“In
some cases, critical systems have been taken offline in an effort to protect us
against malicious threats. This level of vulnerability is not acceptable,” the
minister emphasised.
Minister of Science,
Energy and Technology, Dr Andrew Wheatley , speaking on the need for increased
security for Government Websites
Looks
like the Ministry of Science, Energy and Technology is finally taking
Government cybersecurity seriously, as new legislation is coming.
Dr
Andrew Wheatley, recognizing the importance of ICT to the developement of
Jamaica, has requested a more comprehensive audit assessment plan on the level
of security of all government websites as reported in “Technology
minister requests audit of all Gov’t websites”, published Wednesday, June
22, 2016, The Jamaica Observer.
He
made this declaration during his presentation on Tuesday June 21st 2016
during the 2016/17 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives. In his
presentation, he also made mention of the coming of new legislation to prepare
Jamaica for the coming ICT Revolution:
1.
Single ICT Regulator
2.
Data Protection Act
3.
Information and Communications Technology
(ICT) Act
With
the Data Protection Act, personal security of information for Jamaican citizens
held on the various Government Databases against hackers will be protected, as
this is critical to our future, to quote Minister Wheatley: “With increased use
of technology and the use of electronic methods of storing data, we must ensure
that the personal information of the people of Jamaica is safe and secure. The
protection of our information is a right, not a privilege,”
However,
what really caught my eye, though, was the coming Information and
Communications Technology (ICT) Act that will replace the Telecom Act of 2016,
ushering in a single ICT Regulator, to quote Minister Wheatley: “We have talked
about it long enough. This administration will make it happen. A key component
outcome of this new Act will be the creation of a Single ICT Regulator”.
So
while I’m very excited and so should the Telecom Providers, why is this all
happening?
Government Website
attacks on the Rise – Ransomware and Phishing need
His
request for a more comprehensive audit assessment plan on the level of security
of all government websites comes at a time when a lot of Jamaica Government
websites are being attacked as pointed out in my blog article
entitled “Why
Jamaican Government Websites are still hackable despite Cyber Incident Response
Report”.
Cyberattacks
have been on the rise against Jamaican Government websites since 2010, namely:
1.
Defacements
2.
DOS (Denial of Service)
3.
Phishing
4.
Ransomware
The
latest one, Ransomware, involves hackers email with files that either contain
hidden executable script or links to infected websites. This then infects the
computer and encrypts the data, making it inaccessible to the user.
Then
the user is then sent a ransom email or note, demanding that they pay money,
usually in bitcoins to a bitcoin wallet such as Caricoin as explained in Kelroy’s
blog article entitled “Caricoin
– mobile wallet built for Bitcoin targeting Caribbean nationals” to have
their harddrive unlocked and decrypted. Personal security of information means
changing password, avoid clicking on suspicion extension and implementing
two-step verification.
The
current phishing attacks that netted the logins and passwords of LinkedIn and
Twitter users accounts as pointed out in my blog article
entitled “How
to change your LinkedIn and Twitter Password after the Great Social Media
Hacking of 2016” makes this need for personal security more obvious.
So
what is the Ministry of Science, Energy and Technology doing about this?
Replacing the Telecom Act
a bold Step - Single ICT Regulator to bring harmony to ICT Sector
Minister
of Science, Energy and Technology, Dr Andrew Wheatley ambitions plan to replace
the Telecom Act of 2012 with the Information and Communications Technology
(ICT) Act makes this a very powerful piece of legislation.
It’s
not just a response to increased cybersecurity attacks, but a preparation for
the coming 4G LTE that Jamaica is undergoing thanks to competition from new
Telecom Provider Caricel as explained in my blog article
entitled “How
Caricel's 4G LTE Network is being built by Alepo and Comtech Telecommunications
Partnership”.
In
effect, the upgrading the Telecoms Act to prepare Jamaica for the shift towards
4G LTE (Long Term Evolution), which Digicel has already launched as detailed in
my blog article
entitled “US$50
million 60Mbps Digicel LTE Network as Caricel and FLOW prep for August 2016
Launch”.
Digicel's
LTE is already set to change how children use the internet on their commute on
the JUTC bus as explained in detailed in my blog article
entitled “How
JUTC Buses for Manchester and Clarendon children will have Digicel LTE and
Mobile Money”.
It
will also open up the market for the Telecom Equipment Suppliers such as Huawei
to sell other products aside from their Telecom Gear directly to customers as
pointed out in my Geezam blog article entitled
“Huawei’s
ICT Innovation Exhibition 2016 set for Telecom and Enterprise Services”.
With
eventually 5G Networks, which are slated to launch in 2020 as per the ITU
(International Telecommunication Union) 5G IMT-2020 Roadmap as explained in my blog article
entitled “ITU
publishes 5G IMT-2020 Roadmap - Why US Telecom Providers, @Digicel_Jamaica and
@LIMEJamaica like to travel off the beaten Path”, the Ministry of Science,
Energy and Technology's single ICT Regulator will bring harmony to a increasingly complex Sector
By
his actions, the Minister of Science, Energy and Technology, Dr. Andrew
Wheatley is preparing for an ICT future that will bring both benefits and new
cybersecurity dangers.
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