At USAFCG, we envision a safe, secure, and stable digital world ready to reduce risks and vulnerabilities that would undermine its progress.
“The world has never been as connected or as digital as it is today. But where does Africa stand in this rapidly digitizing world? Read this book to get the answer.” – Divine Sufor Anye, Phd.
Engaged Community
“Working as a member of the ITU Focus Group on Digital Financial Services for Financial Inclusion and keen interest in the security issues surrounding mobile money in Africa.”
Increasing competency. Accessing support.
With a young population that is rapidly adopting new technologies, Africa is on the verge of an internet boom. To keep pace, Africa needs to urgently address efforts to combat cybercrime and improve its cyber security posture. The current cyber threat landscape in Africa shows that users are being impacted both by threats that are trending globally as well as some that more specific to the region. It will take a concerted effort from international governments, industry, and civil society to fight cybercrime and improve cyber security so that Africa can reach its full potential and stay on track to be a major driver of the global economy.
Cybersecurity is the collection of technologies, processes, and practices that protect networked computer systems from unauthorized use or harm. Broadly speaking, cybersecurity topics can be subdivided into two complementary areas: cyber attacks, which are essentially offensive and emphasize network penetration techniques; and cyber defenses, which are essentially protective and emphasize counter-measures intended to eliminate or mitigate cyber attacks.
Cyber hygiene refers to activities that computer system administrators and users can undertake to improve their cybersecurity while online. The term cyber hygiene was coined by Vinton Cerf, an Internet pioneer, who used that the expression in his statement to the United States Congress Joint Economic Committee on 23 February 2000, where italics are added for emphasis:
“It is my judgment that the Internet itself is for the most part secure, though there are steps we know can be take to improve security and resilience. Most of the vulnerabilities arise from those who use the Internet–companies, governments, academic institutions, and individuals alike–but who do not practice what I refer to as good cyber hygiene. They are not sufficiently sensitive to the need to protect the security of the Internet community of which they are a part. The openness of the Internet is both its blessing and its curse when it comes to security.”
The increasing reliance of our information age economies and governments on cyber (computer-based) infrastructure makes them progressively more vulnerable to cyber attacks on our computer systems, networks and data. In their most disruptive form, cyber attacks target the enterprise, government, military, or other infrastructural assets of a nation or its citizens.
If you are a cybersecurity company or an entrepreneur with a focus on Africa in particular, you are in the right place. Contact us stating your country and or area of interest, and we will explore our synergies.
We welcome inputs and contributions to raise our platform’s visibility and value for pertinent information and resources on the question of cybersecurity in Africa. Don’t hesitate to get started to join our platform and growing community.