The internet has become a place where information is accessed like never before. Opinions are voiced louder than ever. Movements and initiatives are born simply by posting about them, allowing friends and strangers alike to spread the message.
Although the internet is a tool for education, development and entertainment, it has also been destructive thanks to exposés, cyber bullying and other issues that have surrounded it. But are these actions regulated? It doesn’t seem so.
One organisation determined to make a difference is the Internet Society Namibia Chapter (ISOC) that aims to “promote the internet as a positive tool to benefit all Namibians throughout the country” and unite internet users in forums to discuss a way forward within the internet community. And the youth are encouraged to join.
Here’s a list of what they aim to achieve: Promoting online protection and awareness for advanced technology in the country; advocate for the protection of citizens online against surveillance and online profiling; promoting the development of Open Data (information which should be freely available for everyone); promoting ‘techpreneurship’ in the country and advocating for web neutrality (a policy where internet data providers do not charge people based on which websites they go to or how they use the internet), among other goals.
ISOC is one of over 140 branches around the world. Its main body, the Internet Society, works around the clock to ensure a safe internet environment. Speaking at the EuroDIG conference, technology policy expert Larry Strickling said this: “If we all make it our responsibility, perhaps we can spur the next great leap forward for the internet to better recognise and respect human rights to better deter cyber crime and cyber attacks and to better meet the needs of citizens around the world. All I ask is that you give it a try”.
According to statistics by Internet World Statistics, the number of internet users in the country is growing by 2,557% and almost 800 000 users are on the internet, with 570 000 on Facebook. For a population of about 2,5 million, that’s pretty impressive! But with growth comes responsibility.
Despite ISOC’s goal to work towards 100% internet coverage for Namibia, which coincides with MTC’s 100% mobile coverage around the country, it’s also important to take the necessary precautions to ensure you are safe, as people often forget hackers are out there to steal your information.
With the internet being a source of many of our transactions, such as paying for products and services, Bank Windhoek’s André le Roux encourages you to protect yourself. “Two-step or two-factor authentication protects your accounts by requiring you to provide an additional piece of information after you give your password to get access to your account,” he said. “In the most common implementation, after correctly entering your password, an online service will send you a text message with a unique string of numbers that you will need to slot in to get access to your account.
This ensures that your online account stays within your control.”
Internet service company Yahoo! admitted in 2016 that there had been several data breaches of account information where over three billion users were affected – the largest in hacking history. So if you haven’t changed your password now, do so. Hackers already know what half the world is sending each other via mail. And change your passwords regularly, don’t slack when it comes to protecting what’s yours.
