Triplesourced

A contact who has travels to Rwanda fairly often and has been impressed by the country's investment in IT infrastructure over recent years, just sent me a rather worrying/amusing link.

The country has ambitions to become the "Singapore of Africa" and plans to develop its broadband network to a level that will attract outside investors and foreign companies to take it seriously.

http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/1017/p01s02-woaf.html

However, becoming an "IT Hub" is more than just about putting cables in the ground as the Indian Satyam scandal showed.

It seems that The Permanent Secretary (PS) in the Rwandan Ministry of Education was arrested recently for asking for a bribe from a potential supplier to the government. If that wasn't bad enough - it seems said civil servant has now done a bunk from police custody.

Read the whole sorry tale here:
http://www.newtimes.co.rw/index.php?issue=13728&article=11208

It seems that Oscar winning animation duo Wallace and Gromit have teamed up against their latest foe. This time its not an evil Were-rabbit or a scheming Penguin but shock! Horror! that terrible scourge of the modern world - innovating without protecting copyright!

http://www.crackingideas.com/news/

Actually - you could view this new link-up between the Science Museum and the UK Patent Office as a harmless bit of fun to get kids interested in science and building stuff - except some of the language is a bit too Ministry of Truth for my liking.

"Visitors will be taken on a tour of 62 West Wallaby, the famous terraced home of Wallace and Gromit and encouraged to interact with the exhibits throughout the journey. Each “room” in the house, from kitchen to garden shed, will accommodate a different aspect of the thinking process and demonstrate how innovators can protect their intellectual property to ensure they gain maximum value from their ideas."

And don't forget kids:

"Throughout this website you will find lots of tips and activities to inspire to you become innovative along with explanations as to how intellectual property (patents, trade marks, designs and copyright) can help you protect and gain value from your creativity."

(Now that's cracking cheesey Gromit!)

I only scanned this so not sure if software is counted in this but be interested to see how they whole open source issue is dealt with.

I know this isn't blogging so much as cutting and pasting but not got much time today.

Seems the UK government still has some money left (only about a million quid though) to spend on other countries and is backing mobile banking technology in Africa and other "developing" economies (is that term still valid given the western economic system is in melt-down - what are they developing into I wonder?)

Anyways - it seems the UK government thinks mobile banking is an important step forward - maybe if Africa plays its cards right it can have its own "mobile" financial meltdown in ten years - read away if the annoying abbreviated headline doesn't offend you too much.

Department For International Development (National)

(DFID) World's poor to be helped by 'txt msg' technology

Mobile phones, text messages and fingerprint recognition could soon bring "branchless banking" to millions of the world's poorest people to help lift them out of poverty, International Development Secretary, Douglas Alexander will say today.

Mr Alexander will announce a £1.4 million UK-led three-year project that will lay the foundations for financial services to be made available through new and emerging technology across Africa and Asia.

The International Development Secretary will set out how modern technology is transforming the way banks work in the 21st century and explain that this could benefit the developing world most, with people gaining access to financial services for the first time ever.

'Branchless banking' allows an individual to have a remote bank account that is accessed and managed through their mobile phone or other technology. This could mean those with no chance of using traditional banks - because they are either too poor or the nearest bank is miles away - will be given the opportunity to save money, gain access to credit and receive money sent from family members in other countries.

The new project - Facilitating Access to Financial Services through Technology (FAST) - will:

* Support the introduction of 'branchless banking' to mass-markets in developing countries, such as Kenya, Tanzania, Pakistan, Nigeria, India, Bangladesh and Ghana. Pilot projects will be evaluated by teams of finance and technology experts and where appropriate help and promote increases in scale or spread to different countries.

* Carry out international research into how new technologies such as mobile phone banking, smart cards and biometric banking can help the poor to access financial services and identify how to spread its use across the developing world.

* Help develop industry standards that will regulate the new technology and make it secure and cheaper for people to use 'branchless banking'. This will include bringing together leading regulators from 20 developing countries.

Two billion people in the developing world currently have no access to vital financial services and rely on informal channels which can be expensive and are unsafe. Leading poverty experts suggest a lack of access to banking hampers people's ability to improve their incomes and pay for healthcare and education, whilst holding back countries' economic growth.

By using mobile phones and other existing technologies many of these people could access financial services through 'branchless banking'. About 3.3 billion people globally have a mobile phone and the number in poor countries is increasing significantly.

Africa has the highest growth in mobile phone subscribers, at more than 50% a year over the past 5 years - by the end of 2007 Africa had 278 million users.

Speaking at a meeting of leading banking and mobile telephone technology experts, Douglas Alexander will say:

"A lack of access to finance in some parts of the developing world stifles entrepreneurship, stunts development and leaves people trapped in a poor, cash-only society.

"Advancements in technology and growth in mobile phone use is changing how we all live our lives and has the potential to give people access to financial services no matter where they live.

"It is the world's poorest who could benefit from this most and that is why I am launching a three year project to help expand the availability of this technology across the developing world.

"A rapid increase in access to financial services could lift millions out of poverty and help change their lives forever."

The potential market for technology and mobile phone companies is huge, and by piggy-backing on existing technologies and infrastructures, the transaction cost can be much cheaper than traditional banks. For example a study in India showed it costs $1 per transaction in a bank, 40-50 cents per transaction from a cash machine and only 10 cents when a smart card is used.

It is predicted that mobile-phone banking could add a billion banking customers to the system in five years.

Branchless banking is easy to use and can be up to 50% cheaper and faster than traditional banking channels. There is no need to invest in significant new infrastructure because it uses the existing mobile phone network.

Setting up traditional banks and financial infrastructure is expensive particularly in remote areas and poor people do not always have a fixed address, or easy access.

The new project will build on an earlier DFID-funded pilot programme like Vodafone's M-PESA. M-PESA was set up to test whether a mobile phone-based platform to transfer money in remote parts of Kenya would work. Two years later, M-PESA has 5 million users, more than all the bank accounts in Kenya, and is being expanded to support remittances, salary payments and bill payments.

Notes to editors

1. Branchless banking service providers can build business models around large financial flows like remittances, government social benefits or wage payments.

2. Branchless banking is more transparent because it uses the digital mobile phone infrastructure and on fingerprint recognition technology - only the person whose fingerprint matches can access or receive the money.

3. In Pakistan only 25 million people have a bank account, yet 70 million people have a mobile phone. Setting up a bank branch in the Orangi slum of Karachi costs 30 times more than setting up an agent such as a grocery store. Monthly running costs are $28,000 for a branch compared to $300 for an agent.

4. In Kenya DFID is supporting Equity Bank to help make social benefit payments to poor people through smart cards/ biometric identification. Currently northern Kenya has only five bank branches in an area the size of the UK with a population of 1.5 million. Equity Bank's operations will help double the physical branches and add 150 agents.

5. 86% of remittance receivers have mobile phones and mobile money transfers have the potential to lower international remittance costs by as much as 75%. If $275 billion of remittances have an average cost of 10%, cutting this cost in half could save about $13 billion a year, straight into the pockets of the poor. This is more than the UK's entire aid budget.

Got to love this.

Sophos have just sent out a press release warning about a near miss hack attack on US financial giant Fannie Mae.

Apparently a disgruntled employee planned to set off a "malware timebomb" that would have wiped the organisations databases - potentially triggering an economic meltdown which would have plunged financial markets into a recession which we have not seen the likes of since the great depression. Fear, confusion and chaos would have been widespread.

Phew! Good job that didn't happen then!

Actually Sophos goes on to say that with the markets in turmoil already, the hacking attack would have caused untold miser. I disagree, I think no one would have noticed. I think this could be a new tactic to defeat hackers and even terrorists, let''s just let society and the economy implode and the malcontents won't be able to disrupt anything - self-made scorched-earth policy -it's genius.

Here is the missive in full:

FANNIE MAE EMPLOYEE ACCUSED OF PLANTING MALWARE TIMEBOMB, SOPHOS REPORTS

Disgruntled software engineer attempted to obliterate 4,000 servers with malicious script

IT security and control firm Sophos is reminding businesses of the importance of properly safeguarding IT networks following the news that a federal grand jury in Maryland, US, has indicted a 35-year-old ex-employee of Fannie Mae for planting a malicious script, designed to destroy data on the US financial giant's servers.

According to media reports, Rajendrasinh Babubhai Makwana worked as a software engineer at Fannie Mae's offices in Maryland for three years, where he is said to have had access to all of the company's 4,000 servers.

During this time, Makwana, an Indian citizen who now resides in Virginia, is alleged to have embedded destructive code on the company's server which was due to trigger at 9:00 am on 31 January 2009, wiping out all data across the network by overwriting it with zeroes. According to the prosecution case, anyone trying to log in to the network on 31 January would have received a message saying 'Server Graveyard'.

Documents presented to the court state that, Fannie Mae terminated Makwana's employment in October 2008 - the malicious script was allegedly found the following day. If found guilty, Makwana could face a sentence of up to ten years in prison.

"Obviously this case is ongoing, with charges not yet proven against Makwana, but it should serve as a timely reminder to all companies as to what they should be prepared for," said Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant at Sophos. "Implementing a combination of robust user policies and security measures is crucial in order to safeguard their IT networks - and ultimately their business - against such incidents."

"As the credit crunch forces companies to tighten their belts around the world, more and more firms will be making the difficult decision to make staff redundant. But it's important to remember that a disaffected employee could create havoc inside your organisation," continued Cluley. "We can only imagine the impact if an attack like this hadn't been intercepted and had successfully struck a financial institution - with public confidence in the financial system at an all-time low, coupled with an unstable economy, the consequences would be dire."

"Had this malicious script executed, it would have probably caused millions of dollars of damage and reduced - if not shutdown - operations at Fannie Mae for at least one week," said FBI agent Jessica Nye in a sworn statement. "The total damage would include cleaning out and restoring all 4,000 servers, restoring and securing the automation of mortgages, and restoring all data that was erased."

Yep - unfortunately it seems that although the country is mortgaged to the hilt, the pound is worth about the same as it was in 1978, and job losses indicate that only PoundStretcher and McDonalds will be employing anyone by the end of the February, the government still thinks we want to hear about the benefits of ID Cards.

Home Secretary, Jacqui Smith, said:
"Those benefits include increased protection against identity fraud for the individual and help in protecting our communities against criminals, illegal immigrants and terrorists trying to exploit multiple identities."

Here's the entire missive from the Ministry of Truth which hit my in-box just now:

(Home Office) Benefits of Identity Cards will be delivered soon, Home Secretary tells Manchester

Work is underway to identify a number of areas across the UK where British nationals can be among the first to apply for an identity card, Home Secretary Jacqui Smith announced when she visited Manchester today.

Further details of plans to introduce the first voluntary identity cards for the general public this autumn were revealed during her visit to meet with young people and the city's business and community leaders.

At a speech in Manchester Town Hall she emphasised the benefits identity cards will bring for the region and the country and set out the progress made in delivering the cards. Building on a commitment made in November she expanded on plans to make a limited number of the cards available early from this autumn.

A brand new website giving the public more information on keeping their identity secure will be launched in the Spring. British nationals interested in getting an identity card will be able to stay up-to-date with developments and can register to be told if the National Identity Service goes live in their region.

While in Manchester the Home Secretary visited Newall Green High School in Wythenshawe to meet young people who could be some of the first to be able to apply for cards from 2010. Together they discussed how identity cards will help young people strike out on their own by opening their first bank account, renting their first flat, or perhaps travelling to Europe for the first time.

Home Secretary, Jacqui Smith, said:

"Identity cards are already a reality and thanks to Manchester Airport's agreement to work with us, the city is leading the way in their roll-out. As the cards become more widely available the whole country will see real benefits for citizens, businesses and the country by giving a convenient and secure proof of identity that locks people to one identity.

"That is why we have brought forward our plans and this year will begin offering identity cards on a voluntary basis, giving British nationals the chance to access the benefits of identity cards as soon as possible.

"Those benefits include increased protection against identity fraud for the individual and help in protecting our communities against criminals, illegal immigrants and terrorists trying to exploit multiple identities."

In her speech she stressed that in those areas where identity cards are delivered first residents, businesses, local authorities and others will reap the rewards the cards bring including:

- a universal and simple proof of identity that brings convenience for organisations and individuals - that means an end to the disorganised use of photocopied bank statements, phone bills and birth certificates;

- the Service will give you control of who can see your personal details - that means an end to revealing details about your finances or personal life just to prove who you are and where you live;

- ensuring that foreign nationals living, working and studying here legally are able to easily prove their identity and prevent those here illegally from benefiting from the privileges of Britain; and

- convenient travel in Europe using the identity card.

Identity cards are already a reality for foreign nationals with work underway to issue more than 50,000 by April this year, helping show clearly whether non-EEA residents have the right to work and live in the UK.

Starting in autumn this year the first identity cards for airside workers will be issued at Manchester and London City airports, which have agreed to take part in an 18 month evaluation of the benefits the Service will bring the aviation industry.

From 2010 young people can apply for the card and from 2012 the National Identity Service will begin to roll-out identity cards for the general population in significant numbers.

Geoff Muirhead CBE, Chief Executive of Manchester Airport Group, said:

"We are committed to working closely with IPS to deliver identity cards to airside workers because we believe they offer real benefits to businesses operating at Manchester Airport.

"Improved identity checks will also provide greater portability for individuals in terms of applying for new jobs within the industry where airside clearance is required without the need to repeat lengthy security checks."

NOTES TO EDITORS

1. Manchester and London City airports have agreed to work with IPS and the Government as part of the first wave of airports under the critical workers identity card service and will help to develop detailed plans for introducing identity cards from autumn 2009.

2. Identity cards issued to airside workers will bring real benefits to employers, employees and the public. They will help:

- improve the portability of reference checks between employers and airports creating greater flexibility for employers and staff;

- kick start joint work to explore opportunities for streamlining airside pass regimes;

- give holders a highly secure and convenient identity document that can be used to prove their identity and as a travel document for UK citizens within the EEA; and

- help ensure all people using airports are confident about their safety whilst there.

3. Introducing the National Identity Scheme, a vision of how the National Identity Scheme will work from 2012, can be found at http://www.ips.gov.uk/identity

4. Delivery schedule

- From 25 November 2008 we began issuing compulsory identity cards to foreign nationals who come here to work or study.

- In the first half of 2009 we expect to award contracts for application and enrolment, biometrics storage systems and the production of identity cards and passports.

- From Autumn 2009 we will start issuing mandatory identity cards for airside workers - starting with an 18 month evaluation at Manchester and London City airports.

- In late 2009 we will offer a small number of volunteers the chance to enrol for the first identity cards.

- From 2010, starting with young people, we will begin offering identity cards on a voluntary basis to anyone who will benefit from them in their daily lives.

- From 2011/12 identity cards will roll out to the wider population on an entirely voluntary basis.

5. Key Facts about the Service:

- The latest (Nov 2008) estimated cost of the Service for the next ten years is £4,785m for UK citizens, including the issue of both passports and identity cards and £326m for foreign nationals.

- The public supports the benefits of identity cards - more than 18 months research shows on average 59 per cent of people support the Service.

- £1 billion has been saved from the Service since 2007.

- Approximately 70 per cent of this cost will need to be spent in any event to implement secure biometric passports. This means contrary to some claims, there is no large sum of money that could be diverted to spend elsewhere if ID cards were cancelled.

- We expect in the region of 50,000 cards to be issued to foreign nationals by the end of April 2009.

- It is intended that the fee for a British citizen's identity card issued in 2009 or 2010 will be £30 or less.

- We are one of the only EU countries not to have ID cards - 24 of the 27 EU member states already have identity cards.