Business

Microsoft Ends Support For Windows XP

Published

10 years ago

April 9, 2014

Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State (5th left), Deputy Governor, Mrs Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire(3rd left), Commissioner for Housing, Mr Bosun Jeje ( left), Commissioner for Finance, Mr Ayo Gbeleyi (2nd left) and winners of 2nd batch of Lagos home ownership mortgage scheme at the mortgage draw in Lagos recently.

Microsoft ended support for its Windows XP operating system yesterday, leaving many who are still clinging to the outdated software exposed to cyber attacks.
The operating system is now 12 years old, so Microsoft is no longer providing security updates that patch holes in the software. The danger now is that hackers who find bugs in XP will be able to exploit them freely.
According to a CNN source, Windows XP isn’t just running on the dusty, discarded PC in your closet. It’s everywhere, threatening devices that store sensitive information and computers that keep the city lights on and water running.
An estimated 95% of bank ATMs run on XP. GE Intelligent Platforms, which sells industrial software, discovered 75% of its utility customers still use it. Cyber security provider Cylance says one of its clients is a major hospital where XP is still on more than 100,000 devices, including computers that hold patient records.
“It’s literally everywhere still,” said Cylance chief scientist Ryan Permeh.
“Every point that’s running XP is ripe for worms. They haven’t been much of a common occurrence in modern times, but any new vulnerability could result in mass infection with very little remediation.”
That includes point-of-sale systems at about 30% of retail stores, according to Greg Rosenberg, a security engineer at Trustwave. That lowers the bar to recreate the massive Target hack that happened late last year.
So, what do you do? It’s simple. Upgrade.
The best strategy is to use an operating system that still receives updates from Microsoft. For that, loading your computer with Windows 7 or Windows 8 will do. You’re better off with Windows 8, because Microsoft plans to keep supporting it until 2023.
If you’ve been holding off because of Windows 8’s missing start button, have no fear. Microsoft is adding that feature in the next update. Plus, the company is giving away $100 in credits for new Pcs.
If that isn’t reason enough, try this: Windows XP computers are already six times more likely to get infected, by Microsoft’s account.
For the stragglers, Microsoft is offering extended service for a pretty penny. The United Kingdom is reportedly paying £5.5 million to get another year of tech support, as 85% of its desktops at the National Health Service remain on XP.
Here’s the good news. There are signs the software exodus has already begun. From early 2013 to 2014, the share of computers using XP dropped from 35% to 14%, according to cloud security provider Qualys. The company’s chief technical officer, Wolfgang Kandek, expects that to drop to 10% by April’s end.
Qualys numbers show the transportation and health care industries managed to cut down their Windows XP usage significantly. And a CNNMoney review of federal contracts shows that tens of millions of dollars have been spent in recent years by the Defense, Labor and Home Security departments to upgrade from XP.
But while everyone else scrambles to upgrade, banks are scrambling to tear apart their ATMs and replace them, most small business owners don’t know that Windows XP has lost support. And some don’t even know whether their machines use XP.

Business

Western Marine Command Intensifies Anti-Smuggling Operations … Intercepts N8.75m Worth PMS

Published

2 days ago

May 17, 2024

The Tide

For officers and men of the Western Marine Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), the battle is not over until smuggling is over.
In the wake of Wednesday May, 8, 2024, the ever vigilant officers, acting on a tip-off, intercepted 177 sacks and 61 kegs of 25 litres containing petroleum products, valued at about N8.750,000million.
The items were intercepted along Isalu Creek, Badagry Waterway en-route Benin Republic.
While briefing newsmen, the Command’s Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Paul Bamisaiye, said: “This seizure is most economically significant to the Command at this period of scarcity of Petroleum Products, especially Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) in our cities, and shows the anticipatory posture in our response to economic saboteurs.
“At about 2:330hrs on Wednesday 8th May 2024, while on joint patrol by teams in the Command, credible intelligence was received of the movement of 2 boats laden with what was suspected to be petroleum products concealed in sacks. Upon receipt of the information, the team moved into Isalu creeks, Badagry waterway.
“On sighting the approach of the Officers, the smugglers took to their heels through the shore of the Creek. The loaded boats were then towed to the station at Badagry where preliminary examination was conducted and transferred to Western Marine Command Headquarters, Ibafon, Apapa, Lagos.
“Careful examination at the Command Headquarters revealed that the arrest was found to contain One Hundred and Seventy Seven (177) Sacks and Sixty One (61) Kegs of 25 Litres Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) containing Twelve Thousand Five Hundred (12,500) Liters with a total Duty Paid Value standing at Eight Million Seven Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira (N8,750,000) only”.
Bamisaiye noted that the action of the smugglers is a contravention of Section 245 & 254 of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023 which the service, through Western Marine Command, is responsible for enforcing.
“The Command, under the leadership of Compt. PK Bamisaiye, is poised more than ever to rid the waterways of all acts of smuggling and economy sabotage for the benefit of the growth of economy of Nigeria”, he said
Bamisaiye said so far, no suspect was arrested in the Command’s anti-smuggling operations.

Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos

Business

Illegal PMS Trading Booms In Lagos

Published

2 days ago

May 17, 2024

The Tide

Petroleum products being sought by motorists have disappeared from virtually all filling stations within Lagos and its environs, but are now booming in business in retail outlets.
Investigations by our correspondent revealed that while the product could not be got at some of the petrol service stations, activities are in top gear in the local retail outlets where the price has gone beyond the reach of users.
It was also gathered that in some filling stations supplied with the products, preference are often given to retail outlet operators by petrol attendants against the consuming public.
A source, directly involved in the business, said some petrol dealers are cashing on the irregular supply to divert the products to retail outlets where they could easily make their gains.
It was also gathered that some sales representatives in the service of major oil marketing firms indulged in the diversion exercise because of their personal interest.
At the retail outlets a liter goes for N950,00 against the normal N760,to N800 at some stations.

Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos

Business

Customs Board Appoints Five DCGs, Eight ACGs

Published

2 days ago

May 17, 2024

The Tide

The Nigeria Customs Service Board (NCSB) has confirmed the appointment of five Deputy Comptroller-Generals (DCGs) and eight Assistant Comptrollers-General (ACGs) of Customs during its 59th regular meeting.
The meeting, chaired by the Honorable Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, was held at the Nigeria Customs Service Headquarters in Abuja last Tuesday.
National Public Relations Officer of the Service, Chief Superintendent of Customs, Abdullahi Maiwada, who disclosed this in a statement yesterday, gave details of the confirmed appointments as: O.O. Peters (DCG /Commander, Training and Doctrine Command (rtd); B.M. Jibo (DCG Enforcement Inspection & Investigation); and B.U. Nwanfor (DCG Excise, Free Trade Zone & Industrial Incentives).
Others are: S.A. Bomia (DCG, Commander Training and Doctrine Command); and C.K. Niagwan (DCG, Tariff & Trade).
The Assistant Comptrollers General (ACGs) are: B. Imam (ACG Board); A.A.S. Oloyede (ACG, Trade & Tariff); S.K. Dangaldima (ACG/Zonal Coordinator, Zone ‘B’); A. Abdul Azeez (ACG/Zonal Coordinator, Zone ‘D’); S.A. Yusuf (ACG, Human Resource Development); N.P. Umoh (ACG, Training and Doctrine Command); C.O. Obih (ACG/Zonal Coordinator, Zone ‘C’); and S. Chiroma (ACG, Strategic Research and Policy).
The new appointments, according to the statement, were made to fill the vacancies created by some senior officers who recently retired from the Service, noting that the principles of federal character, seniority and merit guided the appointments approved by the board.
“These appointments are a testament to the officers’ exemplary services and dedication to the Nigeria Customs Service. The NCSB remains committed to providing strategic leadership to ensure effective and efficient service delivery for optimum performance”, he said.
While thanking the retired members of the management for their meritorious services, the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, congratulated the newly confirmed officers and charged them to redouble their efforts to ensure the service attains greater heights in its mandates of revenue generation, suppression of smuggling, and trade facilitation amongst others.

Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos