Beware...

Beware
Have you ever come across this notices that has the word Beware… as you trade around your daily life? Below are a few examples;

- Beware of land grabbers.
- Beware of ‘pick pocketers’.
- Beware of dogs.
- Beware of con-men and con-women and the list continues.

Today I want to focus on cyber crime. Beware of cyber crime, first and foremost what is cyber crime? I used Google and got a list of definition about the topic and this was among the results.

Definitions of Cyber crime on the Web:

• Computer crime or cybercrime is a form of crime where the Internet or computers are used as a medium to commit crime. Issues surrounding this type of crime have become high-profile, particularly those surrounding hacking, copyright infringement, child pornography, and child grooming. ...en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyber_crime

• Criminal acts that are performed with the aid of a computer. Crimes that fit this category are identity theft, mischievous hacking, theft, and more. internet.suite101.com/article.cfm/twentyfive_years_of_cyberspace

The emerging of internet into our society has brought everything at our door steps and some would say at the tips of our fingers. But one thing that is lacking with the wide spread and use of internet tools and applications is proper awareness, campaigns and training about security issues.

Today you can meet with people on social networks, transact business, exchange information etc but are you aware of the dangers. Without a doubt computers has brought lots of advantages in our global community but my advice to all global citizens especially the youth is to always keep a sober mind and not to be swayed or persuaded to give confidential information where it is not supposed to be given.

To fellow youth and anyone else my second advice would be to always take time before you make a decision in whatever you want to indulge yourself in. Have you ever received emails saying that you have won some cash in dollars? How many of you have received emails of people wanting to share some money that was left for inheritance by a rich and a powerful person in a certain country? How many website are out there that doesn’t give the right information or tries to imitate other websites in terms of opportunity or benefits?

What you need to know is that all this information is developed and designed by people and as the old adage says ‘in every market there is mad man or what you see is what you get’ this has got ambiguous meanings. One that I like too in Kiswahili goes “ Kuna Watu na Viatu” ( Meaning there are people and shoes ) Also has got some ambiguity in it but my understanding of it is that there are people who will really care about things and act in good manner but there are some who are totally the opposite, so the message is Beware…

After all said and done there are many ways you can check if you are on the right track especially when you are dealing with internet and computers to search for information. Here is a case in point whereby you would like to find information on how you can get scholarship to study. My personal view on what I would do is as follows in summary. I hope they might be helpful to you and please share with me any great tips to go about it.

1. I would use Google to search for the information. There are hundreds if not millions of results to go through so I will take my time in searching and short listing.

2. I will check the authenticity of the site can be hard thought but I will look for basic information like the web address, email account, when was the idea launched etc.

3. Next I will share the information with someone around and the most suitable one is if you have a friend in that country you are applying the scholarship. They would advise you and even try to check by either calling or visiting the place. May be this is a rare cases!

4. Next is to write my first email and wait for response.

5. I will be following the communication on what I’m asked to send or even fill

6. Beware when you are asked to send some money through a certain account you need to understand clearly what it is meant for.

7. Good luck and pray.

This is what I would love to share with the global citizen this July. What’s there for August…
Nairobi is cold heee!