Enhancing Rwanda's digital environment involves more than just strong systems; it also requires awareness, education, and cooperation be...
Enhancing Rwanda's digital environment involves more than just strong systems; it also requires awareness, education, and cooperation between citizens and institutions, as stated by specialists. These experts made this comment on Friday, November 21, at an event centered on cybersecurity and data protection awareness. A recent TransUnion report indicated that between February and May, 58% of Rwandans were victims of digital fraud. Out of these, 9% became victims, while 49% were targeted but managed to avoid being affected. ALSO READ: Rwandans most vulnerable to online fraud when creating accounts, study reveals The results highlight a pressing issue: how can Rwanda safeguard its citizens and businesses in a quickly digitizing economy? Sadrah Irasubiza, the Managing Director of NetFella, a cybersecurity consulting company, said the answer lies in raising awareness and building capacity among citizens, especially young people. “When we focus on students and schools, we are giving them the skills to go on and educate their families. We are achieving two goals with one action,” he explained. ALSO READ: Rwanda launches CyberHub to enhance cybersecurity abilities and innovation Irasubiza pointed out that most cyber incidents result from human errors. “There is a saying that 90% of people are hacked because of their own mistakes. You might have all these systems protecting you, but imagine they send you a link and you click on it without knowing what happens next. You may think it’s a small act, but you're giving a hacker a 90% chance of compromising you.” He added that many users underestimate the lasting nature of their digital footprints. “You may delete something on your end, but big companies still have it on their servers, and it can be used against you.” According to Irasubiza, the most common digital threats in Rwanda include phishing, links or documents sent via email, WhatsApp, or SMS promising rewards, and vishing, or voice phishing, where attackers impersonate service providers to deceive victims. “The key is mindset; don't rush. First evaluate everything before reacting,” he noted. Legal frameworks and institutional support For long-term digital protection, Rwanda has strengthened its legal and institutional structures. Ghislaine Kayigi, the Chief Cybersecurity Standards Officer at the National Cybersecurity Authority (NCSA), mentioned that these measures also assist in attracting investors. ALSO READ: Awareness about fraud is the firewall Africa needs most - cyber experts “When investors come, they first do due diligence to see what laws the country has that can protect their customers, their business, and their data. One of the main questions that kept coming up was: what laws do you have to protect the data of citizens, or even the data of customers we bring into Rwanda?” Kayigi highlighted NCSA’s efforts with schools and initiatives like PICO-CTF, a free computer security competition for students across Africa, to develop future cybersecurity talent. “We want to encourage students and young people to explore cybersecurity. You don’t have to abandon your educational path whether it's finance, health, transport, or law. But you can add cybersecurity skills, because we need subject matter experts working with engineers to create effective security measures.” “Cybersecurity is not a product. It's not something you buy once and it's done. It's a process. You need to review, assess, and keep learning new things constantly,” Kayigi added. She emphasized that the goal is to provide young people with a space to develop skills and business ideas in cybersecurity, creating solutions that benefit Rwanda, the region, and the continent.
Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).
