Bernard Acquah, Chief Investment Officer at MTN Ghana, has emphasized the importance of cybersecurity awareness in today’s digital age. Mr Acquah highlighted the need for individuals to adopt a “living with security” mindset to protect their digital identity. He said this during an MTN Ghana’s Bright Conversation on Cybersecurity Awareness at the MTN House in Accra.
“Living with security means being security conscious in all aspects of life, just like locking doors and windows at home,” Mr Acquah explained. He stressed that this mindset should extend to cybersecurity, where individuals must guard their personal information and be cautious of potential threats.
Mr Acquah identified common risks in failing to practice cybersecurity hygiene as WhatsApp hacks, mobile phone vulnerabilities, and identity theft. He advised individuals to enable two-factor authentication, use stronger passwords and regularly change them (every 3 months), and regularly update their operating systems to stay protected.
He urged Ghanaians to be cautious with personal information online, especially on social media, use reputable antivirus software and enable auto-updates, regularly review and adjust privacy settings, update operating systems to ensure security patches and efficiency, and utilize products like MTN’s Midnight Bundles to update devices without excessive data usage.
Protection Against Phishing:
Mr Acquah also warned institutions and businesses about phishing scams, where attackers send links or emails that appear legitimate but aim to steal personal information. To protect themselves, he advised them to be cautious of emails or messages that seem too good to be true, verify sender addresses by hovering over links or checking email addresses and avoid rushing into actions prompted by urgent or enticing messages.
He also noted that parents were responsible for building a culture of cybersecurity at home.
“Parents should model good cyber behavior, educate children on online safety, privacy, and cyber bullying, use platforms that offer content control and monitoring tools, and teach children to be mindful of online activities and information sharing,” Mr Acquah added.
Source: Business Ghana
