The internet poses a real threat which must be addressed as broadband uptake expands, according to guest speakers at the Broadband Forum in Harare, Zimbabwe.
Dr Sydney Sekeramayi, Zimbabwe’s Minister of State Security, told attendees at a recent regional security event that “the internet is a threat”, prompting discussion of the matter by the panel of experts at last week’s forum.
“I think we need to receive that as a very serious statement from our leadership. If he says that, he knows something we don’t know,” said Harold Muvuti, founder of iWynSys and chairperson of the ICT Suppliers Association of Zimbabwe (COMSA).
“How do we fit that with everyone in this room saying they want more internet? Does that mean we want more threat?” he asked.
“There is no point in making grand plans if there is a threat.”
Octavius Kahiya, marketing director at Telecel, highlighted the increasing incidence of cyber terrorism and the threat to security posed by hacking. As an example, Kahiya provided the case of Gary McKinnon, the British man accused of hacking into a number of US military and NASA databases to underline the potential for extensive security breaches from remote locations.
James Wekesa, chief commercial officer of WIOCC, however, believes the important point is to focus on building local skills to properly manage the internet, in order to mitigate the potential threat posed by the dissemination of internet.
“There is also the issue of building up skills to manage the internet. That I think is the biggest challenge in Africa,” said Wekesa.
“The security issue is real. No one can sit there and say there is no threat. There is a threat.
“The internet is there. How will we manage it?”
