CYBER SECURITY TIPS FROM SPECIALISED SYSTEMS LIMITED
By Olivia Phiri
Information technologies help facilitate better communication worldwide and have proved through the internet to be the only measure of true democracy.
Through the provision of ICT’s like Computers and Telephones, Specialized Systems Limited SSL, have been able to change lives of many people.
This year SSL joins the rest of the world to celebrate, World Telecommunications day whose international theme is Cyber security.
In line with this years theme, SSL has come up with a few tips on how better to enjoy computer services such as email and VoIP without fear of your privacy being threatened.
SSL also believes along with the International Telecommunications Union, ITU, that privacy and consumer protection, is a prerequisite for the development of the Information Society and for building confidence among users of ICTs.
The internet however also represents the new frontier when it comes to fraud to consumers and businesses alike. IT users must be constantly vigilant to scams that seek to collect personal or financial information to be used to commit fraud.
The first tip concerns enrollment for certain services on the world wide net. Users should make sure that the site has a privacy policy. The privacy policy should state that your email address will not be left open for sparmers to write you unsolicited or unwanted mail.
Make sure to read in full the policy before submitting your email address or any other personal information and make sure you know their site plan for the information they are getting from you.
Second tip, do not reply to spam. Spam generators try variations of email addresses at certain domains e.g Yahoo or Hotmail, if you go ahead and reply, you then empower them to know that it is an existing mail address and will therefore put you at risk of receiving much more unwanted messages.
The third tip is a habit most surfers have, the idea of forwarding messages, adverts and offers to all people in the address book. Don't forward every message to everyone in your address book, and if someone asks that you not forward messages to them, respect their request. Some people consider email forwards a type of spam, so be selective with the messages you redistribute.
The fourth tip aims at institutions and individuals alike. Beware of phishing attacks. This is the use of spoofed emails and fake websites to fool recipients into revealing personal information or to have a virus placed into their computer. By using trusted brands of well known companies such as financial institutions, online retailers, ISP’s and credit card companies, phishers attempt to dupe innocent consumers into revealing their personal information. Phishing schemes are often delivered via spam email.
The other issue is pharming. This is redirecting of an individuals web request to another location. For example if a person with an infected computer conducts online business with a specific bank, that person will type the bank link into the address bar, but will be redirected to a designated phising site that looks very similar to the authentic but, but in fact is fraudulent.
The solution to prevent such situations happening to most targeted institutions is to ensure that they hire a person in charge of internet security, to personally check their system by hacking.
And another easy thing to do as a consumer is to check with the company by calling directly before making payments or any other sensitive transactions.
The Telephony department of SSL has on offer voice over internet protocol enabled telephones. This allows you to use your internet connection to make telephone calls. The most common application of VoIP for personal or home use is internet-based phone services that rely on a telephone switch. With this application, you will still have a phone number and will still dial phone numbers.
Because VoIP relies on your internet connection, it may be vulnerable to any threats and problems that face your computer. The technology could make your telephone vulnerable to viruses and other malicious intents or acts such as intercepting your communications, listening into your conversations, conducting effective manipulation of your caller ID, and causing your service to crash.
SSL has helped increase access through providing individuals, business people and the corporate world all over Zambia with brands like HP, Cisco, Linksys, Dell, Sollatek, Powerware, Dlink, Toshiba, Tally Gencon and Coral telecom.
SSL has a flexible payment facility , thus many people who do not have an excellent capital base have been assisted to acquire information technologies. This has been a deliberate effort to help as many people to have access and become part of the growing global village.
Currently specialized systems boasts of having over 53 permanent corporate clients stretching from the Copperbelt, through Lusaka to Livingstone in Southern province.
The client base ranges from retailers, public and private companies, government departments, ministries, Banks, financial institutions and mining companies.
The company further provides support in local area networking and general user support to ensure maximum usage and impact on people’s business’s and lives in general.
The company in their IT section provide computers, printers, scanners, modems, dial up, DSL, wireless networks and other specialist devices.
In terms of the national economy of Zambia, specialized systems through it’s IT section have tax returns of over K200 millions per year through value added tax and other importation levies.
However the company urges the Communications Authority’s to put in more stringent measures in ensuring that traders importing ICT’s and operating in the country without being registered so that they may also remit funds to the government.
Mr. Reston Ngosa, IT manager however, complained that the same illegal or unregistered ICT’s traders tend to congest or jam up the microwave and radio frequencies. Unregistered and unknown equipment can be damaging and unreliable to certain systems although they may appear cheap, they are rather expensive in the long run.
For a free and productive society, there is need for a steady supply of reliable equipment, affordable with flexible payment options.
SSL is the sole distributor, agent and representative of Philips Worldwide for a range of products such as Lighting, Lighting accessories, Industrial Electronics, Medical, Telecommunications and radio.
In conclusion, SSL hopes that objectives of the ITU regards to this years theme are met or at least some measures will be implemented by both individual users and the industry as a whole.
Ends.
By Olivia Phiri
Information technologies help facilitate better communication worldwide and have proved through the internet to be the only measure of true democracy.
Through the provision of ICT’s like Computers and Telephones, Specialized Systems Limited SSL, have been able to change lives of many people.
This year SSL joins the rest of the world to celebrate, World Telecommunications day whose international theme is Cyber security.
In line with this years theme, SSL has come up with a few tips on how better to enjoy computer services such as email and VoIP without fear of your privacy being threatened.
SSL also believes along with the International Telecommunications Union, ITU, that privacy and consumer protection, is a prerequisite for the development of the Information Society and for building confidence among users of ICTs.
The internet however also represents the new frontier when it comes to fraud to consumers and businesses alike. IT users must be constantly vigilant to scams that seek to collect personal or financial information to be used to commit fraud.
The first tip concerns enrollment for certain services on the world wide net. Users should make sure that the site has a privacy policy. The privacy policy should state that your email address will not be left open for sparmers to write you unsolicited or unwanted mail.
Make sure to read in full the policy before submitting your email address or any other personal information and make sure you know their site plan for the information they are getting from you.
Second tip, do not reply to spam. Spam generators try variations of email addresses at certain domains e.g Yahoo or Hotmail, if you go ahead and reply, you then empower them to know that it is an existing mail address and will therefore put you at risk of receiving much more unwanted messages.
The third tip is a habit most surfers have, the idea of forwarding messages, adverts and offers to all people in the address book. Don't forward every message to everyone in your address book, and if someone asks that you not forward messages to them, respect their request. Some people consider email forwards a type of spam, so be selective with the messages you redistribute.
The fourth tip aims at institutions and individuals alike. Beware of phishing attacks. This is the use of spoofed emails and fake websites to fool recipients into revealing personal information or to have a virus placed into their computer. By using trusted brands of well known companies such as financial institutions, online retailers, ISP’s and credit card companies, phishers attempt to dupe innocent consumers into revealing their personal information. Phishing schemes are often delivered via spam email.
The other issue is pharming. This is redirecting of an individuals web request to another location. For example if a person with an infected computer conducts online business with a specific bank, that person will type the bank link into the address bar, but will be redirected to a designated phising site that looks very similar to the authentic but, but in fact is fraudulent.
The solution to prevent such situations happening to most targeted institutions is to ensure that they hire a person in charge of internet security, to personally check their system by hacking.
And another easy thing to do as a consumer is to check with the company by calling directly before making payments or any other sensitive transactions.
The Telephony department of SSL has on offer voice over internet protocol enabled telephones. This allows you to use your internet connection to make telephone calls. The most common application of VoIP for personal or home use is internet-based phone services that rely on a telephone switch. With this application, you will still have a phone number and will still dial phone numbers.
Because VoIP relies on your internet connection, it may be vulnerable to any threats and problems that face your computer. The technology could make your telephone vulnerable to viruses and other malicious intents or acts such as intercepting your communications, listening into your conversations, conducting effective manipulation of your caller ID, and causing your service to crash.
SSL has helped increase access through providing individuals, business people and the corporate world all over Zambia with brands like HP, Cisco, Linksys, Dell, Sollatek, Powerware, Dlink, Toshiba, Tally Gencon and Coral telecom.
SSL has a flexible payment facility , thus many people who do not have an excellent capital base have been assisted to acquire information technologies. This has been a deliberate effort to help as many people to have access and become part of the growing global village.
Currently specialized systems boasts of having over 53 permanent corporate clients stretching from the Copperbelt, through Lusaka to Livingstone in Southern province.
The client base ranges from retailers, public and private companies, government departments, ministries, Banks, financial institutions and mining companies.
The company further provides support in local area networking and general user support to ensure maximum usage and impact on people’s business’s and lives in general.
The company in their IT section provide computers, printers, scanners, modems, dial up, DSL, wireless networks and other specialist devices.
In terms of the national economy of Zambia, specialized systems through it’s IT section have tax returns of over K200 millions per year through value added tax and other importation levies.
However the company urges the Communications Authority’s to put in more stringent measures in ensuring that traders importing ICT’s and operating in the country without being registered so that they may also remit funds to the government.
Mr. Reston Ngosa, IT manager however, complained that the same illegal or unregistered ICT’s traders tend to congest or jam up the microwave and radio frequencies. Unregistered and unknown equipment can be damaging and unreliable to certain systems although they may appear cheap, they are rather expensive in the long run.
For a free and productive society, there is need for a steady supply of reliable equipment, affordable with flexible payment options.
SSL is the sole distributor, agent and representative of Philips Worldwide for a range of products such as Lighting, Lighting accessories, Industrial Electronics, Medical, Telecommunications and radio.
In conclusion, SSL hopes that objectives of the ITU regards to this years theme are met or at least some measures will be implemented by both individual users and the industry as a whole.
Ends.
posted by Olivia Phiri at 6:04 AM
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