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The Internet and You: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

by Henry Ekwuruke,

It is the exercise of freedom and the ability to bear the heavy burden of responsibility that distinguishes man as an authentic existential being. Such a freedom and ability manifest in avenues he or she channels his energy and resources. The Internet is one of such avenues. Fortunately and more unfortunately, the freedom on the Internet opens the gate to opinions, virtues and crimes. Possible reasons are that it has no conscience and soul. As a worldwide network of computers and with communication as its irreducible essence, the Internet has really offered opportunities to further all courses of basic freedom.

When created some decades ago, this phenomenon was not intended as an instrument of worldwide communication and technology as it is today. To the question, what is the secret of this success, the answer lies primarily in its flexibility. Instead of restricting component networks to a particular manufacturer, Internet technology allows interconnection of any kind of computer network. The visual nature of web documents is another reason for its no-end explosion in usage.

Professor Philip Emeagwali, a Nigerian and one of the great minds of our time, a father of the Internet as called by the former American President Bill Clinton, and a king in the IT industry opines that the Internet’s original purpose of development was to enlighten and to entertain: to cheat and to steal. Above all, it tolerates all cultures and emotion; artifice and religion. Presently, communication has become quicker and cheaper than we could have been imagined years ago.

However, this extraordinary striking and seemingly ubiquitous phenomenon called the “Internet” must be both welcomed for the good, feared for its bad and also skipped for its ugly trends and for all that it enables. From the forgoing, it is quite extraordinary and precious. Thus, it must be defended from all that would destroy it. Such is the logic that gives the onus for this write up.

The majority of the people musing the Internet are ignorant of the numerous dangers that lurk online.

Danger to Privacy
Electronic mails and other web documents can easily be snooped and tracked by hackers and crackers. As people surf the web, they are constantly giving very personal information about themselves on websites. What is involved here has to do with the issue of privacy and security. Many are easily gullible to this because of the “cargo cult mentality” that thrives on the net. File sharing and downloads into computers increases the chances of getting “spy ware” or “sneak ware” (which tracks down information). Consequently, many become victims of identity theft – one of the worst privacy violations with devastating consequences.

While the Internet gives unprecedented information and opportunities to the public in an instantaneous and interlink basis, the problem saddles itself on our necks. It may be impossible to regulate. Presently, it provides no guarantee of information security and accuracy which is critical to sound investment decisions. Thus, the persistence of scams is something every person should be afraid of. The investing public is becoming saddled with this situation with a significant new role to sift through voluminous pieces of information that may require much time and sophisticated professional acumen.

13:53

The Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega and six national commissioners will conduct the Anambra governorship election on November 16.

The INEC Administrative Secretary, Mr. Oscar-leo Amaechi, who made this known in Awka on Friday, said 15 Resident Electoral Commissioners were also expected in the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Amaechi spoke at a stakeholders meeting of Inter-Agency Consultative Security Committee with political parties and candidates.

He reiterated the preparedness of the commission to conduct free and credible poll. The commission, he said, would move election materials to registration centres close to polling booths to ensure that the election commenced at exactly 8am on that day.

The administrative secretary urged political parties to submit the names of their agents on time to enable the commission train them on their roles during the election.

He warned that INEC would not allow substitution of agents on election day.

13:32

A suicide bomber blew himself up on Wednesday on a beach in Tunisia's resort town of Sousse while security forces foiled another planned attack nearby, the interior ministry said.

PHOTO: Suicide Bomber Blows Himself Up on Empty Beach

"A man blew himself up on a beach in Sousse," ministry spokesman Mohammed Ali Laroui said, adding that no one else was killed.

Witnesses said the attack took place at around 09:30 am this morning (30 October), and near the Riadh Palms hotel in the center of the coastal town, which lies 140 kilometers south of Tunis and is a popular tourist destination.

13:27

More than half a million teachers and learners in nine countries in Sub-Africa, including Nigeria are set to have more access to digital educational resources in their schools.

British council and Bharti Airtel have partnered to maximize the learning benefits of Bharti Airtel's wider broadband connective of 5 GB per month in a three-year deal for 127 digital hubs located in schools across nine countries in continent.

According to Peter Brown, country director, British council Uganda, the latest partnership initiative with Bharti Airtel demonstrates the council's commitment to improving access to high-quality teaching and learning in Africa.

" The British council connects teachers and learners around the world, so they can learn from each other, accessing knowledge and ultimately become global citizens. It's not always possible to make these connections face-to-face and moreover web-based connection allow for greater numbers of beneficiary and this is now a reality thanks to the partnership with Bharti Airtel and Micros, " Brown stated.

14 fully equipped and connected computer hubs located in 10 districts will benefit tens of thousands of students, teachers and their wider community. The partnership with Bharti Airtel will provide full internet accessibility to British council Hubs, surrounding schools and communities.

Digital hubs have already by been set up through partnerships with Microsoft in Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya, Zambia, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Malawi, Ghana and Nigeria. High speed broadband access from Airtel for these hubs guarantees teachers and students limitless new education opportunities.

Airtel Uganda Managing Director, Mr. V.G Somashekar, believes this initiative will empower students to be more digitally enlightened and ultimately become more competitive in today's fast changing economy.

13:25

"We call him Iniesta!" Nigeria's striker Taiwo Awoniyi beamed from ear to ear when telling FIFA.com about his teammate and playmaker Musa Yahaya. "When he holds the ball in the middle and looks up, you better be moving because he wants to get it to you."

Yahaya is quiet and introverted. He needs to be coaxed into an interview. He's shy, like a lot of 15 year olds, and he wraps a wide, bashful smile around himself like a blanket when talking about football. This taciturn nature, a profound modesty and humility, are qualities often associated with Spain's Andres Iniesta, the man Yahaya's mates can't help but compare him to.

Mostly though, Yahaya is like Iniesta because he can tear defences apart in a split second. He can score from distance, or send in a killer ball from deep. He can dribble past you like you're not even there. It's a gift from God, I think. Yahaya Yahaya Nigeria's Yahaya on his trademark feint "The guys started calling me Iniesta a few years back," said Yahaya, who grew up hard in in the industrial northern city of Kaduna, following up on a face-to-face interview via email, a more comfortable platform for the No11.

"Pretty soon everybody was calling me Iniesta." There are worse players to be compared to. Iniesta's name would be in almost everyone's top-five list. He scored the winner for Spain in the FIFA World Cup™ final in Johannesburg in 2010, has won six La Liga crowns and three UEFA Champions Leagues with Barcelona and is, generally, a revered figure in the game. Few may know, Yahaya among them, that Iniesta got some of his first tastes playing in a Spain jersey right here in UAE, when he helped La Roja to the final in the 2003 U-20 World Cup.

13:24

Holders Mexico edged three-time champions Brazil on a marathon session of penalties after the quarter-final from Dubai's Rashid Stadium ended tangled 1-1 after regular time.

The two goals didn't come until the last ten minutes of this cautious affair that sees the Mexicans through to the semi-finals, where they will meet either Argentina or Côte d'Ivoire. The fourth meeting between the two nations in the U-17 world finals started slowly and cautiously.

The South Americans, who have scored 18 goals in their four games here in UAE, tried and tried in the first half against the defending champions, but they were unable to get control of the contest as Mexico defended manfully.

It wasn't until the 37th minute that the game - which promised to be a showpiece for two attack-minded sides - saw its first genuine chance on goal. Ivan Ochoa collected the ball inside his own half and ran half the length of the pitch before being denied by the knee of Marcos.

One minute before the whistle went for half-time, Brazil's Indio tried his luck with a free-kick from way out. He hit it well, but the ball could only crash against the crossbar. Seconds later, Caio had a nice effort from the edge of the box that soared regrettably over the frame of goal.

The game continued in the same fashion at the start of the second half, with neither side able to carve out many scoring chances of note. But in the 80th minute, the Mexicans turned the game on its ear. A free-kick from the right side was flicked on near the penalty spot and Ivan Ochoa was alert on the back post to hit home with his first touch.

The three-time champions were stung into immediate response. Nathan, Brazil's outstanding playmaker, got on the end of ping-ponging series of deflections in the Mexican penalty area to fire home his own rebound from 12 yards out and level the scores with five minutes to go.

Brazil pressed hard in the dying moments, but the sides couldn't be separated and the game went to penalty shootout - the first of these finals. Mexico goalkeeper Raul Gudino got his hands to both of Brazil's first shots, but he failed to keep them out. All the kicks went in after that until captain Ulises Rivas saw his effort saved by Marcos. Gudino came to Mexico's rescue, though, by saving from Gabriel to keep El Tri alive.

The kick count rose. Brazil's keeper Marcos scored and Auro injured himself scoring his penalty. Finally the deadlock was broken when Mosquito's second kick was saved by Gudino and Alejandro Diaz scored to make it 11-10.