UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN MAINE OPENS ITS CYBERSECURITY LAB

With hacking becoming an increasing problem in the digital age, some schools are implementing cybersecurity curriculum to prepare the future workforce on data theft issues. University of Southern Maine opens its cybersecurity lab Tuesday on its Portland campus, which is part of the "MAINE CYBER SECURITY CLUSTER"

USM came up with the idea to create a cybersecurity lab about four years ago. Using $1 million in grants from the National Science Foundation and Maine Technology Institute, educators were able to design and build the lab. Part of the grant money also went toward building a private network, which will allow students to work with computer viruses without the threat of it spreading to other networks. Students will also examine technical, legal and ethical issues surrounding the collection, sharing and theft of sensitive data.

The Maine Cyber Security Cluster works to train cybersecurity personnel, though USM does not currently offer a stand alone degree in cybersecurity. The program trains students to conduct assessments and provides space for research and development.

USM said it plans to weave cybersecurity throughout different programs. Communication students will learn the most effective way of notifying the public about security breaches and how to manage "public relations crises." Technology students will learn how to protect networks from security breaches. The Philosophy department will discuss the ethical issues of access to sensitive information.

UCHAMBUZI: NJIA ZA KUPAMBANA NA UHALIFU MTANDAO

Suala la hivi karibuni la nchini Israel la kiusalama mitandao linaloweza kusomeka "HAPA", Polisi wanchi ya Botswana kuonyesha wasi wasi wao juu ya maswala ya usalama mtandao kama inavyoweza kusomeka "HAPA" pamoja na matukio mengine kadhaa ya uhalifu mitandao ambayo yamekua yakigonga vichwa vya habari hivi sasa yameibua swali, je kuna uwezekano mapambano dhidi ya uhalifu kufikiwa malengo kwa kupunguzwa walau kwa kiasi Fulani?

Jibu ni kwamba hivi sasa uhalifu mtandao umeendelea kukua huku pakitumika njia za kisasa na hatarishi zinazo onekana kua tishio katika mifumo ya mitaandao katika nchi nyingi duniani. Ingawa pia  wataalam wa maswala ya usalama mitandao wameendelea kujipanga na kuangalia kila namna ya kuweza kukabiliana na uhalifu mtandao katika ngazi ya kidunia.

Kubwa lililo jiri hivi karibuni kumeendelea kutafutwa mbinu za kuhakiki uhalifu mitandao unapata kudhibitiwa huku baadhi ya makampuni nanchi mbali mbali kuchukua hatua stahiki nikitolea mfano "FACEBOOK" na tukio la "UJERUMANI" ikiwa ni mifano miwili kwa uchache.

Lakini pia azimio la hivi karibuni lililokua limebeba mambo ma tano (5) limeendelea kufanyiwa kazi katika mataifa mbali mbali ambapo yatatoa fursa ya kuweza kupunguza na kuzuia uhalifu mtandao katika maeneo husika. Mambo hayo ni pamoja na kukuza uelewa wa maswala ya usalama mitandao kwa wananchi ( Cyber security awareness programs), Kuwa na Sheria za usalama mitandao ( Cyber laws) , Kuweza kukuza uwezo wa wataalam wa ndani katika mataifa mabali mbali ( Capacity building).

FACEBOOK IS BUYING A CYBERSECURITY FIRM

JOE SULIVAN - CSO FACEBOOK

Cybersecurity firms have played a significant role to help the fight against cybercrimes. With the help of analysis of the Cyberthreats situation across nations and proposed way forwards to fight cybercrime, they have proven to be the right force to join.

Facebook has seen this and choose to join force with one of the Cybersecurity firm as a sign of getting serious about fighting off online data threats.

 The social network is buying PrivateCore, a cybersecurity firm founded in 2012. It develops software to validate and secure server data — essentially making sure that the photos and messages you post to your social media account stay secure from prying eyes.

“I've seen how much people care about the security of data they entrust to services like Facebook,” Joe Sullivan, Facebook’s chief security officer, said in "A POST" Thursday. “PrivateCore’s technology and expertise will help support Facebook’s mission to help make the world more open and connected, in a secure and trusted way.”

Facebook will integrate PrivateCore’s vCore technology into its server stack. It will protect servers from persistent malware, unauthorized physical access and malicious hardware devices. The new protections will help make cloud-based services more secure.

TEKNOLOJIA YA MIWANI YA KISASA YAWA TISHIO

Kumekua na wimbi la ukuaji wa teknolojia kila kukicha, Ukuaji huu wa teknolojia umepelekea matumizi makubwa ya mitandao maeneo mengi na hili linaenda sambamba na ukuaji wa kasi wa uhalifu mtandao hivi sasa. Mbali na "MIWANI" pamoja na "MAGARI YASIYO NA DEREVA" kutoka Google, pia kumekua na aina nyingine ya miwani maarufu kama “Spy glasses” ambayo awali iliaminika inatumiwa zaidi na wahalifu ( wadukuzi) wa taarifa za watu.

Miongoni mwa maswala yaliyo umiza vichwa wataalam wa maswala ya usalama mitandao katika mijadala ni pamoja na kupima athari za miwani hii ya kisasa ambayo inakua imeambatanishwa na kifaa chenye uwezo wa kuona, na kusafirisha taarifa upande wa pili huku pande zote mbili kuweza kusafirisha sauti kupitia mawani hiyo.

Aina tatu za mawani hizi za kisasa ziliweza kuangaziwa macho na wataalam wa maswala ya usalama mitandao ili kujua ni athari kiasi gani zinaweza kuleta kwa jamii na badae katika kampeni ya kukuza uelewa wa maswala ya usalama mitandao kwa msaada wa tasnia ya uigizaji, Hollywood kupitia Tamthilia ya "NIKITA" kwenye kipengele chake cha mwisho sehemu ya kwanza naya tatu walitolea ufafanuzi aina mbili za miwani na uwezo wake.

Aina hiyo ya mawani sasa imeonekana kuchukua sura mpya pale Polisi nchini uchina kukamata wanafunzi waliyokuwa wakitumia miwani hiyo wakati wakifanya mitihani ilikuwasiliana na walio nje kupatiwa majibu ya mtihani. Uchunguzi huo uliambatana na tahadhari kuwa miwani hiyo iko kawaida sana na kwa haraka haraka si rahisi kuitambua hivyo wasimamizi mitihani kutakiwa kuwa makini sana kwa wavaaji miwani.

SENTENCED TO NINE-MONTH IN JAIL FOR ESPIONAGE

A 45-year-old Indian national has been sentenced to a nine-month jail by a German court for spying on the Indian community in the country.

Ranjit S, an electrician, violated the German law by engaging in espionage operations, the high court in Koblenz said in its verdict delivered last week.

The court said during the trial involving nine days of hearing that the convict had collected information on the Indian community in Germany, especially on Sikh extremist groups, and passed it to an official at the Consulate General of India (CGI) in Frankfurt.

It ruled that the convict committed the offence not only by "gravely disregarding" Germany's sovereignty but also by cooperating "conspiratorially and actively" with the Indian intelligence agency.

Ranjit, who came to Germany in 2002 with a forged passport, told the court that he was a Sikh and in India he worked as a member of the All India Sikh Students' Federation which campaigns for an independent state in Punjab, the court statement said.