There were 5.4 million cyber-attacks recorded last yearin Kenya. That is more than double the numberrecorded in 2013.

Most of the attacks involved financial crimes or targetedinformation infrastructure like computer systems. Thetargets were Kenyan government agencies, othergroups and private citizens.

5.4 million cyber attacks were recorded in Kenya in 2013.

Many computer users wonder what they should bedoing to guard against possible online attacks.

Felix Ngugi is a 22-year-old information technologystudent. He is taking a two-year-long class. The coursehelps students learn how to secure information storedon computers. It tells them about computer hackingand tests their anti-hacking proficiency.

Students pay $10 a year for the costs of softwareprograms and use of computer servers. Felix Ngugisays $10 is a small price for the knowledge andexperience offered by the course.

"Why we are learning this is to be able to secure the people who areinnocently being attacked by people who know computers and to protect theirdata and information from getting out to the open."

Kenyais listed as one of the countries most likely to face cyber-threats.Kenya's Ministry of Information and Communication says that, in 2013, thecountry had 31-million users of mobile devices. It adds that 13 million othersused the Internet.

Cyber-crime is estimated to cost the world economy more than $500 billion ayear.

The African Union is taking steps to fight cyber-crime. Its members createdthe AU Convention on Cyber Security and Data Protection. Yet the agreementhas yet to be approved by a single country.

Fred Wahome is an expert on information technology.

“One of the challenges that came up is that the member states were notconsulted on these issues, so you’ll find countries like Kenya, the humanrights organizations and some of the universities, they opposed thatconvention based on those facts that they could actually hamper the issues ofhuman rights.”

I’m Jonathan Evans.

Lenny Ruvaga reported this story from Washington. Jonathan Evans adaptedit for Learning English. George Grow was the editor.

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Words in this Story

fraud – n. the crime of using dishonest methods to take something valuablefrom another person

hack– v. to secretly get access to the files on a computer or network in orderto get information, cause damage, etc.

proficiency– n. a high degree of skill for something; expertise.