Ministry creates awareness among students over cyber security

AS the world continues to observe the Cyber Security Month of Awareness, the Ministry of Information, Communication and Information Technology is creating awareness among secondary school students in different regions over safe use of online platforms.
The team of cyber security experts from the ministry has embarked on outreach awareness campaigns in secondary schools in Dar es Salaam, Arusha and Zanzibar.
Yesterday, the team educated students at Jangwani Secondary School in Dar es Salaam, before going to Arusha and Zanzibar.
“We see students as potential users of online platforms, so we want them become ambassadors of safe use of social media and protect them against cybercrimes,” Eng Stephen Wangwe, Assistant Director of Cyber Security in the Ministry, stated during an interview with the Daily News at Jangwani Secondary School.
Eng Wangwe counseled the students to be careful about what they post online since it may ruin their life.
“If you post something questionable or offensive to society expect to have a negative impact on your life,” said Engineer Wangwe.
Meanwhile, Engineer Wangwe reminded students on two critical things to consider when dealing with cyber security, namely avoidance of oversharing personal information and activities; and engagement of enforcement agency when detecting suspicious activities.

The Ministry has observed the worldwide Cyber Security Month of Awareness, which is annually marked in the month of October, by raising awareness in various media outlets, schools, institutions and social media platforms.
“Security starts with individuals. When generating privacy, one should build a tendency of changing his/her passwords constantly, while ensuring that they are strong, undetectable passwords,” Mr Yusuph Kileo, a Cyber Security and Digital Forensics expert to the students.

Anna Dennis Ngowi, a Form Six student at Jangwani Secondary School, praised the ministry for taking an initiative to raise awareness about Cyber Security.

She explained that many teenagers have faced cyberbullying without knowing what to do to seek help.
“So this occasion comes at an opportune time for us to learn things that can help us share and transfer knowledge to others about Cyber Security as well as cyberbullying issues,” Anna said.