The Chairman of the National Information Technology Agency (NITA), Professor Nii Narku Quaynor, has urged all stakeholders in the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector to work in partnership to ensure cyber security.
He said that must be done through the collation of ideas from all the stakeholders in the sector to ensure that there was a collaborative approach in dealing with the issue.
At the National High-Level Round-Table Meeting under the theme, “Unifying our efforts to secure our cyberspace,” Prof. Quaynor said business entities and experts that dealt directly with software vendors should build relationships and work closely with vendors to review software dialogue to ensure that the cyber space was safe for use.
He said: “We must emphasise gathering stakeholders and creating awareness in order to secure cyberspace and making cyber security better for all.”
Prof. Quaynor advised stakeholders and business operators on the need to upgrade tools and create awareness of those instances and also drew their attention to character building in protecting cyberspace.
Fighting cyber attack
The Head of the Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT) Ghana, Mr Eric Akumiah, explained that the fight against cyber attack had become a great concern and an issue of national priority, hence the need for collaboration.
“The CERT has provided education and awareness programmes, security and consultancy services to combat cyber attacks. The development of terms of reference has been ongoing to solicit a consultant to work with NITA in implementing this project,” he said.
Gov’t committed
The Minister of Communications, Dr Omane Boamah, gave an assurance of government’s involvement in creating approved systems to help the fight against the negative use of cyberspace.
He said that exercise could be effective if constituencies came together to go through training and enforce those security systems in their various areas to prevent citizens from being victims of cyber crime.
He also emphasised the need for stakeholders to partner and provide high level of securities for societies in order to secure safety of children in cyberspace.
Cyber attack simulations
The Principal Consultant, E-Crime Bureau, Mr Albert Antwi-Boasiako, stated: “Most cyber criminals are able to get their victims using their ‘vulnerability’ in software.”
He illustrated that cyber criminals were able to access victims’ accounts by sending spam mails or normal mails that when opened, created connection between the criminal and their victims.
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