Tanzania Government Finalizing Cyber Crime Act

The government of Tanzania is in the process of finalizing a Cyber Crime Act that which will help curb theft through banking institutions. This was revealed by the Deputy Finance Minister Ms Saada Mkuya as she was speaking to the Parliament.

The government, through Bank of Tanzania, has issued guidelines to financial institutions on how to start payment systems online so as to improve the technology, she said.

The aim, she said, is to reduce or completely do away with challenges that come with online banking. She was responding to a question that said that advances in technology had brought both development and some challenges, including theft in banks through information technology.

They wanted to know how prepared the government was in confronting this challenge. Ms Saada Mkuya said in order to confront the challenge of online theft in banks, the Bank of Tanzaniaa has asked banks to use new technology Uero Master Card Visa, which is EMV-compliant and uses a chip-based system.

“The government wants banks to stop using the old system of using magnetic stripes which are outdated and can easily be manipulated to steal money from banks,” she said.

Credit: Daily News

Samsung Galaxy S4 Gets Pentagon Approval, Breaking BlackBerry’s Hold On The US Government

Samsung has confirmed that the Galaxy S4 has received security approval from the US Department of Defense (DoD), making it the company’s first device to gain US government certification. The endorsement also covers Samsung’s Knox security system and clears the way for the device to be used as part of a new policy for US government staff

This approval is in line with a DoD announcement from February that will open its communications networks to smartphones and tablets from Apple and Google by February 2014.

Airtel’s Acquisition of Ugandan Operator Warid Causes Anxiety Among Customers

Bharti Airtel acquisition Warid Telecom has put Warid customers on edge as some are concerned that they won’t be able to maintain their numbers. The deal which is Airtel’s first in-market acquisitin in history, has seen customers suggest that they may end up missing out on popular products currently offered on the Warid network. Head of Communications at the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC), Fred Otunnu has gone out to reassure customers saying that the regulator will safeguard their interests. 

Before granting any two companies a transfer of license, the regulator examines the technical, finance and business models of the companies. The process can take up to 45 days according to the law in Uganda.

Samsung Galaxy S 4 gets security approval from Pentagon

Barely a week after the start of shipping, Samsung’s Galaxy S 4 already has a feather in the cap in the name of Pentagon Security approval. This means the Galaxy S 4 is approved for use by the US Defence Agencies, a position only previously reserved for the fruity devices from Blackberry, formerly RIM.

Samsung had previously promised to eat into Blackberry’s pie with security feature KNOX. And they did develop it in a way that it doesn’t interfere with personal life.

Tanzania To Buy New Biometric System (BVR) For Voters

The government of Tanzania is seeking financial support to buy a new biometric system (BVR) for voter registration in preparation for the 2015 General Elections.

The whole decision was made by the government the main stakeholder, Justice Damian Lubuva, the Chairman of the Tanzania Electoral Commission (NEC), said.

He said: “There is no need to keep the process a secret from the public. Everything will be known after we complete the whole tendering procedure.”

He was reassuring the public about the transparency of the process after some quarters raised questions about possible mischief.