THE QUESTION OF DATA: ARE WE SAFE?

Every day when you wake up, you take your phone to check whether someone had called you or sent you a text message. Of course, you can’t leave your bed without switching on your mobile data to see what is going on in the social media. But have you ever thought of how much footprints you leave on the internet?

Whether we know or we don’t, we generate millions of terabytes of data each day. Giant tech companies such as Google and Facebook produce addictive free apps such as Instagram, Twitter, and WhatsApp among many others. Someone once said, if you don’t pay for it, you are the one being used. These giant tech companies didn’t tell you one thing: they collect data in your apps. Everywhere you visit, every picture you click, everything you type is stored and analyzed to be used somewhere sometime. 

Fifty years ago, data meant nothing to anybody, just like the way owning land meant nothing to Africans three hundred years ago; the land was anybody’s and no body’s. Now, everything has changed. Possessing data means more than just having someone else’s details. It means having access to his life, his mind, his security.

“When someone knows your movements online, his reparation can go beyond just having access to your data,” says Joshua Mabina, a freelance software engineer.

But how valuable is your personal information to some stranger living thousands of miles away from you?

Our online behavior very much defines our actual lives. The videos we watch, the song we listen or skip, the product we search or purchase, the film we watch, etc. Our browsers (Chrome, Mozila Firefox, Opera, etc.) use cookies which are stored in browsers every time you visit a website. The web owners then store your ‘movements’ on their website for the purpose of improving their website services next time you visit again.

All this information is used by tech companies to better their products and services. Advertising companies use this data to suggest products that they think you might be interested to buy. Politicians use this data to estimate how many votes they may get. Police use this data to track and catch the lawbreakers. Good thing, isn’t it?

The 2008 Obama campaigns, for instance, designed a tool in which people would predict how likely they would cast a ballot, and whether or not they supported him. The campaign team was so confident that one of the campaign consultants was quoted saying that they were confident about who was going to vote for Obama before they decided. 

This is not a new concept, politicians have always used data to predict the election results, like in the campaign rallies, public opinions, and media influence. What is shocking, however, is the rate at which the giant tech companies have invested in collecting data they have used to influence the election result. The 2016 Cambridge Analytica saga is a good example of this scenario. This is where the UK-based data analytics firm was involved in the theory that it had played an important role in the US election. The company, it was revealed, contained data of more than 220 million Americans culled from Facebook and other data purchased from data mining companies.

The problem arises when the use of data accumulated over a period of time, which, of course, is private and sensitive, is essential in affecting political influence and undermining the democratic process. Personal traits can be used to predict the action of an individual.

There is also a security concern when it comes to accumulating mass data. Databases can get hacked, leaked, stolen or shared, as it happened in the US 2016 election where political candidates shared the database of their supporters.

Some of us still believe that online is a secure place to store our personal and sensitive data, simply because cloud drives are encrypted and no-one can break into ‘online safe box.’ But the cloud storage companies use encryption keys to secure the data, which of course, can get hacked like any other data storage system.

What should we do now? Should we stop using social media? Should we stop uploading our data to cloud drives? Should we stop using emails because they aren’t safe? Of course not. Here is a piece of advice. 

First, create complex passwords. These will prevent hackers to easily get into your system. Strong password includes words in both capital and small letters, numbers and characters. For example, pGd486-HWY can be considered a strong password. Additionally, use different password for each account, like password for Facebook account should be different from your Twitter account. This is to prevent the possibility of all accounts to be breached once a hacker gets access to one of your account. This includes your digital bank password too.

We all like free Wi-Fi, don’t we? On the public areas, free Wi-Fi’s are tempting to use. But the reality is, they are insecure. It is very easy for hackers to access your device information or your data when you are using public Wi-Fi. The best advice here is to use the Virtual Private Network (VPN). This is a software that helps to create secure connection on the internet. However, most VPNs do not come for free. But better safe than sorry.

How many times have we clicked on links or downloaded attachments on the emails without even considering what they are? Be advised: you are put to a vulnerable place by the links you click. Most of the hackers today use phony free offers to lure you to click and reveal your personal information. Don’t download every attachment sent in your email. Just download from the sender you trust. In addition, make sure you scan before downloading.

I ask some of the technology consumers if they are aware of their sensitive data online. Most of them agree that they pay very little attention to who has their data online or who use them. However, Stephen, a Mikocheni resident in Dar es Salaam, says that he always read terms and conditions before he agrees to them. “If they are too long, I skip!”

Some even go further to suggest not providing accurate data when it comes to their safety. “You never know who wants your data for. Just give wrong information; name, age, e-mail, gender, etc. just to be on the safe side,” says David Rweyemamu, a recent graduate at the University of Dar es Salaam.

Just as any good thing has its other side, technology has its other side too. When it comes to data, it directly involves our personal lives. Being careful is not an option anymore. “If you become a target, your life might be in danger, especially when they profile you,” says Mr. Mabina. Profiling is when someone compiles your online data. “What you are doing online will always help someone who is after you. You have to agree to give your personal data only to someone you trust.” And that is how we should go.

Sam Gidori is a student at the University of Dar es Salaam, pursuing BA in Mass Communication. Besides writing, he also produces and edit various television and radio programs at Mlimani Media.

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EBOLA: JULIETH SAVES HER MOTHER'S LIFE

Ebola is a virus that was identified in western Africa place South Africa and the Democratic Republic of Congo in 1976. The largest outbreak occurred in Dec 2013 to Jan 2016 with 28,646 cases and 11,323 deaths. My name is Juliet and this is how my village survived Ebola. 

My grandfather was not well a

few days pass he got worse and worse, he had a really bad fever and he was so weak, we thought it was malaria but it got worse he had been vomiting and diarrhea his fever got worse. I ran to get a nurse but it was too late. Grandfather was already dead my heart was broken. The nurse thought it might be Ebola. It spread from person to person and some people in our village have already died of this new disease. Unless we understand the disease and follow the rules it can spread to a lot of people. It is transmitted through people and wild animals such as fruit bats, porcupines, and non-human primates. The nurse explained Ebola is caused by severe bleeding organ failure and can lead to death. But it can spread also through human contact with bodily fluids such as blood, the fluid of someone who is sick or die of Ebola the sweat, saliva (kissing or shared drinks), tears, urine, diarrhea, vomit, breastfeed, sexual fluid and blood. When we touch a sick person fluid the Ebola germs can get into small breaks and enter our skin, eyes, nose or mouth the Ebola germs spread into our body and make us sick. Also, it can spread by animal, insect, stings, blood products (unclean or unscreened blood)

When someone dies of Ebola that body is much more contagious and no one should touch the body. The nurse advised us to wash hands with soap and water right away to avoid the infection. She contacted the burial team to bury my grandfather safely. The burial team came they comforted us and explained want to do to protect us. The team wore protective clothing that kept them safe from the germs. They sprayed the grandfather's room and his body with chlorine to destroy the Ebola germs then they put his body safely in the bag to prevent the spread of Ebola. No one can touch the body of the one who died with the disease. They also burnt his clothes, mattress, and bed anything that may have his germs all these actions made us safer it was to great risk to follow all our traditional but we still honor our grandfather in the time of Ebola.

Our chief gathered all the villagers together after grandfather's death. He explained its natural for us to fear Ebola but if we trust our health workers and follow their rules we could stop the diseases. The nurse explained if someone has symptoms like fever, headaches, muscle pain, and chills later on a person may experience internal bleeding, nausea, eye redness, mental confusion, red spot on skin or sore throat resulting in vomiting or coughing blood the pain will be in areas like chest abdomen, joints, or muscles. Also, you should not touch them but take them directly to the hospital they will have the best chance of surviving and they won’t spread Ebola. She advised us to wash our hands with soap and water many times a day. All the villages agree to follow these rules since we are the one who had contact with grandfather we are all at risk of getting Ebola we had to stay home the health worker visited as every day to see if we have fever or signs of sickness we will show signs in 21days if we have Ebola.

Many days passed and I thought we will all stay healthy but one morning my mother was burning with fever she was so contagious I could not touch her. My father came in he told me he was taking my mother to my uncle’s house in the nearby village he was afraid of taking her to the health center afraid he won’t see her again. I knew I had to stop them I was young but I stood up to both of them I told them this could be Ebola he must go to the treatment center right away. We need to trust our health workers to save them and save ourselves and save our village. I saw in their faces they understood running away will only lead to more death and suffering. My mother was tested positive for Ebola they found her a bed at first the health workers looked scared but I knew they wore suits to protect themselves and inside they were normally people like them. The nurse took good care of my mother they gave her iv-fluid, food, oxygen therapy and medicine (delivering fluids, medication or blood directly into a vein) and helped her body to stay strong. My mother got better day by day and finally, she was released because she got well. Our villagers followed the instructions trusted the health workers, brought as self-care and called burial when one of us dies and to always wash our hands with soap and water. Our village survived Ebola so can yours.

In July31st, 2019 a total of 2,713 people infected including 1,823 deaths.

Now Ebola has infected 28,616 cases with 11,310 deaths.

It is thought that fruit bats of the pteropodidae (a family of fruits bats) family are natural Ebola, virus hosts.

This article was published on The Hill Observer September Edition.

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QUICK10: BEHIND GOODLUCK PAUL'S CAREER

Hello, welcome to the new session, QUICK10 where you’re going to meet different people and get to know the other side of their lives. Today, we’ll be with Goodluck Paul, a former Prime Minister of the Dar es Salaam University Students Organization (DARUSO).  He is also a recent graduate of the School of Journalism and Mass Communication, where he pursued Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication. He’s shared with us his life behind his career and what we probably didn’t knew about him. Here, Mr. Goodluck answers our quick ten questions.

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DRUGS KILLING NATION'S MANPOWER

     By Meckzedeck Simon

From the early 1970s to the 1980s, many drugs-abuse incidents were reported from Latin-American countries and, hence, the world rallied support for the countries to help get rid of the illegal business.

Countries such as Cuba, Colombia and Mexico were the most severely-hit areas in the use and supply of illicit narcotic drugs. Biggest drug dealers were hardcore criminal terror gangsters, including Manuel Antonio Noriega Moreno who was the military leader of Panama defence forces in August 12, 1983 before he was removed from power in December 15, 1989.

Noriega was captured and detained as a prisoner of war. Some of crimes he was accused and convicted of in the United States courts were drug trafficking, racketeering and money laundering.

What was happening in those years in Latin American countries is now happening in our country whereby a few of us have decided to make a living through this illegitimate business, hence fuelling illicit drugs supply and abuse among youth.

To say the least, this business has tarnished the country’s image and reputation in the world. It is a fact that our country has recently become infamous internationally for drug trafficking.

Those affected by this malaise come from all social classes, the rich and the poor, men and women and across all races, ethnicities, religions and denominations. No social class  has been spared.

Musicians, especially the youth doing new generation genres of music, is among groups that have been most adversely affected. Do we see it this way because they are often in the public eyes? I don’t know.

Tanzanians were shocked when internationally acclaimed Bongo Flava musician, Rehema Chalamila (Ray C) came out in the open and confessed that she has been doing drugs for years until President Kikwete helped her out of this trap by introducing her to the Mwananyamala Hospital Special Unit which treats cases of drug addiction. She is now an activist trying to help free young people entangled in the web of drug abuse.

Another incident that left everybody surprised was an arrest of Chid Benz at the airport after he was found in possession of illicit drugs. He admitted to using such substances. 

Outside the country, we hear that many Tanzanians are rotting in prisons of China, Brazil, Pakistan and elsewhere. Some of them were killed after trade disagreements with their partners in deals gone bad. Here are some examples of stories that tainted Tanzania’s name otherwise noble name outside our borders, just because of some unscrupulous, greedy people who want to get rich faster using underhand methods. 

In 2005, it was reported that the Ethiopian Federal Police arrested three Tanzanians for drug trafficking, while on transit at Bole International Airport with 5kgs of heroin concealed in their bellies.

In 2013, we heard of two Tanzanian women were arrested at O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, South Africa with 150kgs of crystal methamphetamine in their possession. The drugs have an estimated street value of 7 billion shillings ($4.3 million).

Again in 2013, a 28-year-old Tanzanian woman was arrested on a charge of drug possession in Macao, after undergoing an X-ray scan.  The woman, whose destination was Guangzhou, China excreted 66 pellets of heroin weighing 1.1kgs and valued 1.1 million Macao pataca ($137,755) in her body.

In April this year, in what is believed to be the biggest drugs seizure in the UK, three tonnes of cocaine with a street value of more than Tshs 1.5 trillion was discovered on a tugboat east of Aberdeen. The boat was registered in Tanzania. Officers conducted a search of the tug and discovered the drugs, and arrested the nine-member crew and charged them with drug trafficking offences. Luckily none of the few was Tanzanian.

Nonetheless, everyone can see how our nation is drowning in the deep sea of drug abuse and drug addiction.

Go around streets in most major cities and towns and you will see the affected young men and women, aka ‘mateja’ (the addicted). Here in Dar es Salaam, you can meet mateja in Kinondoni, Ferry area, Kariakoo, Mbagala and Manzese.

One of the victims of drugs, who introduced himself as Pongwa, said he started using drugs through his friends. “At Tandale Magharibi Primary School, one of my friends Issa was using and I slowly adopted starting with marijuana then mixed it with cocaine and heroines,” he said.

Pongwa is now aged 27 and lives at Sinza C with his parents. Pongwa said he never sold drugs but admitted to being an addicted user. When asked about plans to quit, he said he would love to but it was really hard: “Really, it is so hard, you can’t imagine what I feel when I miss it for a day… I don’t think if I will manage to live without it.”

Drug abuse clinic reports show rapid increase of drug abuse victims seeking medical help. This means there is a high rate of people who use illegal drugs now.

Dr. Renatus Makundi is the clinical officer at Mwananyamala Hospital in Dar es Salaam.  He is also the Clinical Rehabilitation doctor treating victims of drugs. Apart from administering special treatment to cure addiction, he also counsels the victims.

Dr. Makundi said he was concerned about drug problem because it destroys the manpower of the nation. He said: “We receive victims every day sometimes more than hundred in just one day,” adding, “Most of the victims are young people and a few of them are elders. Actually, the services we give are free and on top of that we give Tsh. 5,000 per day to buy food and for other needs”.

One of the victims, I met at the clinic, David John, applauded the treatment, saying that it has helped young people to quit drugs altogether. He also encouraged others to go to the clinic for treatment. “I am among those who quit drugs with the help of the treatment. My health is slowly but steadily improving after attending the clinic for six months,” he said.

Victims of drug abuse scare members of society because they would do anything including robbing, stealing and harassing people just to get money to satisfy their pressing needs—to be ‘high’, city businessman, Benny Francis Lyimo said.

Nevertheless, drug victims need help to quit drugs so that they can become useful in the society. Let’s remember that these young people are the manpower of the nation and parents of tomorrow. To quit drugs, the victims need help and support from other members of society.

According Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police (SACP), Godfrey Nzowa, unemployment is one of the reasons that push youths to drug abuse. He advised youths to find work and work really hard and create employment rather than resort to narcotic drug abuse.

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