Thread by @mmnjug

The Israeli government is partnering with GoK to help it build a “Cyber-Dome” – a national defence system - to fend off increasing digital attacks. - @BD_Africa

@BD_Africa has learnt that the Israel National Cyber Directorate (INCD) - a State-run defence entity devoted to protecting Israeli cyberspace - is helping @CA_Kenya to protect communications networks in the country.

The Israeli Cyber Directorate through its Cyber Emergency Response Team (CERT) has been working to strengthen the protection of Israeli organisations and its citizens in dealing with cyber-attacks and in preparing for emergencies.

CERT which is one of the first in the world to help secure financial institutions in Israel is co-operating with the Communication Authority of Kenya and the ICT Authority in Kenya. - Mr Arnon Arbel the minister counsellor and head of economic mission of @IsraelinKenya Embassy

Israeli CERT says on its website it receives and handles hundreds of reports and information about cyber-attack attempts or threats, from local and international partners, daily. Israeli government websites and companies face thousands of attacks daily but most are thwarted.

Israel operates an air defence system famously known as the “Iron Dome” that was initially developed to destroy short-range rockets.

Mr Arbel said private Israeli firms such as cyber security provider Check Point Software Technologies are also eyeing local deals among financial institutions including commercial banks and other corporates.

NSO Group, an Israeli surveillance firm, has faced widespread allegations that its hacking software #PegasusSpyware has been sold to and misused by authoritarian governments across the world.

#PegasusSpyware infects phones, allowing operators to extract messages, photos and emails, record calls and secretly activate microphones and cameras.

London-based charity @privacyint recently ranked Israel in the top five globally for surveillance technologies, with 27 companies selling such systems.

Israel last year led 10 countries in a US-backed simulation of a major cyberattack on the global financial system in an attempt to increase cooperation that could help to minimise any potential damage to financial markets and banks.

Israel’s Iron Dome defence system also uses automation but is controversial on account of its high cost, disputed effectiveness, and deployment during the ongoing Palestine/Israel conflict, observers say.

Kenyan businesses lose billions of shillings and troves of sensitive information to hackers every year. Kenya lost about Sh18B to cybercrime in 2016, according to an ICT security survey conducted by @KNBStats and @CA_Kenya.

.@CA_Kenya through its National Computer Incident Response Team Coordination Centre (National KE-CIRT/CC), earlier warned that cyber criminals have changed tack and are now using 3rd-party software to deliver threats to unsuspecting users in an attempt to compromise, steal data.

Planned GoK and Israel partnership to bring a network ‘iron dome’ in Kenya that will help keep hackers at bay bit.ly/3PNS2qY via @BD_Africa