Safeguarding children online: The crucial role of digital literacy education in schools

We live in an era where children can skillfully operate smartphones and tablets even before they can walk, proving that our children are growing up in a digital environment unlike any other. Indeed, with each passing year, technology’s impact on their life grows more powerful,

Charlatans taking advantage of data security challenges to masquerade as professionals

In the current era, technological advancements have yielded innovative solutions and numerous challenges. Some of these challenges are data protection infiltration, misinformation and disinformation and cybersecurity breaches. There have been instances where non-professionals access information with the intent to impersonate and steal their identity for

Cybersecurity October: Strengthening our defences against cyber threats — A call to action

In an era where digital interconnectedness defines our world, the importance of cybersecurity cannot be overstated. October, designated as Cybersecurity Awareness Month, serves as a timely reminder for individuals, businesses, and governments to unite in the face of escalating cyber threats. Kenya’s recent encounter with

Cybersecurity in Kenya: Addressing the weak link on the road to cyber hygiene

The Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) recently fell victim to a ransomware attack orchestrated by the Rhysida ransomware group. As a consequence, 739 GB of KEBS’ data was exposed and made public. The data includes sensitive information such as employee records, financial data, and product

Evolution of Ransomware Attacks: An African Focus

Disclaimer: These are just random thoughts in my head which I wanted to share from a personal point of view. Do enjoy.   Out there in the wild, we have seen APT28 exploiting vulnerable Cisco routers and installing backdoors for further attacks. Right here in

The Rise of Cyber Attacks: How to Protect Yourself from Cyber Threats

As technology assumes an increasingly significant role in our personal lives, ensuring our security in cyberspace becomes crucial: as such we must safeguard ourselves against cyber attacks. Cyberattacks refer to malicious attempts by individuals or groups to disrupt, damage, or gain unauthorized access to computer

Corporates, influencers and copyright: Navigating the tide and entrenching a culture of compliance Precedent-setting decision?

If the recent pronunciation by a court in a copyright suit by Hip Hop artiste Hubert Nakitare, alias Nonini, against Japanese company Syinix Electronics Ltd and influencer Brian Mutinda, does not ring alarm bells for corporates and corporate influencers, concerning intellectual property, then what will?

Era of Deepfakes: Risks and the need for protective laws: An Explainer

Deepfakes refer to a form of Artificial Intelligence that is programmed to replace one person’s likeness with another in recorded video. The term “deepfake” comes from the technology called “deep learning,” which is a form of AI. Deep learning algorithms, which teach themselves how to

Snooping on tax evaders: Balancing between protection of personal data and KRA’s bid to monitor transactions

As the world marks Data Privacy Day on 28th January 2023, Kenya has been busy this week with a series of activities organized by the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (ODPC) to commemorate the day. The week-long events will culminate in a two-day Data

NTSA move to streamline transport network companies is a wake up call to data commissioner 

The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has moved to streamline digital hailing companies operating in the country. This is after NTSA issued a directive to digital hailing transport companies to register afresh with the Authority.  This, NTSA said, was a decision reached by stakeholders

Kenya’s National Cybersecurity Strategy: Securing Kenya’s cyberspace

Kenya developed its first cybersecurity strategy in 2014. Significantly, the 2014 strategy culminated in the development of the 2022 National Cybersecurity Strategy. The latter gives guidance for a coordinated approach in the execution of cybersecurity operations in Kenya. The strategy combines good governance with a

Mitigating data breach costs

IBM’s Cost of a Data Breach Report 2022 offers IT, risk management and security leaders a lens into factors that can increase or help mitigate the rising cost of data breaches. It is a global report comprising data from 17 countries and regions, and 17

The AU Data Policy Framework: Africa’s solution to data emancipation?

The data policy framework for African countries seeks to maximise the benefits of a data-driven economy by creating an enabling policy environment for private and public investments necessary to support data-driven value creation and innovation.  The document, if implemented accordingly, will increase data policy harmonisation

Hope for digital stakeholders after launch of DCI forensic lab to combat cybercrimes

The war against cybercrime in Kenya went a notch higher following an initiative by the government to curb the surge in the vice.  During the launch of a new DCI national forensic laboratory in Nairobi on Monday, June 13, 2022, President Kenyatta singled out sim

Economic Survey 2022: A look at ICT sector performance during and after the pandemic

The Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) recently released the Economic Survey 2022, detailing how various sectors and job markets performed and offered insight into the post Covid-19 recovery. Kenya’s economy rebounded in 2021 compared to 2020, with most sectors recording significant improvement. According to

Cybersecurity in Kenyan Fintech, threats, trends and solutions: Highlights of GIZ Report, 2022

Digital payments are progressively entering the mainstream, in correlation to the increased access, use, and adoption of ICTs in Kenya. However, the transition to and eventual adoption of digital payments will bear its own risks, in the form of cybersecurity risks.  Against this backdrop, “A

The security initiative in CBK’s National Payments Strategy 2022-2025

In this second part of our series on the Central Bank of Kenya National Payments Strategy for 2022 – 2025 (NPS Strategy), we examine CBK’s strategic initiatives under the principle of security. A core focus of the strategic initiatives under security is ensuring adequate protection

Kenya’s Cybersecurity Priorities in a Post-Covid World

Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) with the support of UK’s Digital Access Programme convened a round table meeting to deliberate on Kenya’s common cybersecurity priorities in a post Covid-19 world and to consolidate the various stakeholder priorities to inform the country’s cybersecurity strategies. Currently, Kenya

Enhancing cybersecurity ahead of 2022 elections: Balancing act for new committee

The newly unveiled National Computer and Cybercrimes Coordination Committee (NC4) has been tasked with cracking down on misuse of social media especially as the country approaches the General Election in 2022. Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i unveiled the secretariat at the Kenya Institute of Curriculum

Regulating the legal tech space, Bills in the pipeline

Bridging the nexus between technology and the law has proven to be an increasingly tumultuous  domain to regulate. However, this has not discouraged Kenyan legislators from attempting to regulate the disruptive sector. Below is a snapshot of four proposed legislation, at varying stages of approval,

Data Breaches and Cyber Security: What you need to know

A few years ago, many corporations used to think data protection meant security of systems. And this was because they thought the word protect meant security in the context of cyber security. While security of data is a way of implementing privacy and data protection,

The Cost of Data Breaches

Growth of Technology Kenya’s digital landscape has grown immensely amid the Covid-19 Pandemic period partly due to the reliance of technology as a saving grace. With the growth, new technology and increased internet connectivity has led to an increase in information sharing. This has improved

Goodies from Facebook Safety and Security team

NEW TOOLS TO MANAGE FAKE NEWS ONLINE On 26th May 2021, Facebook launched new ways to: inform people if they’re interacting with content that’s been rated by a fact-checker as well as  take stronger action against people who repeatedly share misinformation on Facebook.  Whether it’s

Safer Internet Day: Together for a better Internet

Safer Internet Day is a day in February when people come together for a better internet by raising awareness of the online issues that matter to us. It started as an initiative of the  European Union Safe Borders project in 2004 and was taken up