TheNewsGuru

Tag: TikTok

  • Montana becomes first U.S. state to ban TikTok

    Montana becomes first U.S. state to ban TikTok

    Montana has become the first U.S. state to ban the Chinese-developed social media app TikTok, as its Republican governor Greg Gianforte signed a bill into law on Wednesday.

    “To protect Montanans’ personal and private data from the Chinese Communist Party, I have banned Tiktok in Montana,’’ Gianforte tweeted after signing the bill.

    The new rule prohibits app stores from offering the video-sharing app from Jan. 1, 2024 and prevents TikTok from operating as a business in the state.

    For every day the social media platform is still available, app providers would have to pay a 10,000 dollars fine.

    Users do not face a fine and those who already have the app on their own device are not affected.

    TikTok did not initially respond to the legal change.

    Lawsuits challenging the ban based on the right to freedom of expression are expected.

    Owned by Chinese company Byte Dance, TikTok has already been banned on government-issued devices in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Britain and the U.S., amid cyber security concerns.

    The app has more than a billion users worldwide and is widely used in the U.S. and Europe.

    It is fueling fears that Chinese authorities and secret services might use the app to collect information from users or to spread influence.

    The company has rejected such allegations.

  • Apple’s Tim Cook is all smiles in Beijing, after TikTok chief’s grilling in Washington

    Apple’s Tim Cook is all smiles in Beijing, after TikTok chief’s grilling in Washington

    Apple (AAPL) CEO, Tim Cook, gave a show of support for China as a market and manufacturing base during a visit to Beijing Saturday, even as trade and tech sector tensions escalate between the United States and the world’s second-largest economy.

    Apple and China had “grown together” over the past three decades, Cook told the government-organized China Development Forum, adding that he was thrilled to be back in the country, which only reopened its borders this year after abandoning its strict zero-Covid policy. The last time Cook visited China was in 2019.

    “We have a very large supply chain in China. We also have a thriving App Store,” the Apple chief was quoted as saying in state-run China Daily.

    Cook’s visit has raised eyebrows in some quarters, given the ongoing tech battle between the United States and China and reports that Apple has been looking to India as a potential alternative production base.

    On Friday, Cook had posted a picture of himself smiling with customers and staff at the Apple store in the shopping district of Sanlitun on China’s Twitter-like social media site Weibo.

    That post came just a day after Shou Zi Chew, the CEO of TikTok, was grilled in a five-hour hearing before a Congressional committee in Washington, where US lawmakers remain convinced the Chinese-made social media app represents an urgent threat to national security.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that TikTok is owned by a Chinese company.

    “TikTok CEO was under siege at the US hearing, while Apple CEO was enthusiastically welcomed by people at its flagship Chinese store. This shows that China is the one that is actually practicing fair and free trade,” one netizen as said.

    The Biden administration has demanded that the Chinese owners of TikTok sell their share of the company or face a ban from the United States, the app’s most important market. China’s commerce ministry said Thursday that a forced sale of TikTok would “seriously damage” global investors’ confidence in the United States.

    The US has concerns about the company’s data collection practices, and these have been exacerbated by the popularity of TikTok and other Chinese apps. Of the 10 most popular free apps on Apple’s US store, four were developed with Chinese technology: TikTok, shopping app Temu, fast fashion retailer Shein and video editing app CapCut, which like TikTok is also owned by ByteDance.

    Meanwhile, Apple has reportedly been rethinking the extent of its ties with China.

    The company’s supply chains were disrupted by China’s harsh coronavirus rules and there have been violent protests over wages at the world’s largest iPhone assembly factory at Foxconn’s campus in China’s Henan province.

    Amid these problems, and wider trade disagreements between Washington and Beijing, Apple has reportedly been looking at India as a potential alternative manufacturing hub for the iPhone 14.

    However, many analysts say that even if Apple can add diversity to its supply base it is likely to continue to depend on China for a long time yet.

    Cook said in an earnings call last year that India was a “hugely exciting market” and “a major focus” for Apple that recorded “very strong double digits year over year,” indicating its high interest to expand production in the South Asian country.

    While the rising US-China tensions have led to suggestions the world’s two largest economies could “decouple,” recent data shows trade between them hit a record high in 2022.

    Bilateral goods trade between the countries rose to $690.6 billion last year, according to official US data.

    Exports to China increased by $2.4 billion to $153.8 billion, while imports of Chinese products rose by $31.8 billion to $536.8 billion according to the US Bureau of Economic Analysis.

    The data suggests that the idea of “decoupling,” or reducing mutual reliance in a range of areas, is much more evident in policy discussions in Washington rather than on-the-ground trade reality.

  • US Congress to grill TikTok CEO over data privacy concerns

    US Congress to grill TikTok CEO over data privacy concerns

    Shou Zi Chew, Chief Executive Officer of ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, is set to face the United States Congress over data privacy concerns.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) gathered that Chew will be grilled by American lawmakers on Thursday, as they consider legislation that will enable President Joe Biden to order a nationwide ban on the app.

    The House Committee on Energy and Commerce stated that the hearing will focus on TikTok’s “consumer privacy and data security practices, how the platform affects children, and its relationship with the Chinese Communist Party”.

    TikTok has come under heavy scrutiny in recent times over its ties with the Chinese government. Many western states, including the US have prohibited the use of the app on government-owned devices.

    In December last year, lawmakers of the US Senate introduced a bill to ban the use of the video sharing platform in the country.

    One of the bill’s sponsors, Republican Senator Marco Rubio of the Senate Intelligence Committee, stated that the app was not just about creating videos, but it serves as a major tool in the hands of the Chinese Government to obtain sensitive data from Americans.

    Earlier in March, US National Security Advisor, Jake Sullivan, revealed that the White House had welcomed the bill which would empower the President to ban the app in the country.

    The bipartisan bill “would empower the United States government to prevent certain foreign governments from exploiting technology services… in a way that poses risks to Americans’ sensitive data and our national security,” Sullivan said.

    Already, the US military, the State Department, and the Department of Homeland Security have all restricted the app from operating on their computer devices

    Similarly, the European Commission, United Kingdom, Canada, and New Zealand, have ordered government workers to delete the application from their official devices.

    Last week, a Wall Street Journal report revealed that the US government has also recently demanded that ByteDance sell its shares in the TikTok app, or face a national ban.

  • Technology, always about National interest – By Okoh Aihe

    Technology, always about National interest – By Okoh Aihe

    I am not going to write about those who break bones and spill blood to impose themselves as leaders on the hapless people. I will not lampoon those who hoped upon hope expecting the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) to deliver on a project on which it has shown infinite incapacity to handle.

    I will not also write about the recent wave of sanctions on broadcast stations by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) for falling short of the standards of broadcasting as enshrined in the Nigeria Broadcasting Code; for it has become too commonplace to make sense or even news in my own little estimation. Nor will I be the one to begin to talk about the clear and present danger that may soon befall the broadcast regulator. The signs are too ominous to be ignored even by those without love for the nation’s broadcast sector. What I see in front can result in massive plunder and comprehensive emasculation of the broadcast industry.

    Troubling as the times may be, my concern this day is to look at a couple of nations of the world and the way they align technology to enhance their national security and national interest and not fight personal battles. For some of these nations, technology is always about national interest irrespective of the government in power. They demonstrate the veracity of the statement, government is a continuum.

    I will start with TikTok, that disruptive social media platform that sounds more like the sound of a wall clock. Since appearing under its present name in 2017, without prejudice to preceding history, the video sharing platform of snackable contents, owned by ByteDance and Chinese owner,  Zhang Yiming, has gained traction globally, especially since merging with Muscical.ly in 2018.

    By this year, TikTok has over 1.53bn users globally and the networth has jumped over $50bn. The young people like it especially. In this world of bullish narcissism, when social media personalities market even the most bizarre tastes and entertainers want every minute detail of their fantasy covered for public consumption, while politicians exhibit some of their latest acquisitions with stolen wealth, TikTok has enjoyed a fairy ride and accelerated populism. It has also earned a little bit of trouble that is affecting its footprints globally. It is not because of what TIkTok is doing wrong, which really has not been proven by anybody, but by reason of provenance.

    TikTok is Chinese, if you permit such directness. And here is the ailment. While labouring to emerge from a chequered history of being hated and overlooked by the rest of the world, China has really not been open enough to earn any trust from the global community. If the country is not playing war games, it is doing certain things too clandestinely which fall short of global acceptable standards.

    For instance, in the summer of 2020, there was a boarder clash between China and India, leading to some deaths. TikTok became a direct victim with over 200 million people disconnected from its App immediately. The Indian government needed to send a clear message to an overbearing neighbour. It was a great loss.

    Since then some other countries have taken stern measures against TikTok. They include: Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Canada, United Kingdom and a host of other countries.

    But America leads the pack in a most standard way, arguing her position very vehemently, from the twin positions of national security and national interest. On the suspicion that the Chinese government could exploit its relationship with TikTok to  mine data which the company collects from its subscribers and gain an advantage over the US government or spy on journalists who report China, President Trump signed an executive order to the effect that TIkTok cedes ownership to American investors.

    CNN reported in March this year that “China has national security laws that require companies under its jurisdiction to cooperate with a broad range of security activities.”

    Trapped in some turmoil, TikTok  chief executive, Shou Zi Chew, had said that the Chinese government had yet to make such a request, explaining that TIkTok was not obliged to respond in the affirmative even if it did ask. TIkTok doesn’t operate in China but the founding company, ByteDance, does.

    But nobody is buying any of that. Not President Joe Biden who, although had rescinded the Trump executive order, is enjoying Congress support in dealing a decisive blow, which he did late last year, by signing a legislation prohibiting TikTok on federal government mobile devices. A number of states in America are following the prints of the Biden government on TIkTok. Meaning that if you work for the American government or some of these states, you are not allowed to allow TikTok on your mobile work devices.

    Let’s take the journey back. The developed west always have their issues with China. Under President Donald Trump, those issues never abated but escalated to a new height. I had nursed the thought that a major cause of that sour relationship was the scramble for the leadership of 5G technology at the global level.

    China had been bullish in the promotion of 5G and even giving discounted sales to encourage nations to try out the technology often described by some  as a monster capable of unleashing unimaginable development.

    For a time, Chinese companies, Huawei and ZTE had a great run across the world, most irritatingly even in Europe and the Americas. This wasn’t to last forever. Some countries believe that Chinese companies  embed spyware in their equipment.

    When Trump spoke on April 12, 2019, his position on 5G was very clear. “We cannot allow any other country to out-compete the United States in this powerful industry of the future. We are leading by so much in so many different industries of that type, and we can’t let that happen. The race to 5G is a race America must win, and it’s a race, frankly, that our great companies are now involved in. We have given them the incentive they need. It’s a race we will win,” he said.

    Although the skirmishes between Trump and the Biden administration is so well known, the government’s position on 5G remains the same. The American government and its people must have a commanding say in the matter.

    Biden has only throttled on from where Trump left off. Fortunately Biden has also enjoyed the support of the Congress in taking some crucial decisions. It is about national interest, not about anybody, party or even the President. It is about the American people.

    The US Congress is putting pressure on the multi-agency body, the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) to quickly complete work on their investigations of TikTok and draw some conclusions. In a letter to Janet Yellen, Treasury Secretary and Chair of the Committee, Senators Richard Blumemthal, D, and Jerry Moran, R, expressed their fears over activities and safety of TikTok, and urged CFIUS to conclude its investigations and impose stricter sanctions and structural changes on the organisation. In this matter, the President, Biden, and the Congress are headed in the same direction but all in the American interest.

    But what lessons do we learn as a people and a nation? The recent elections to elect new Assembly members in the country is so fractured and mired in sustained acrimonious controversies and accusations that it may prove difficult to expect anything good out of the lot. While I suggest that quality of choice across the nation will emerge with time, it will be suicidal not to encourage or challenge the new members to perform and rescue the nation in very challenging times.

    While nations concern themselves with the way technology treats government and its people, Nigeria and its government have largely been concerned with how technology hurts the ego of some individuals who labour under the delusion that their hurt is the nation’s hurt.

    So much has gone wrong under this administration. Could there be a flicker of hope that the new administration will offer something better?

    My little appeal is that the new National Assembly members should work to redeem the image of the revered institution, engage in some rigorous study in their areas of interest, and be knowledgeable enough to initiate tech bills that can impact on the nation. They should be knowledgeable enough to challenge government appointees who intimidate them with false knowledge and defraud the people with bogus ideas and unverifiable submissions.

    The lawmakers should do less oversight functions, visiting corporates and government agencies but should instead concentrate on the needful that can help the Nigerian people instead of helping a few pockets that may not help the nation when the journey gets real tough.

  • UK to ban TikTok on govt. phones

    UK to ban TikTok on govt. phones

    Britain said on Thursday it would ban TikTok on government phones with immediate effect, a move to follow other Western countries who have barred the Chinese-owned video app over security concerns.

    TikTok has come under increasing scrutiny due to fears that user data from the app owned by Beijing-based company ByteDance could end up in the hands of the Chinese government, undermining Western security interests.

    Britain’s National Cyber Security Centre has been reviewing whether TikTok should be barred from government phones, while the United States, Canada, Belgium and the European Commission have already banned the app.

    Cabinet Office minister Oliver Dowden told parliament that government devices would only be able to access third-party apps from a pre-approved list.

    “We are also going to ban the use of TikTok on government devices, we will do so with immediate effect,” he said.

    The ban does not include personal devices and there would be limited exemptions where TikTok is required on government devices for operational reasons, Dowden added.

    “This is a proportionate move based on specific risk with government devices.”

    Earlier, when the prospect of such a ban was reported, TikTok said it would be disappointed by such a ban.

  • “Nekede poly student in sex-for-grade video won’t be victimized under my watch”- Rector

    “Nekede poly student in sex-for-grade video won’t be victimized under my watch”- Rector

    Dr. Michael Arimanwa, Rector of the Federal Polytechnic Nekede, Owerri, Imo State, has said the Management of the institution will not victimize the student, Ogechi Okoroafor, who claimed she graduated from the institution with the help of God and her private parts.

    The student had said in a viral video that she graduated from the institution by the help of her private parts and God.

    Speaking on the issue in his office on Tuesday while assessing his achievements for four years, Arimanwa assured that the student would not be victimized under his watch.

    “The lady made the unfortunate video that circulated widely across the world because the video was watched by people nearly everywhere. I have received calls and comments from people almost everywhere on earth. So, I know that video had gone quite wide. It is an unfortunate thing,” he said.

    Nekede Polytechnic rector stated that a committee has been set up on the matter, adding that, “we don’t want to pre-empt the outcome of the committee because we will interact with her tomorrow from the notice I have seen.”

    He added, “But I want you to know that we are not going to in any way victimize her under my watch but we will follow the rules, we will stand by the rule and due process.”

    He further said the school had a mechanism to punish both staff and students who had erred in the past.

    “Some people have been punished, some people (were) removed as Heads of Departments, some have gone through suspension, some people have been downgraded, and some people have been barred from promotion for some many reasons,” he said.

    He added that the school has laws and policies that govern it and “those who go against such policies, whether exam malpractices, sexual harassment or any other infractions,” are duly punished, stating that “some have lost promotion; some have been sacked actually — we have sacked like two people — some have been demoted and a few students have been expelled as well for one thing or another. We have done them dispassionately and laid them to rest.”

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that the student had boasted on social media that she graduated with the help of God and p–sy, but her lawyer argued that she meant popsy.

    In the TikTok live video she made which later went viral, Sharon claimed she would have been unable to graduate without the use of her private part to sort her grades and project defense, while thanking God for giving her ‘hot pussy, which has helped her go far in academic.

    But the management of the Federal Polytechnic Nekede did not find the claim funny and took steps to unveil the identity of the student and ascertain her claims.

    Nekede poly Rector says student in sex-for-grade video won’t be victimized

    Re: THE CASE OF OKOROAFOR OGECHI SHARON(THE GRADUATING STUDENT OF FED POLYNEK IN A VIRAL VIDEO)

    We are solicitors to OKEREAFOR OGECHI SHARON( our Client under our Pro Bono (Free Legal Services) on whose behalf we write this memo to you.

    We are aware that she will be facing the school disciplinary panel this morning and we wish to use this medium to express our confidence that the panel will carry out their duties in compliance with the principles of Fair hearing,Good conscience and Natural Justice devoid of harassment, intimidation and threats.

    We have met and discussed with our Client and evidence before us shows that she has no intention to defame the character, standard and integrity of the institution. In her words what happened in the said viral video was a slip of tongue as a result of her uncontrollable ecstacy over her graduation.Her intended words were “God and Pupsy” (Not P*ssy) in appreciation of the almighty God and her Dad.It is clear therefore that she had no intention whatsoever to use such a “fowl word” in the said viral video to cajole or blackmail the institution as no lecturer or name of the institution was mentioned or referred in the said viral video.

    Our lawyers are already on ground at the institution now to follow up the proceedings at the panel against any form of intimidation or harassment. The integrity and standard of the said institution is not in doubt especially since my Senior brother, Rev Dr Arimanwa took over as the Rector.

    Indeed, Justice is for all parties.

    Kindly accept the assurances of our warmest regards.

    Barr Ikechukwu Nwaopara

    Solicitor & Advocate of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.”

     

  • Popular TikTok creator, Murja remanded in prison

    Popular TikTok creator, Murja remanded in prison

    Popular TikTok creator, Murja Ibrahim Kunya has been remanded in prison by a Sharia court in Kano State.

    The Sharia court sitting at Filin Hockey area of the Kano metropolis ordered Murja to be remanded in a correctional centre on Thursday.

    She was arraigned on charges that border on defamation of character, vulgarity, public nuisance and breach of public peace.

    The defamation charge was added to the count following a complaint filed by two other TikTokers: Aisha Najamu and Idris Maiwushirya, accusing Murja of defaming their character.

    After all the charges were read to the accused by the prosecuting counsel, Lamido Sorondinki, she pleaded not guilty.

    Thereafter, Murja’s lawyer, Yasir Musa moved an application for her bail, but was opposed by the prosecution counsel.

    Abdullahi Halliru, the Judge, ordered that the accused person be remanded in prison custody and adjourned the case till February 16 for ruling on the bail application.

    Recall that Miss Murja was recently arrested by the police in Kano on the order of a Sharia court.

  • [Video]Nigerian believes goldfish he caught’ll change his life, seeks value

    [Video]Nigerian believes goldfish he caught’ll change his life, seeks value

    Social media has been sent into a frenzy by a Nigerian man over a goldfish he caught.

    The man showcased the fish and urged netizens to help him identify its name and worth so he does not make a mistake.

    According to the man, he does not want to eat something which he fears may be of great financial value to him if sold.

    The man, via his TikTok handle, shared a video of the fish still alive, as he asked viewers to come to his aid.

    He recalled the story of a man in Ughelli who caught a fish that would have changed his life, but he ate it.

    In his words: “Abeg make una help me check this fish because me I never see this kind of colour before. Whether na goldfish…”

    @mr_unbreakable_kk Check oooo#elalobor #tiktokmakemefamous #viral #tiktokmakeup ♬ soso – Omah Lay

    Some persons who claimed to be knowledgeable about fish came up with speculations about its name and worth. Others thought his catch was no big deal.

    Netizens reactions

    user215561070743 said: “Come north e full here we call it kurongu mugun kifi.even d fish dey do soso challenge.”

    Pree me said: “It’s a rare fish, it’s called Corydoras melanotaenia it’s normally found in Columbia. I wonder e con de naija.”

    Nikky said: “It’s a normal fish but with a different color, have seen and ate such fish countless times.”

    rachesughdk said: “Fish when we Dey eat for bayelsa anyhow na common fish for bayelsa very sweet more than the white silver one.”

    Sharon said: “No be dah fish wey jang uk and master lee catch for alchemy of souls be this.”

    eddysteadyfinger said: “This fish is very common , during raining season, the fish use to cash for fishing net.”

    Ejima Ifeanyi said: “If you grew and fish in the village you would know this fish it we call it okpu.”

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) recalls that a white man identified as FLbassmaster had earlier Caught $10,000 worth goldfish and kept it.

    Recall that sometime in May 2022, three lucky Nigerian men caught a big sailfish in a Lagos sea worth over N500k.

    A marine engineer identified as Pakama and two of his colleagues took to Twitter to show off the big sailfish they caught on the sea in the Lagos anchorage area.

    Pakama shared photos of himself and colleagues posing with their big catch and captioned it, “We don catch Pepper soup fish.”

    32-year-old Pakama said the catch was made on Tuesday, May 25.

    The elated engineer said his two colleagues had set the fish trap playfully on Monday evening and never expected to record such a big catch.

    “A hook was set with a smaller fish as bait the previous evening by 2 of my colleagues and honestly it was done playfully without expecting such huge catch.”

    Pakama said while doing his normal rounds that fateful morning, he noticed the struggling fish and notified his colleagues.

    He said: “However this morning (Tuesday) while taking my normal rounds at the aft of the vessel before going down to the engine room I noticed the struggling fish and called the attention of my colleagues who assisted in getting the fish onboard.

    “It was a joyful moment not because we knew the market value of the fish but natural joy for just making a big catch.”

    See video:

     

    View this post on Instagram

     

    A post shared by Media/News Company (@thenewsgurung)

  • TikTok Creator, Avery Cyrus breaks up with girlfriend after 3 months of dating

    TikTok Creator, Avery Cyrus breaks up with girlfriend after 3 months of dating

    The Nickelodeon mogul, JoJo Siwa ,19, and her TikTok creator partner, Avery Cyrus, 22, who first announced they were officially dating back in September, are no longer together,

    Cyrus revealed in a comment on a TikTok post on Saturday.

    Sharing a video from a tropical getaway, Siwa can be seen in the video telling Cyrus, “This is my sorry for breaking up with you present.”

    In the comments section, one fan wrote, “Now I just want to know why,” to which Cyrus responded: “We decided that we are better off as friends! We are both so young and still just trying to figure our stuff out.”

    The former couple first sparked romance rumors after they filmed a TikTok video alongside each other on Aug. 5. The duo was seen mouthing the words to a voiceover by Scott Disick and Kourtney Kardashian.

    “We’re friends,” lip-synced Siwa. “Purely platonic,” mouthed Cyrus — prompting Siwa to laugh.

    Cyrus and Siwa continued to appear in each other’s social media posts in the weeks that followed, while also leaving flirty messages in each other’s comment sections.

    On Sept. 13, Cyrus and Siwa made their relationship official with a TikTok video that showed the two kissing in a Chuck E. Cheese photo booth. Two days later, the couple made their red carpet debut.

    Then, in October, Siwa revealed that she was officially off the market, posting an Instagram photo dump that included one of a “JoJo Be My GF?” sign made by Cyrus. She then gave proper confirmation in a YouTube vlog.

    “We’re girlfriends now. I’m so happy you said yes. I knew you weren’t gonna say no, I was just nervous,” Cyrus said, to which Siwa replied: “I’d be insane if I said no, you’re the best girlfriend in the world.”

  • BEWARE: Threat actors take over viral TikTok challenge

    BEWARE: Threat actors take over viral TikTok challenge

    The Nigerian Communications Commission’s Computer Security Incident Response Team (NCC-CSIRT) has warned about the potential harm of taking part in the Invisible Challenge on short-form video hosting service, TikTok, revealing that it exposes devices to Information-Stealing Malware.

    An NCC-CSIRT advisory disclosed that threat actors have taken advantage of the viral TikTok challenge, known as the Invisible Challenge to disseminate an information-stealing malware known as the WASP (or W4SP) stealer.

    The WASP stealer, which is high in probability with critical damage potential, is a persistent malware hosted on discord that its developer claim is undetectable.

    The advisory reads: “The Invisible Challenge involves wrapping a somewhat transparent body contouring filter around a presumed naked individual. Attackers are uploading videos to TikTok with a link to software that they claim can reverse the filter’s effects.

    “Those who click on the link and attempt to download the software, known as “unfilter,” are infected with the WASP stealer. Suspended accounts had amassed over a million views after initially posting the videos with a link. Following the link leads to the “Space Unfilter” Discord server, which had 32,000 members at its peak but has since been removed by its creators.

    “Successful installation will allow the malware to harvest keystrokes, screenshots, network activity, and other information from devices where it is installed. It may also covertly monitor user behaviour and harvest Personally Identifiable Information (PII), including names and passwords, keystrokes from emails, chat programs, websites visited, and financial activity.

    “This malware may be capable of covertly collecting screenshots, video recordings, or the ability to activate any connected camera or microphone,” it explained.

    The Team said some ways to forestall such an attack include avoiding clicking on suspicious links, using anti-malware software on your devices, checking app tray and removing any apps that you do not remember installing or that are dormant and embracing healthy password hygiene practices such as using a password manager.

    The CSIRT is the telecom sector’s cyber security incidence centre set up by the NCC to focus on incidents in the telecom sector and as they may affect telecom consumers and citizens at large.

    The CSIRT also works collaboratively with Nigerian Computer Emergency Response Team (ngCERT), established by the Federal Government to reduce the volume of future computer risk incidents by preparing, protecting, and securing Nigerian cyberspace to forestall attacks, and problems or related events.