By MILDRED KATONGO –
THE Zambia Information and Communication Technology Agency (ZICTA) cyber security team in collaboration with the Zambia Police Service has intensified efforts in fighting cyber crime.
ZICTA public relations manager Ngabo Nankonde said the Agency is concerned with the increase in cyber crime cases in the country.
Ms Nankonde said in an interview that the ZICTA cyber security team was carrying out sensitisation programmes to help the public using Information Communication Technology (ICT) to be alert and avoid being swindled.
The Agency had been mandated by law to regulate and facilitate access to ICTs and ensure that it was not abused.
Ms Nankonde said there were people who are swindling members of the public using ICTs.
ZICTA’s role is to create an enabling environment where it was easy for businesses and consumers to interact through ICT.
“As an agency, we are concerned with the increase in cyber crime and we are stepping up efforts in ensuring that such vices are curbed.
“We have a team in place called cyber security team working with the police officers. As you are aware we have a forensic cyber section of the Police so we are sensitising the people to be alert and know how to use the ICT,” she said.
She said as technology advances, cyber crime increases, hence the need to step up efforts to protect the masses from being conned.
Ms Nankonde urged members of the public to be alert and scrutinise all the strange messages they received on their mobile phones and even when they are using Internet to avoid being swindled.
She said the agency had received reports of individuals receiving messages from strange people asking for account numbers and air time.
Ms Nankonde said in this era where ICT was widely used, people need to be alert.