Author: ITPulse

  The Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) has denied the allegation that it has directed the Independent National Electoral Commission to work with Internet Service Providers to shut down Internet access for the forthcoming elections to facilitate rigging. ONSA in a statement signed by its spokesman, Danjuma Reuben urged the public to disregard the allegation, describing it as disinformation. “We have no plan to shut down the Internet. In fact, the Internet and associated communication infrastructure are major components of the Critical National Information Infrastructure, which ONSA is mandated to ensure its security,” the statement reads. It added…

  The 2019 edition of the Cyber Secure Nigeria conference is set to address Nigeria’s vulnerability to cyber-attacks, where it is believed that cybercriminals are collaborating, sharing information and providing 24/7 support services in the dark web on various cybercrime activities. The organizer of the conference, Cyber Security Experts Association of Nigeria (CSEAN) stated this in a statement issued and signed by its President, Mr. Remi Afon. “In the past few years, Nigeria has become more vulnerable to various cyber-attacks with no adequate controls and legal framework in place to combat this menace. As an established and leading voice in…

  Search engine giant, Google has announced it is closing down Google+ by April 2 this year over low usage and challenges involved in maintaining a successful product that meets consumers’ expectations. Google had earlier announced that in December 2018 that it will shut down Google+ for consumers in April 2019. “On April 2nd, your Google+ account and any Google+ pages you created will be shut down and we will begin deleting content from consumer Google+ accounts,” it announced. What this means is that as early as February 4th, you will no longer be able to create new Google+ profiles,…

  A new report on Matrix Ramsonware by SophosLabs, a global leader in network and endpoint security has disclosed that, the Ramsonware, which has been operating since 2016 breaks into enterprise networks and infecting those computers over Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP), a built-in remote access tool for Windows computers. This is unlike previous targeted Ramsonware, including BitPaymer, Dharma and SamSam. Matrix, according to the report, only targets a single machine on the network, rather than spreading widely through an organization. “The Matrix criminals evolved their attack parameters over time, with new files and scripts added to deploy different tasks and…

  Nigeria’s Amina Mohammed, who is presently the Deputy Secretary General, United Nations will join John Hanke, Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Niantic Inc and others as keynote speakers at this year’s Mobile World Congress, which is being organized by the GSMA. The GSMA made the announcement in an email message “We are officially less than one month away from #MWC19! As we draw closer, we continue to announce outstanding additions to our programmes, including conference keynote speakers Amina Mohammed, Deputy Secretary General, United Nations and John Hanke, Founder & CEO, Niantic Inc,” the message reads. Amina Mohammed was a…

  The latest research conducted by the Counterpoint’s Market Monitor service, indicated that the global smartphone shipments witnessed a decline of 4 percent annually in the fourth quarter of 2018, making it the fifth consecutive quarter of smartphone decline. The researchers attributed the decline to a number of factors. Chiefly, is the refusal of user to replace their smartphone, especially in developed markets of US, China and Western Europe. “Consumers held on to their devices longer due to the absence of groundbreaking innovations and higher prices of devices being offered by the OEMs,” said Tarun Pathak Associate Director at Counterpoint…

  A new regulation of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), has stipulated a penalty of N2.5million on Deposit Money Banks and other Financial Institutions on every repeated occurrence of specific infractions and termination of the use of the unapproved end-to-end e-payment solution. Particularly, the new regulation will affect payments of salaries, pensions and other remittances, suppliers and revenue collections in Nigeria with regards to end-to-end electronic payment. Citing a circular, the Punch Newspaper, noted that the apex bank said the objective of the end-to-end electronic payment of salaries, pensions, suppliers and taxes initiative was fully aligned with the core…

  British multinational banking and financial services company, Standard Chartered has excluded Nigeria in the launch of its second wave of digital-only retail banks across African markets. Rather, the international banking group said, the solution, which it noted, is a response to growing consumer demand for innovative banking services on the continent will be launched in four other markets in Africa, which the Bank described as key in their retail banking quest. They are starting in Uganda in January, followed by Tanzania in February, with Ghana and Kenya to follow, disclosing that the launch in these four countries followed the…

  The Association of Telecom Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), is set to host stakeholder to what it tags ‘Post-Nigeria National Broadband Plan 2013-2018’ on the 7th of February 2019 in Abuja. The theme of the forum is “the Nigeria National Broadband Plan 2013 – 2018: Success, Prospects and Challenges”. According to a statement in Lagos by ATCON’s Executive Secretary, Mr. Ajibola Olude, the purpose of the forum is to principally see how the entire industry (Telecoms/ICT) could work towards achieving a greater broadband penetration in the next five years. “No doubt the National Broadband Plan has helped all stakeholders to…

  The Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) has asked MTN Nigeria to pay the revised N50, 000,000 (Fifty million Naira) Social Services Contribution Levy (SSCL) to the state revenue agency for the sake of what it considers national interest. The Chairman of ALTON, Engr. Gbenga Adebayo stated this in a press statement Lagos, urging MTN to seek redress in court afterward. “In a bid to resolve the current impasse between MTN and the Kogi State Government over disputed taxes, it would nice for both parties to prioritize the national interest and always explore dialogue or seek legal…