By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Starr FmStarr FmStarr Fm
  • Home
  • Election Hub
  • General
    GeneralShow More
    Police roll out road closures, traffic diversions ahead of State funeral
    August 14, 2025
    Helicopter crash: Koforidua holds candlelight vigil for Omane Boamah
    August 14, 2025
    Helicopter crash: Don’t chase mourners at State funeral –  Gov’t warns media
    August 14, 2025
    Fante Comedy, Sir Obama Pokuase granted GH¢100k, GH¢50k bail respectively
    August 14, 2025
    VRA disowns helicopter involved in Nkawkaw emergency landing
    August 13, 2025
  • Business
    BusinessShow More
    CIB post-MPC seminar urges banks to reposition for lending in low-rate environment
    August 13, 2025
    Bank of Ghana a gold standard for commodity management – Deputy Governor Mumuni
    August 13, 2025
    Ometsey to feature at the Africa Fashion Week London 2025
    August 9, 2025
    Finance Ministry seeks public input for 2026–2029 national budget
    August 8, 2025
    Hollard Ghana’s Wahab Adams Wins Unsung Hero Award at 2025 Insurance Awards
    August 8, 2025
  • Politics
    PoliticsShow More
    Fante Comedy, Sir Obama Pokuase granted GH¢100k, GH¢50k bail respectively
    August 14, 2025
    NPP apologises to Mahama, disowns involvement in viral death threats
    August 14, 2025
    NPP Youth Wing condemns arrest of party activists, calls for release
    August 13, 2025
    2026 Primaries: Over 490 NPP youth organisers pick nomination forms for Bawumia
    August 13, 2025
    Family wants hospital unit, Effiduase roundabout named after Dr. Omane Boamah
    August 13, 2025
  • Entertainment
    EntertainmentShow More
    “Our vacations are too short” – Children spark conversation on popular show
    August 6, 2025
    Daddy Lumba’s family sets Aug 30 for one-week observance in Accra
    August 6, 2025
    EOCO seizes Shatta Wale’s Lamborghini over links to US fraud case
    August 5, 2025
    WATCH: 10-year-old girls present and debate presidential manifestos
    July 31, 2025
    GHAT Fair 2025 kicks off to boost investment, innovation in transport
    July 28, 2025
  • Sports
    SportsShow More
    Ghana gears up to host World Scrabble Championship
    August 13, 2025
    Gifty Oware-Mensah set to break new ground as GFA second Vice President
    August 13, 2025
    Ghana Premier League champions to pocket record ₵2 million prize
    August 13, 2025
    GFA outlines new youth policy to boost player development across all leagues
    August 13, 2025
    GFA Congress approves three-term limit for Presidency
    August 12, 2025
  • Technology
    TechnologyShow More
    Nine radio stations, including three Wontumi stations suspended
    August 12, 2025
    Chowdeck announces exclusive partnership with Oseikrom Aduanipa, elevating food delivery in Ghana
    August 7, 2025
    Sam Georges directs NCA to Revoke DSTV licence by Aug 7 over high subscription Fees
    Suspend DSTV licence by Aug 7 over high subscription fees – Sam George to NCA
    August 1, 2025
    Don’t Get Left Behind: Lord Ibrahim Sani Urges Entrepreneurs to Catch Up with AI
    July 31, 2025
    Why cloud technology is a game-changer for Ghana’s small businesses
    July 31, 2025
  • International
    InternationalShow More
    Osei Boateng, Founder & Executive Director, OKB Hope Foundation, announced
    August 6, 2025
    Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu signs MoUs with GEICO and CMS Group for new public universities
    Education Minister signs MoUs with GEICO, CMS Group to establish two public universities
    July 15, 2025
    Presidency terminates Zoomlion’s contract over concerns of impropriety and inflated billing
    Mahama pushes AU–CARICOM partnership to strengthen global reparations push
    July 14, 2025
    47th AU Forum: Ablakwa criticizes $1.2m AfCFTA allocation as ‘highly insufficient’
    July 10, 2025
    Minority demands audit over $1.2m passport relaunch cost and delays
    July 9, 2025
  • Factometer
Search
© 2024 EIB Network Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Cyber-attack: Stop downloading free software – Experts
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Starr FmStarr Fm
Font ResizerAa
  • Headlines
  • Election Hub
  • General
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Factometer
Search
  • Headlines
  • Election Hub
  • General
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Factometer
Have an existing account? Sign In
Follow US
© 2024 EIB Network Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
BusinessEditors PickTechnology

Cyber-attack: Stop downloading free software – Experts

Starrfm.com.gh By Starrfm.com.gh Published May 22, 2017
Share
SHARE

Businesses in Ghana have been advised to invest in quality software to protect them from potential cyber-attacks.

This comes in the wake of the WannaCry ransomware attack which affected over 10,000 organizations and 200,000 individuals in over 150 countries last weekend.

A cyber-security expert and an ethical-hacker, Dr. Peter Tobin charged corporate organizations using “free and cheap software that you can’t have patches” to desist from such practice as it opens them up to possible cyber-attacks.

“It will surprise you that most corporate organizations in Ghana are not using paid and properly licensed software. They just go online and download software. Free antiviruses give you a false sense of security. You need to buy an antivirus that has the right engine to prevent any harm and also get your system regularly and properly updated,” he told the host of The Lounge, Kwaku Sakyi-Addo Friday.

An IT professional, Mrs. Audrey Mireku on her part explained that free software are usually paid for by people who then “attach a worm to it so when you download it, the worm works in the background and you are not even aware of what is happening.”

Dr. Tobbin said it is high time Ghana began enforcing its laws on internet security to protect sensitive data and prevent possible attacks.

“At the moment, we have two main laws – the Electronic Transaction Act and the Data Protection Act but like every other law we have in Ghana, it’s the enforcement that is the problem. The average Ghanaian doesn’t really know what is in the Act and even those who are supposed to enforce it are doubting, they don’t fully appreciate what they can do with the Act. If the right legislation is in place, it will serve as a threat to people. We can do better with our laws,” he said.

Personal Internet Security

Dr. Tobbin again charged the general public to develop a sense of awareness and a proper security consciousness when using the internet.

He indicated that the world is moving from a “physical realm towards a virtual realm and that move comes along with different thinking so we need to be a bit more careful with what we do when we are on the internet.”

“I find it very interesting when people use Snapchat every day; I can see Snapchats of a person’s life and I can actually tell you what they do with their whole life and to me it’s risky. You are making data available; you are giving people too much information about yourself and that is dangerous.

“You can actually map a person’s whole family by going to Facebook and that is dangerous. We have to be cautious that the internet is not the same – the physical eyes are no longer there. In the virtual world, we cannot see the way we see things physically and so we have to be very cautious when dealing in the virtual world,” he said.

Benefits

A software entrepreneur and CEO of Soft Tribe, Herman Chinery-Hesse said despite the risks associated with the virtual transformation of the world, there are enormous benefits.

“Going electronic will hold back corruption, create instant communication, we can move large volumes of data quickly. It’s a great tool for research, great number crunching – our system can run the whole government payroll under an hour. So the benefits, you cannot argue about. It’s just an arena that comes with its own dangers and we just have to learn to deal with it,” he advised.

Mrs. Mireku added that, “we [Ghana] shouldn’t slow down on transforming our systems into electronic. We shouldn’t otherwise we will be left behind. The world is moving fast and the risks are also increasing, but it’s not by choice that we have to stop and not care. We have to move because the world is moving.”

The Lounge with Kwaku Sakyi-Addo airs live on Starr FM every Friday from 7pm to 8am and on GHOne on Sundays from 8pm to 9pm.

You Might Also Like

CIB post-MPC seminar urges banks to reposition for lending in low-rate environment

Bank of Ghana a gold standard for commodity management – Deputy Governor Mumuni

Nine radio stations, including three Wontumi stations suspended

Ometsey to feature at the Africa Fashion Week London 2025

Finance Ministry seeks public input for 2026–2029 national budget

TAGGED:cyber attackThe Lounge
Share This Article
Facebook Twitter Email Print
Share
Previous Article Prince’s siblings are named his heirs
Next Article Drake beats Adele’s Billboard Music Awards with 13 wins

Starr 103.5FM

Starr FmStarr Fm
Follow US
© 2024 EIB Network Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
newsletter icon
Join Us!

Subscribe to our newsletter and never miss our latest in news, podcasts etc..

[mc4wp_form]
Zero spam, Unsubscribe at any time.
adbanner
AdBlock Detected
Our site is an advertising supported site. Please whitelist to support our site.
Okay, I'll Whitelist
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Lost your password?