Cyber crime: Increase awareness on new technologies – Experts

Increasing public awareness on new technologies available in Nigeria would help stem the tide of cyber crimes in the country, experts have advised. The advice becomes paramount following rising cases of online fraud and increasing number of suspects arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in recent times across the country. Speaking on […]

Increasing public awareness on new technologies available in Nigeria would help stem the tide of cyber crimes in the country, experts have advised.

The advice becomes paramount following rising cases of online fraud and increasing number of suspects arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in recent times across the country.

Speaking on the topic: “Friends or Foe: The Place of Humans and Technology in the Fight of Online Fraud,” at the Social Media Week in Lagos on Wednesday, the Founder of Touchtech Payment, Shekinah Adewunmi, and the Co-founder of Voyance, Abdul Hassan, urged government and financial institutions to intensify awareness on use of public Wi-Fi and other new technologies being adopted in the country.

Commenting, Mr. Adewunmi, advised against using public Wi-Fi, especially when the user isn’t sure of who and who are connected to it.

“The truth is, you do not know who sets it up or who else is connected to it; so there is a serious risk of exposing your personal data to hackers,” he said.

He urged Nigerians to be more alert and avoid divulging confidential information through emails and SMS as much as possible.

Also speaking, Mr. Hassan urged financial institutions to increase public awareness on new technologies used in protecting transactions in the country.

“The only way that it can be solved is through education and awareness; telling people what they should not do with their bank cards and financial details.

“The next option is employing new technologies like machine learning, which prevents card information of a customer from being hacked or defrauded in a transaction,” he added.

Hassan urged entrepreneurs to utilise modern technologies to protect their businesses and transactions from cyber crimes.