NCC advocate multi-stakeholder partnership to combat cybercrime

With the increasing utilisation of internet facilities in the country, and the attendant rise in online attacks, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) says multi-stakeholder partnership is essential to the development of robust public policies required to combat cybercrime in the country. Eugene Ikemefuna Juwah, Executive Vice Chairman (EVC), NCC, made this remark at the National Cybersecurity Forum 2014 held in Lagos, weekend. According to the EVC, the global economic loss due to cybercrimes and cost of system repairs as a result of cyber attacks runs into billions of naira annually. In view of this, the NCC boss stressed the need for collaborative efforts by relevant government agencies, specifically towards the implementation of Domain Name System Security Extension (DNSSEC) on the top level Domain Name System in order to address identified vulnerabilities of the DNS system.

Juwah, who was represented by Abubakar Maina, executive commissioner, technical standards, NCC, pointed out that DNSSEC provides an additional level of security that can strengthen trust in internet usage. DNSSEC, he went on, can help to protect browsers from redirection to fraudulent websites through effective integrity and authenticity checks on DNS protocols. In his keynote address, Juwah said, “capacity building in the area of cyber security is necessary for the development of sustaininable and proactive National Cybersecurity Culture”. One of the fundamental challenges of cybersecurity, he stated, is effectively educating the end user to be aware of, and understand the potential dangers inherent in the cyberspace.” According to him, cyber threats such as malware, spoofing, phishing, spam, worms, viruses, hacks, trojans, pharming, amongst others, are becoming extremely sophisticated.

“The internet has long ceased to be the exclusive domain of the technically savvy users; user-friendly software and interfaces enables all types of users, including novices and children, to interact remotely”. This new territory, the NCC helmsman noted contains a goldmine of valuable information for potential victims. “Although national measures are being taken by individual nations, cyber threats remain basically an international problem. The internet is indeed a borderless communication tool, and consequently, any solution to secure it must involve global collaboration”, he further explained. With loopholes in legal frameworks been constantly exploited by perpetrators as harmonisation between existing laws across nations remain unsatisfactory, Juwah pointed out that cross border investigation and presecution are difficult if the catogorisation of crimes differ from country to country.

The NCC boss listed some of the efforts undertaken by commission on cybersecurity. According to him, the commission was fully involved in the formaulation of the National Cybersecurity Bill and other similar initiatives, coordinated by the Office of the National Security Adviser.

Ben Uzor Jr