The Nation Newspaper

Tag: look

  • Look before leaping

    Look before leaping

    Phones are all over the place now, unlike in the past. With subscriber base close to 130 million, teledensity is over 90 per cent–thanks to the liberalisation of the telecoms sector. Smartphones are becoming affordable; the internet remains unregulated with open source applications.  But downloading free applications can compromise a phone user’s security and his account details, LUCAS AJANAKU reports.

    When he spoke at a cybersecurity summit organised by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) in conjunction with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) in Lagos, everybody listened.

    The Chief Information Officer (CIO), Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Taiwo Longe, said last year that money deposit banks (MDBs) lost N140billion to internet fraudsters.

    According to the apex bank, between  2000 and last year, a whopping N159billion was stolen from the MDBs across the country through electronic fraud. These funds are depositors’ money which the banks so often do not make any noise to panic withdrawals.

    Information Technology (IT) security experts have linked some of these internet frauds to the download of free applications (apps) from the internet onto either the smartphones or personal computers (PCs). It is believed that weaknesses in the applications people download, compounded further with basic human error  could result in the installation of spyware or malware on smartphones and PCs.

    Experts argue that this could allow hackers to gain access to the smartphone’s vital information, such as contact list, phone calls, global positioning system (GPS) location and bank information without the user realising it.

    This is because as businesses increasingly rely on various cloud services, the emergence of attacks targeting endpoints, mobile devices and credentials as means to gaining access to corporate or personal clouds will be on the rise.

    According to a report on RT.com, the Russian English language news channel, security firm Group-IB has warned that more than 541,000 smartphones running on Android in Russia, Europe and the United States (U.S.) were infected with malware which grants cybercrooks unfettered  access to people’s mobile devices.

    Yet, another report, this time from the U.S, said many mobile banking apps, including those of major financial institutions, contain configuration and design weaknesses that makes them vulnerable to attacks.

    According to reports on DarkReading.com, an online security site, experts from security firm Praetorian tested 275 Apple iOS- and Android-based mobile banking apps from 50 major financial institutions, 50 large regional banks, and 50 large U.S. credit unions. Overall, they found that eight out of 10 apps were improperly configured and not built using best practice software development.

    Moneyweb, online platform, said among the big-name banks whose mobile apps the security firm tested were Bank of America, Citigroup, Wells Fargo, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Capital One Financial, and Suntrust Banks. Praetorian did not disclose how each bank’s apps fared in the tests.

    The security weaknesses identified in the mobile banking apps are not pure software vulnerabilities, says Nathan Sportsman, founder and CEO of Praetorian. “These aren’t business-logic or application-specific issues. They are weaknesses across the mobile apps – things developers should be doing but are not,” he said.

    A research team from IBM uncovered a vulnerability that will affect apps built on a popular platform for application development called Cordova, according to SecurityIntelligence.com.

    The researchers found that up to 10 per cent of the applications built on this platform are banking apps. It said while a patch has been released, millions of people using apps built on this platform are at risk of having sensitive information, such as their login details, stolen.

    Experts said the reality of the situation is that 95 per cent of successful attacks or security breaches are caused by human errors, according to IBM’s Cyber Security Intelligence Index. As a result, hackers continue to aggressively seek out such vulnerabilities to exploit.

    These warnings are coming when mobile banking, licensed by the CBN and driven by banks, is recording slow sluggish uptake. In spite of this, all of the MDBs in the country offer one mobile banking solutions or the other.

    A software expert said smartphone users must understand is that all operating systems are vulnerable to attack because it is routed through the cyber space.  Operating systems are by design complex pieces of code.

    According to him, the process is made more difficult because apps are written to go into an app store and are then downloaded onto an operating system.

    An expert, Herman Singh said at each step – application development, the app store, operating system – there is the potential for vulnerabilities to be exploited.

    At the application level, apps can be deliberately infected, or become vulnerable because the developers have overlooked something.

    “You have to consider who is writing the app, and who is vetting it before you just download it onto your phone,” Singh warned.

    At the application store level, not all app stores were created equal.

    “The Apple screening is the most rigorous. All Apple apps are very carefully tested before they are allowed into the store for download. None of the other app stores are as thorough,” he said.

    The best-known app stores (digital distribution centres for application software) include Apple, Blackberry and Google Play. But because the Android operating system (launched by Google) is so ubiquitous there are over 30 various app stores flogging their wares for Android devices.

    The reason for this is not far-fetched. Android operating system is open and allows for a high degree of customisation and exposes users to vulnerability.

    “The Apple operating system on the other hand is tightly coupled to iTunes and the Apple apps. The company has kept proprietary control over its system.”

    President, Nigeria Internet Group (NIG), Bayo Banjo, said the country was yet to witness a major cyber attack in the country. According to him, what the nation is currently witnessing is cyber-assisted crimes.

     

    Way forward

    Phone users should be on guard against cyber-attack. Logging onto an unsecured Wi-Fi connection is risky, especially if the information one is working with is vital.

    Care must also be taken in downloading content and visits to sites via the mobile phone.

    Phone users are advised to stick to Apple, Google Play or the device manufacturer – Samsung’s app store for instance, for download because third party downloads makes your phone vulnerable to crooks.

    Make sure you always have an up-to-date version of the operating system on your phone. The same rule should also apply to  banking applications.

    “Don’t jailbreak your device. This allows access to the operating system’s file system and manager, allowing the download of applications that are not approved by Apple, Google or the handset manufacturer,”Singh counselled.

  • Get that unique look with a gown

    THIS gown takes your dinner to the next level and ensures that you make a lovely entrance!  One interest thing about fashion items is that they have a way of bouncing back. Gowns of various designs, hues, lengths and sizes are still hot items.  They are the rave of the moment.

    There are several features that make gowns unique. But one major reason why they standout is that they offer the wearer a freedom which no other dress can offer. They are always very comfortable to wear.

    Many women now grace social events, parties, wedding ceremonies, cocktails even church services with gowns of different lengths.

    “This is the season of stylish gowns and it is going to be sown alone (one) or mixed fabrics,” says Busola Isiaka, the petite lady behind Labussy Creations.

    The good thing about this gown is that it can be worn at any function, as office, informal or formal wears.  Gowns are not new fads. They were very popular in the 60’s and 80’s.

  • Copy Monalisa look

    Copy Monalisa look

    I love this Monalisa Chinda’s style. Always polished,  she knows what works for her and sticks with it.

    For her outfit at Rukky Sanda movie premiered, she wore a black maxi with mesh details, black waist cinch (belt) with gold details, two tone clutch purse and shoes, along with gold bangles and cocktail rings.

    Want her outfit? You might check out the different clothes of similar style below.

    You can opt for a figure-designed black dress, if you like or go for a maxi. If you want to look more romantic like Monalisa, knock off the look with a tiny belt. Complement it with two-tone pumps and a handbag.

    Monalisa has a great eye for mixing and matching effectively. Pair it with a simple wrist watch or bracelet and off you go.

  • Akwa Utd look beyond Makwada

    Akwa Utd look beyond Makwada

    Akwa United central defender Hamza Onwuemenyi is confident they would beat Makwada FC in their Federation Cup round of 32 tie on Wednesday.

    United have been in closed camp preparing for the match, and Onwuemenyi believes they have done their homework well and should see off the Adamawa State side.

    He admitted they may not have lived up to expectations in the first round of the league, and that they have vowed to make up with a good run in the Federation Cup.

    “We’re looking forward to victory against Makwada as we have prepared very well for them,” he told supersport.com.

    “We’ve been in Oron for the past week perfecting our strategies, and I feel we are ready for the best out there. I don’t know much about Makwada, but they must be good to have reached this stage and we won’t underrate them. However, we are more experienced than them, and I don’t foresee any upset as we are focused on forging ahead.”

    Onwuemenyi added: “The first round of the league didn’t work out as planned, and we have been working on our mistakes so we could do better in the second round and also make progress in the Federation Cup. We want to make an impact in the Federation Cup and with due respect to Makwada, we are looking beyond this stage.”

    Akwa United beat non-league Yarma Light in the round of 64, while Makwada eliminated Grays International.

    The Uyo side were knocked out last year by third tier Dynamite Force of Benin in the round of 32.

     

  • What to look for in a fridge

    What to look for in a fridge

    When you walk into a major appliance store, you are faced with rows of refrigerators displaying a wide range of finishes and features. If you don’t know what you’re looking for, you could find yourself succumbing to a high-pressure sales pitch or an eye-catching advertising display, ending up with the wrong fridge for your kitchen. Know your budget, research what’s available and then go shopping with confidence.

    Refrigerators come in four main styles: top-freezer, standard bottom-freezer, French doors with bottom freezer, and side-by-side fridge and freezer.

    Top-freezer styles have the freezer above the fridge, and tend to use less energy than the other styles. Bottom-freezer styles, with the freezer below the fridge, provide easier access to the fridge, but the freezer is less convenient and usually has pull-out drawers instead of shelves. French door fridges have the freezer on the bottom, but the refrigerator has two narrow doors that open side-by-side. This style combines the eye-level refrigerator design of a bottom-freezer with the smaller swing room of a side-by-side unit — the narrower doors require less room to swing open than a full-size door. Side-by-sides have two narrow doors that run along the entire height of the appliance, with the freezer on one side and the refrigerator on the other. Shelf space is narrow, but the smaller swing room makes this style useful for small kitchens.

    • Before purchasing a refrigerator, measure the space where it will be installed. Built-in cabinetry and other appliances might limit the size of the fridge that will fit in your kitchen. Consider the amount of interior space that you require as well. Each model should have a label indicating its available storage space measured in cubic feet. In general, a top-freezer unit offers more usable storage space than other styles.

    • Refrigerators offer a range of features, including adjustable pull-out shelves and bins, automatic water and ice dispensers, ice makers, split shelves, temperature-controlled drawers, tempered-glass shelves with raised edges to contain spills, and in-door storage compartments and racks for canned or bottled drinks, butter and other bottles and jars. Some features are only available on certain styles of fridge. For example, through-the-door water and ice dispensing is most widely available on side-by-side refrigerators, and is hard to find on models with the freezer on the top or the bottom. The steel appliance is usually finished with either paint in a neutral color, such as black or white, or stainless steel, which generally costs more than the painted finish.

    • Because they are always on, refrigerators use more electricity than any other kitchen appliance. Many brands offer energy-saving models, some of which bear the Energy Star seal.