Tech World

Cyber security was a key focus during the 5th Kenya Internet Governance Forum (KIGF) held last week at Strathmore University under the theme 'Connecting Counties for Enhanced Multi-stakeholder Internet Governance'. The key points raised at the forum - which brought together representatives from government, private sector, civil society, academia as well as the internet community - revolved around the emerging legal issues and challenges relating cyber security. According to the Kenya Cyber Security Strategy released in February 2014, criminal organizations and hack-tivists from all over the world are - and will continue - to exploit ICT vulnerabilities in Kenya as the country matures into an Information Society, adding that country faces an increasingly evolving cyber threat landscape. Currently, Kenya ranks fifth in terms of hacking globally. To deal with the threat of cyber insecurity and protect data, Kenya's ICT Ministry developed the National Cyber Se...

Today in international tech news: Adding yet another chapter to the U.S.-China cyberstandoff, China calls for increased vetting of major IT products and services. Also: Cabbies vandalize -- and engage in fisticuffs at -- the London office of a taxi app; a German court tries to legislate against revenge porn; and Twitter heeds Pakistani block requests. The ever-testy cyberstandoff between the U.S. and China got a new twist when Beijing announced that it would start "cybersecurity vetting of major IT products and services" used for national security and public interests, according to the Xinhua news agency. The vetting is designed to prevent suppliers from using their products to control, disrupt or shut down clients' systems, or from using the systems to scoop up information. Companies that don't pass muster will be barred from supplying products and services in China. The Xinhua article references both a) Congress' 2012 declaration that...

One of those things to improve your heath is exercising. Did you know that you can turn your workplace into a gym? It takes some creativity, but there are opportunities to exercise at work if you pay attention. Do simple stretching exercises. Stretch your arms, legs, neck and torso while sitting. Neck: Slowly flex your head forward/backward, side to side and look right and left. Never roll your head around your neck. This could cause damage to the joints of the neck. Shoulders: Roll your shoulders forward around 10 times, then backward. This helps release the tension off your shoulders. Arms and Shoulders: A good stretch for your arms and shoulders is to brace your hands on the edge your desk, each about a shoulder width away from your body. Twist your hands in so they point toward your body and lean forward, hunching your shoulders. Take this a step further and push your shoulders and elbows closer to the desk. Wrists: can be damaged when you use computer’s mouse or keyboard. ...

What is the best laptop?' is a question we get asked all the time, so in an attempt to answer that question....   'What is the best laptop?' is a question we get asked all the time, so in an attempt to answer that question, here is our list of the best laptops available to buy in 2014. 13. Toshiba Qosmio X70-A Reviewed on: 14 November 13 RRP : £1699 inc. VAT The Toshiba Qosmio X70-A is expensive, but not over-priced when compared to many rival gaming laptops. And, in addition to its strong gaming performance the X70-A also provides an attractive screen and speakers that make it a great all-round entertainment machine. 12. Toshiba Kirabook Reviewed on: 17 May 13 RRP : Around £1,500 inc VAT The audience Toshiba is pursuing with the Kirabook is the well-to-do professional who is willing to pay extra for high-end hardware and services. The Kirabook is the most beautiful Ultrabook to pass through our Test Centre, but its ina...

With a wide and varied pool of Android apps at your disposal, the Nokia X family of smartphones have something for everyone. Here are our highlights. Vine Available on Nokia Store Developed by Twitter, Vine enables you to create short, looping videos that you can share online via Twitter and Facebook, as well as your Vine profile. With the ability to pause and edit your video at any time, it opens up a whole world of creativity, particularly when it comes to stop-motion videos, such as this one from Ian Padham demonstrates. HERE Maps Available on Nokia Store The same reliable HERE Maps that’s available on Nokia Lumia and Nokia Asha is also built right into the Nokia X family. HERE Maps helps you explore what’s around you, new places you’ve never been to and then helps you get there as stress-free as possible. Car, pedestrian, and public transport routing are included in this one app, as is the in-car voice-guided turn-by-turn navigation and all free...

Global leaders from the US, Europe, Africa and Asia joined together this week to debate and define a roadmap that will help break down barriers and overturn outmoded attitudes in a bid get more girls into technology-related studies and careers. A high-level dialogue held at New York’s Institute of International Education and hosted by the International Telecommunication Union, the UN-specialized agency for information and communication technology, identified misguided school-age career counselling, the popular media’s ‘geek’ image of the technology field, a dearth of inspirational female role models, and a lack of supportive frameworks in the home and workplace as factors that, together, tend to dissuade talented girls from pursuing a tech career. The debate brought together leading international figures and champions of gender empowerment including Melanne Verveer, United States Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues; Lakshmi Puri, Deputy Executive Director, UN Women;...

Ever have one of those days where you feel like you’re just running to stand still, like you’re on a treadmill cranked too high and can’t be shut off? Too often this is what working in IT is like now! Big data. Mobile. Cloud. These intense forces are reshaping IT environments. The result? More systems and applications to manage than ever. According to IDC research, the average number of Virtual Machines per physical server is predicted to double between 2008 and 2016. The percentage of data center IT operations costs spent on staff is up 40% in the last 5 years. On average, a substantial majority of IT budgets gets eaten up by maintenance — in other words, running to stand still. Efficiency, efficiency, efficiency The problem, of course, is that if you’re working hard to just stand still, you’ll eventually fall behind. IT organizations have become very focused on Improving IT staff productivity and operational efficiency, as well as implementing common ...

The concept of TechWorld ICT is sometimes hard for people to get a hold on. The words themselves "Information and Communications Technology" sound weightless and futuristic, perhaps leading us to the misconception the ICT itself is inherently efficient and green. Like everything we do however ICT has an environmental impact, a much more significant one than most people realize, and building awareness of this is the first step to reducing that impact. "The global information and communications technology (ICT) industry accounts for approximately 2 percent of global carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) emissions, a figure equivalent to aviation" - Gartner 2013 So firstly, what are we talking about when we say ICT equipment? The list includes items such as: Desktop and Laptop PCS Printers, scanners, copiers, projectors Smart phones, PDAs, desktop phones Wireless and connected routers, hubs, and other networking equipment Mail servers, file servers, fire...

A Green ICT project focused on office energy efficiency is a great way for your business to engage employees, reduce costs and your environmental footprint.  Here are the top tips from our TechWorld ICT Team to get you started, for more information about our programmes click here. Turn on Power Management.  PCs have power management features that are often disabled by default; turn them on for PCs throughout the organisation and you’ll get immediate savings in energy costs. Screensavers can use as much or even more power than your PC during normal use; instead of a screensaver set your monitors to go into stand by when not in use. Create a TechWorld ICT project.  Assemble a team to lead the initiative. Make sure they have management support, adequate resources, clear goals and the authority to drive changes. Enrol any enthusiastic volunteers who want to help. Create a TechWorld ICT policy.  Whether for...