INITIATIVES TO FIGHT CYBER CRIMES UNDERWAY

Home Affairs Deputy Minister, Pereira Ame Silima

By Lusekelo Philemon
      

The government has started taking measures against cyber-related crimes by empowering its security organs including police on how to deal with the malice.

Home Affairs Deputy Minister, Pereila Silima disclosed this yesterday when speaking at the Cyber Defence East Africa 2014 conference held in Arusha from
16th to 19th September, themed: “Fight against Financial and Data Privacy”.

Attended by ICT gurus from across the world, the three-day conference has been organised by the Tanzania’s Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA) and the Norway Registers Development East Africa Limited.

The meeting is meant to empower developing nations with ability to combat cyber crimes.

At the meeting, Tanzania was represented by Tanzania Police Cyber Crime Unit, Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA), the Law Reform Commission of Tanzania and the Access Data Group.

The minister said, “Like any other African countries, Tanzania is experiencing a growing number of crimes using information and communication technology (ICT) hence need to empower our security personnel remains important.”

Silima said cyber crimes range from scamming mobile-phone users to high-level Internet fraud costing financial institutions billions.

He added, banks have been defrauded through identity theft, illicit electronic fund transfers and credit card fraud.

“Criminals have become very creative taking advantage of the increased use of information technology to defraud individuals and corporate organisations, but we (government) we are very keen ensuring that our people are well informed on dealing with such incident,” he noted 

According to Silima, more than 300 cyber-crimes have been investigated by the police in Tanzania.

“But, there are more cases of that nature which are not reported as most Tanzanians are unaware. So, this meeting is an important avenue for our IT expert to share best practices from their counterparts, hence address the challenge.” 

Dr Vilius Benetis, a cyber security researcher and CEO of Norway Registers AS (NRD) called on countries particularly in sub-Saharan Africa to ensure that people are well-informed on cyber crime.

He said that Tanzania is susceptible by cyber crimes because it is the leading nation when it comes to mobile money transactions in East Africa.

Boniface Kanemba, IT expert and President of ISACA Tanzania Chapter said more work needs to be done to address the expansive cyber-crimes.

He said Tanzania is becoming more vulnerable when it comes to cyber crime, the situation that calls for the government and other players to train more experts in the area.

Among many other techniques, criminals used Internet banking and mobile money transfer to swindle.

Cyber crime is now a common and serious crime to attend to, the year 2013 reports have it that in the last three years about 9.8bn/-got lost in Tanzania through cyber crime.

Among other issues the meeting is also going to discuss about the current cyber situation and the challenges to the way for ward.

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN