Tanzania has marked the Annual Cyber Security Month Awareness 2022 program with the theme: ‘cyber security, it begins with you’.

The country’s Ministry of Information, Communication and Information Technology (MICIT) has reiterated the need for vigilance as global use of e-services increases.

Speaking at the inauguration of the World Postal Day Conference on E-Commerce and Postal Addressing recently, the Assistant Director of Cyber Security Unit in the MICIT Eng. Stephen Wangwe said, “Tanzania has celebrated the Cyber Security Month Awareness since its inception in year 2004, calling upon all countries around the globe to combat cyber threats which are competitively on the rise due to the technological advancement of e-services use”.

The Ministry’s Cyber Security Unit has issued educational materials in Swahili and English to help Tanzanian communities understand the responsibilities of online use and its security.

Wangwe’s presentation included general tips to secure private information when surfing and using online services. He advised on password and protection of private information, things to do if a user becomes suspicious, cautious use of public Wi-Fi and mobile devices, among others.

“We want our citizens to be aware of cyber threats, while ensuring their e-services are friendly, fast and secured as possible,” he said.

Post Master General Macrice Mbodo added, “As a national public postal operator, Tanzania Posts Corporation (TPC) not only focuses on mail, courier and parcel logistic services, but also ensures that all services are accessible using the National Physical Addressing System - NaPA and are securely delivered.”

Wangwe said, “National Physical Addressing System cannot function without ensuring accessible, reliable and more secured e-services. The same also applies to postal services which its consumers need more knowledge about ensuring their online safety and security.”

Local cyber security and digital forensics expert Yusuph Kileo, who also a director on the African ICT Alliance (AfICTA)board, said that online users need to be careful when using any public Wi-Fi, as some of them could be interconnected to cyber trolls.

He added that when using public Wi-Fi, users should ensure that password is required, failing which a Virtual Private Network (VPN) could also serve as a viable alternative.

“Humans are the weakest link and that is why awareness is a key element for any country to ensure that its citizens are cognisant of the cyber security risks,” he added.