‘Cyber Smart Samoa’ a wake-up call for parents
Leaders (left to right) in Information Technology (I.T.) Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (M.C.I.T.) Lefaoali'i Unutoa Auelua, C.E.O. of SkyEye Pacific and President of the Samoa Information Technology Association (S.I.T.A.) Fa'aso'otauloa Sam Saili and Malaeulu Jobenz Manoa, Vice President of S.I.T.A. and Co-Owner of WebSafe Services Samoa.
Photos: Government of Samoa, SkyEye and WebSafe
The safety of Samoa’s children and families in the digital world is the focus of Cyber Smart Samoa Week, a week of cyber security activities spearheaded by the Ministry of Communications Information and Technology (M.C.I.T.).
This week is filled with activities hosted by the Government of Samoa during Cyber Smart and the two-day Samoa Information Technology Association’s (S.I.T.A.) during its 2022 Technology Expo.
Cyber Smart is not only a wake-up call for parents. It is a wake-up call for Samoa to make cyber security a priority when planning any internet activities, said Lefaoali’i Unutoa Auelua, the Chief Executive Officer (C.E.O.) of M.C.I.T.
Lefaoali’i told EyeSpy Radio the purpose of Cyber Smart is ”to protect our people who use the internet.”
M.C.I.T. wants to increase awareness among Samoans about the many threats children, adults, businesses and government ministries must think about when utilising the internet.
“Cyber Smart aims to increase awareness to protect our people who use the internet. Cyber security is a broad subject and there are so many thing involved,” Lefaoali’i said.
“We have to protect our children from harmful websites and increase awareness among parents so they remain vigilant in monitoring the devices and laptops their children use to do their homework.”
Due to obligations like work and chores, parents are not paying much attention to what their children are doing on the internet, she added.
“Parents, they kind of don’t pay attention to it. That is the attitude because families are so busy with work and chores,” said Lefaoali’i.
“Parents give their children devices and laptops and let them have their way but they are not aware of what is out there.”
In addition to monitoring children, internet users must be cautious about hackers who go on the internet everyday and steal our personal information to commit crimes.
Internet users must also look out for scams where people contact you and ask for your banking information with the intent to drain your bank account.
“We must also be cautious of hackers who steal your identity and information to carry out crimes. They use our identities to commit crimes,” the C.E.O. said.
“And it’s not just that it also includes the electronic requests you receive saying you have won the lottery and to send your bank account information to claim your $1 million. It‘s those kind of things. I doubt there is anyone who is going to sit around and want to give away such a large amount of money,” said Lefaoali’i.
Hackers are very smart and Samoa must be educated on the threats that abound the internet, Lefaoali'i noted.
“A lot of our people are desperate for money for faalavelave but they are unaware that it is not a good thing but they send their account information only to go to the bank one day to find you have nothing in your bank account,” Lefaoali’i said.
“That is what happens. These people (hackers) who commit these crimes are smart. That’s what we are doing for cyber week – informing the public about the threats they need to protect themselves from on the internet.”
Guest Speaker at the Cyber Week launch is Supreme Court Justice Vui Clarence Nelson.
He was invited to speak at the launch because of his passion for the rights of children.
“He was chosen to speak because he has been involved with the Convention on the Rights of the Child… their focus is the right of the child…issues the right of the child to live and the right of the child to access these devices so we invited him and he is happy to speak,” said Lefaoali’i.
“Vui is passionate about protecting our children especially from harmful websites. He has a passion to protect the children and he is vocal about these things.”
Cyber Week opened Tuesday morning at the Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Efi (T.A.T.T.E.) Conference Center.
Rev. Talalelei Tuafafo, leader of the Congregational Christian Church of Samoa (C.C.C.S.) opened the event with a word of prayer.
Communications Minister Toelupe Poumulinuku Onesemo spoke at the launch.
There will be capacity building or training for people from government ministries and other organizations throughout the week.
Officials with the Australian Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (D.F.A.T.) and the New Zealand government will carry out the trainings.
Training will focus mostly on protecting government systems against hacks and data theft.
On Thursday and Friday, S.I.T.A. opens its two-day 2022 Technology Expo on Thursday.
Vice President of S.I.T.A. Malaeulu Jobenz Manoa told EyeSpy that businesses and government ministries have been invited to share about the digital components of their work.
Malaeulu is co-owner of WebSafe Services Samoa, a local I.T. firm that specialises in cyber security. But this week, WebSafe’s lead penetration tester will put on his S.I.T.A. hat and speak about “hacking a Samoan” during the Expo.
A penetration tester or pen tester performs simulated cyberattacks on a company's computer systems and networks.
Admission to the S.I.T.A. Expo is free.
S.I.T.A. will have its Annual General Meeting on Friday.
“I’ll be speaking. I will be presenting. The idea is that we have private companies and businesses and ministries come in to share their work that has a digital component. It’s a free event. It’s on for two days and then we have our Annual General Meeting on Friday,” Malaeulu said.
“It will be held at the T.A.T.T.E. Conference Center and it’s a whole day event. We will have international speakers and local companies.”
S.I.T.A. President Fa’aso’otauloa Sam Saili, the C.E.O. and Chairman of SkyEye Pacific, will open the expo with welcome remarks and M.C.I.T. Minister Toelupe will provide the keynote speech.
A special address will be provided by Falelimu Chuck Leota, C.E.O. of the American Samoa Telecommunications Authority (A.S.T.C.A.).
There will be presentations that cover virtual and augmented reality, the Samoa National I.D., education and a panel discussion that will address “Samoa’s State of the Internet.”