On 20th October 2014, The Tanzanian Commission for Science and Technology (COSTECH) in collaboration with The Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO), the Commission on Science and Technology for Sustainable Development in the South (COMSATS), the Inter Islamic Network on Information Technology (INIT) and the COMSATS Institute of Information Technology (CIIT), launched the internet security workshop. The five days international workshop themed "Internet Security: Enhancing Information Exchange Safeguards" intends to provide a forum to the young scientists/researchers, practitioners, academicians, system administrators, systems programmers and students from the developing countries to learn about the latest advancements in the field of internet security. The workshop has brought together participants from Uganda, Nigeria, Senegal, Kenya, Pakistan and Tanzania.
Permanent Secretary Ministry of Communication, Science and Technology Professor Patrick Makungu giving his speech at the launching ceremony
During the event, Professor Patrick Makungu, Permanent secretary Ministry of Communication Science and Technology said that as the information technology sector is growing, the threats to cyber security are increasing. "This is an important workshop since it focus on training of the trainers' he added "Lack of technical know-how, lack of laws and legislations specific to cyber crime, coupled with inefficiency digital literacy among the public at large has made efforts to curb online piracy suffer setbacks.
Dr. Aicha Bammoun from The Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) giving a speech during the event.
Meanwhile, Mr. Muhammad Afiq-ur-Rehman the senior program officer of INIT said that data and applications on networks have to be secured to the optimum level.
"The use of computer has become a major element in government and business activities, tampering with these networks can have serious consequences for agencies firms and individuals,"he said.
Tajamul Hussain, COMSATS program advisor said that the workshop will allow IT professionals to collectively address relevant issues and challenges related to information and internet security. He added that COMSATS is committed to develop and strengthen linkages among the countries of the south for exchange of resources, technology and knowledge.
Dr Aicha Bammoun from ISESCO said that the training is expected to enhance sensitize on the problems of cyber crime, encourage the preparation and adoption of harmonised framework of cyber security and legal and regulatory environment as to reduce threats in cyber security.
On his part, Dr Hassan Mshinda, COSTECH Director General said that there is a great need of IT professional to be equipped skills on cyber security in Tanzania to ensure cyber security.
This is the fourth internet security workshop the first three events of this series were held in Syria (2011), Jordan (2012) and Tunisia (2013) respectively.
Tanzania is reported to have so far lost nearly 10 billion shilling (equivalent to USD $ 6 million) through cyber related fraud crimes, involving mostly card skimming and ATM thefts. But we are not resting. As of now, there are more than 300 cyber crime cases being investigated, some of which are about to be benched in courts of law, according to the records from the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Participants of the internet security workshop in group photo with the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Communication, Science and Technology, Professor Patrick Makungu
