It goes without saying that advancements in modern technology have helped
countries develop and broaden their communication networks, enabling faster and
easier networking as well as information exchange. Currently, there are almost
about two billion internet users and over five billion mobile phone connections
worldwide.
Every day, 294 billion emails and five billion phone messages are exchanged
among friends, family members, business partners and even complete strangers.
Social media is a worldwide phenomenon in itself; the number of people on
facebook and twitter combined are more than the population of some large
countries.
The Wired World: A graphic representation of the
Internet
The increasing popularity and convenience of digital networks, however, comes
at a cost. Regardless of its cutting edge advantages, Information and
Communication Technology, ICT can be described as a two-sided coin because of
its attendant challenges.
Over the years, cyber crimes and digital attack incidents have increased
around the world. These attacks are generally classified as any crime that
involves the use of computer network such as financial/fraud scams, computer
hacking, virus attacks.
The first major report of cyber crime was in 2000, when a mass-mailed
computer virus affected nearly 45 million computer users worldwide.Over the past few years, the global cyber crime landscape has changed dramatically, with criminals employing the use of more sophisticated technology and greater knowledge of cyber security.
Until recently, internet fraud, spam emails, hacking into corporate sites and
other attacks of this nature were mostly the work of computer ‘geniuses’
showcasing their talent. These attacks, which were rarely injurious, have
gradually evolved into cyber criminal acts siphoning off money through illegal
cyber channels.
Due to this fact, these criminals have rendered so many people bankrupt. But
sadly, the price sometimes is paid in blood. From the release of disturbing
videos of the missing Chibok girls by Boko Haram, to the gruesome beheading of
two American journalists by ISIS recently, it is obvious that terrorism in
Nigeria and beyond, is very much facilitated by technology.
According to Terrorism Research, ‘Terrorists have been quick to use new
technologies, and adapt existing ones to their uses.”
On one hand, ICT helps develop the economy; on the other hand, it can be used
to defraud businesses, individuals and even Government organizations. On one
hand, it opens up a whole new world to the security of lives and property. On
the other, it could be used to destroy the very people it helps save.