’s Internet Security Threat Report shows that cyber-criminals aren’t slowing down and they continue to devise new ways to steal information from organisations of all sizes.

“The sophistication of attacks coupled with today’s IT complexities, such as mobility and cloud, require organisations to remain proactive and use ‘defence in depth’ security measures to stay ahead of attacks,” Oseme said.

The report revealed that there was a 42 per cent surge during 2012 in targeted attacks compared to the previous year, and that the manufacturing sector as well as small businesses made up 31 percent (a threefold increase from 2011) of targeted attacks.

Speaking on security attacks by cyber-criminals on small businesses, Oseme said, “Attackers home in on small businesses that may often lack adequate security practices and infrastructure.”


The report also showed that Web-based attacks increased by 30 per cent in 2012, many of which originated from the compromised websites of small businesses.

Further report cautioned that social media websites already combine elements of an operating system, a communications platform, and an advertising network. With the use of mobile and add payment mechanisms, they will attract even more attention from online criminals with malware, phishing, spam, and scams.

The United States and United Kingdom are ranked at the top of the profile with very high security threats.

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Thuraya Phones Banned In States On Emergency Rule

The Joint Task Force, JTF, on Wednesday banned, indefinitely, the use of thuraya phones in all states under emergency rule.

Thuraya phones are based on satellite technology and do not rely on any of the existing GSM networks in Nigerian to function.

The Islamic fundamentalist sect, Boko Haram, have reportedly resorted to using thuraya phones to coordinate attacks since mobile communication was largely suspended by the military.

The ban on thuraya may worsen the communication challenges being faced by residents in the affected states as GSM networks have been largely shut for about five weeks since the emergency rule declaration.

The Spokesman of the Joint Task Force, Sagir Musa, said in a statement made available to journalists that the ban on thuraya became necessary as military intelligence revealed that terrorists now coordinate their attacks using the device.

The JTF said recent attacks on schools and killing of students by Boko Haram were carried out using thuraya devices.

“The attention of the JTF has been drawn to the use of Thuraya phones by Boko Haram Terrorists to coordinate their recent assassination of civilians especially schools and some Imams”.

“Therefore, with effect from 19 June, 2013, the JTF impose ban on the use and sale of Thuraya phones and accessories including Thuraya recharge cards in Borno States, Anyone seen with Thuraya phones, recharge cards and accessories will be arrested.

“The JTF seeks for the continued cooperation and understanding of the public on this ban in order to enhance security of lives and property in Borno State,” the statement read.

Gunmen kill 48 in Zamfara

.Clerics, Village Head among victims

Gunmen yesterday raided a village in Zamfara State and killed at least 48 people including the district head, chief imam and the local vigilante leader.

The attack in Kizara village of Tsafe local government area started at about 4am and lasted for more than five hours, residents told a Daily Trust reporter who visited the area soon after the incident.

Witnesses said dozens of unidentified gunmen arrived on motorbikes, and laid siege on the village, firing at residents.

Some of the gunmen climbed a hill behind the village and shot at people trying to escape the attack as well as those trying to come in to help from neighbouring villages.

The gunmen also went house-to-house, shooting men dead. They told residents that they were looking for vigilante members who they said were threatening them for a long time.

During the attack, chief imam of the village, his deputy and three of his disciples were killed. Also shot dead were 11 people who came in from neighbouring villages to offer help.

The gunmen also set fire to many houses and shops before they fled the village around 9 am.

Residents said the Divisional Police Officer in charge of Keta division engaged the attackers in a shootout for hours but he was overwhelmed and had to retreat.

Alhaji Ali Hakimi, who survived the attack, gave an account of the incident to our reporter: “I woke up in the morning to get my children set for work on my farm. I suddenly started to hear gun shots. I listened attentively and I realized that sounds of the gun shots were coming directly behind me.

“I then sensed trouble and quickly run into my house. I saw one of my children standing at the compound and I told him to hide himself in a room close to mine but before he did that they came and shot him dead.”

Another resident, Idi Namarake, told Daily Trust that when he heard the gunshots, his wife advised him to hide under the bed, and soon after the gunmen forced their way into the room. They asked the wife where her husband was and she told them he had travelled. “That was how I escaped being killed,” he said.

The attack in Kizara came just two days after the security agents stationed at the village were withdrawn.

State police commissioner Mr Akila Usman Gwary confirmed the attack, saying the police would leave no stone unturned in bringing the perpetrators to justice.

This was the deadliest in the series of bandit attacks on villages in Zamfara State over the past two years.

In November last year, 20 people were shot dead in a similar attack in Kabaro town. A month earlier, 27 were killed in Dangulbi, while in Birnin Magaji 15 were killed in February 2012. These were preceded by the August 2011 attack in which 19 died at Lingyado town.

In most of the attacks, it was believed that the gunmen were trying to exact revenge from vigilantes who had previously arrested armed robbers terrorizing local traders.

Similar attacks have also happened in neighboring Kaduna and Katsina states. Just days ago, bandits attacked Kwasa-Kwasa in Kaduna State, killing two military personnel and four other people. In previous incidents in Kaduna State, 20 people were killed in Dogon Dawa in October 2012; 3 cops died in Birnin Gwari in the same month; and seven people were killed in Goron Dutse earlier this month.

 source: Dailytrust