Young persons are being encouraged to register for the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) CodeSprint-Cyberthon, to be held on Friday (October 20). The event, which is being staged as part of Cyber Awareness Month, aims to empower young people to know more about cyber threats. Officer Commanding the Institute of Cyber Science at the Caribbean Military Academy at the JDF, Major...

Ransomware gangs originating overseas continue to prey on establishments operating in Jamaica through cyberattacks. Head of the Jamaica Cyber Incident Response Team (JaCIRT), Lieutenant Colonel Godphey Sterling, says some of the gangs are succeeding in carrying out monthly attacks while others are less frequent. “These are like any other criminal organisation… and they operate almost without any restriction. They [also]...

Jamaicans, especially business owners, are being urged to adopt good cybersecurity practises to protect themselves against botnet attacks. A botnet is a network of computers controlled by a single attacker which is infected by software designed to disrupt, damage, or gain unauthorised access to a computer system. The warning comes as the Jamaica Cyber Incident Response Team (JaCIRT) reports the...

Government is looking to establish the new National Cybersecurity Authority within the next two to four years. “The Authority will be created as a creature of statute and will seek to provide overarching guidance to how cyber (computers and computer networks) is treated in Jamaica,” said Head of the Jamaica Cyber Incident Response Team (JaCIRT), Lieutenant Colonel (Lt. Col) Godphey...

The Joint Select Committee reviewing the Cybercrimes Act is recommending harsher penalties for offences against a child. “The Committee supports the recommendation that there should be harsher penalties in relation to offences against children and that there should be a distinction between the penalties for offences committed against children by children and adult offenders,” said Minister of Science, Energy, Telecommunications...

Jamaica’s cybersecurity infrastructure has been strengthened through various initiatives collaboratively undertaken by regional and international partners. This was stated by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Security, Hon. Dr. Horace Chang, while addressing the opening ceremony for the CARICOM Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (IMPACS) regional cyber awareness session at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston on...

As the Government continues to build resilience in the country’s cyber ecosystem, local businesses are being encouraged to report security vulnerabilities within their organisations. Head of the Jamaica Cyber Incident Response Team (JaCIRT), Lt. Col. Godphey Sterling, made the appeal while addressing a recent Jamaica Information Service (JIS) Think Tank. He said that such reports will better help in tackling...