Security in the Emerging African Broadband Environment

Authors

• Bryon K. Fryer Jr., Air Force Institute of Technology
• Kris Merritt, Air Force Institute of Technology
• Eric D. Trias, Air Force Institute of Technology

Document Type

Conference Proceeding

Publication Date

4-8-2010

Abstract

With broadband service proposed to be widely available in Africa by 2011, computer insecurity implications that could affect more than Africa's borders abound. The insecurity issues are intensified by the increase in digital aid being offered Africans in the form of free computers as well as the widespread use of pirated operating systems, which lack current security patches and updates. The imminent threat this places on Africans and Internet users around the globe is one that needs further clarification, observation, and critical review. We examine the causal relationships between widespread software piracy, unpatched systems, ease of connection, and impacts on the potential exploitation of such a vulnerable environment. Ultimately, theoretical examination through qualitative analysis lead us to a set of finite issues that need to addressed. Africa's computer systems are among the most vulnerable to exploitation. As broadband services become more accessible, nefarious actors exploiting the vulnerability presented by Africa's general computer insecurity could wreak havoc across the globe. Some entities have the ability to act now, but the window of opportunity is narrowing. This is a preliminary analysis of how this vulnerable environment is forming as well as who has the ability to mitigate the negative impact of this broadband explosion, such as operating system developers, antivirus vendors, local and national leaders, and information technology communities.

Comments

Current AFIT students, faculty and staff may access the full conference paper through ProQuest, by clicking here. (ProQuest document ID 869617374)

Co-author Bryon Fryer was an AFIT graduate student at the time of this paper. (AFIT-GCO-ENG-11-04, March 2011 graduate, Master of Science)

Source Publication

International Conference on Information Warfare and Security

Recommended Citation

Fryer Jr., B. K., Merritt, K., & Trias, E. (2010). Security in the Emerging African Broadband Environment. 5th International Conference on Information Warfare and Security (ICIWS), 98–105.