- As Govt Holds Cyber-Security Summit Nov 14
BY PATRICK MGBODO
The frequency of cyber-attacks targeting individuals and corporate entities has surged to alarming levels, with the Delta State Government website alone fending off an average of 12,000 attacks each month, The Pointer has learned.
This relentless wave underscores the urgent need for fortified digital security measures to protect sensitive information and ensure the resilience of public and private digital infrastructure.
To this end, the state government is bolstering efforts to combat cybercrime through a special cyber-security summit tagged ‘’Unifying Government and Law Enforcement Against Cyber Threats’’ and scheduled to be held on November 14, 2024 in Asaba.
In the lead-up to the summit, key stakeholders have conducted an awareness and sensitization walk, which kicked-off at the Prof. Chike Edozien Secretariat, where they engaged civil servants before proceeding through the streets to raise public awareness about cybersecurity and the need to fight cyber threats collectively.
Addressing journalists during the road walk, the State Webmaster, Mr Louis Osiobe said that the initiative is in line with the MORE Agenda of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori to enhance peace and security for all Deltans.
‘’The cyberspace has no boundaries. Irrespective of age, as long as you have a smartphone, you are vulnerable. This awareness is to make everybody know that we are all vulnerable and should always be on guard. This awareness ensures that every Deltan understands that the threats in cyberspace are real and we are all vulnerable.
‘’For instance, one can access your phone through a remote desktop or do what is known as reverse proxy. There is so much technology out there that you and I are not aware of. This is why we have decided to educate Deltans, and this has informed this summit. Governor Oborevwori is doing everything possible to ensure that cyberspace is secure.
‘’I can tell you that the state website has a minimum of 400 attacks every day. This is what we have to deal with daily. So, just putting firewalls alone to protect yourself is not enough. What about those running blogs? We are all vulnerable? You must just go to buy something on the Internet and fill in your card details. If there is a phishing hole there, you are seriously exposed and your bank account could be cleared in seconds’’, he said.
Similarly, a web developer, Mr Tochukwu Ositadinma said the essence of the roadshow was to create awareness of cyber-security threats, stressing that people ignorantly fall victim to hackers at very great costs.
‘’During this awareness, we seek to make people understand that using simple things like name, and date-of-birth for passwords means exposing themselves to cyber threats’’, he said.
Sharing similar sentiments, Mr Victor Idonor added that the primary goal of the summit ‘’is to ensure the security of every Deltan and to ensure that every individual in Delta State, including corporate bodies, is fully aware and protected from cybercrime’’
