Protect Yourself

I have spent a lot of time in Ghana helping people with their computers. I have helped people clean their computers of viruses and malware. I’ve installed security software, operating systems, and utilities. I’ve repaired damaged folders and drives. I’ve consulted(made decisions) on what type of computer to purchase, and I’ve tutored colleagues and friends on computer use – from using a mouse and setting up email, to creating PowerPoint presentations and editing movies.

Computing in Ghana is just coming of age. Internet access is quickly improving here, evident by the number of Net Cafes springing up. Home computing is a bit less common, but still occurs – usually through mobile networks (the cost of home broadband is prohibitive for most: anywhere from $25 to $50 a month for a connection that would have American users tossing their computers out the window). Many home computers are purchased used, hand-me-downs from the UK and US – one I worked on recently still wore its ID tag from Heinz Corporation, others have the marks of academia or government. The sellers of these devices normally sell from road-side stands or cramped, closet-like offices. “Buyer Beware” prevails.

Technology is expensive here. Massive import tariffs, high shipping costs, and the inability to buy online in Ghana combine to pinch supply. Many Ghanaians turn to the Diaspora to buy computers abroad and ship or carry them back home. Some enterprising folks are able to acquire a bulk supply of computers, then work to market them at schools and universities. I’ve seen two such efforts take place here during my time. Their prices seem to be fair – for the Ghana computer market – with prices running about 10-30% higher than the US market. This markup seems to cover the cost of acquisition, leaving only a slim profit margin. For specialty hardware – routers, card readers, projectors – prices are much higher, often 2 to 3 times higher than in American. I recently looked for a wireless router and found asking prices to be in the $140 range. Similar equipment might run you $50 in the US.

But acquisitions aside, three more problems plague computer users in Ghana – and likely in many other developing countries as well. First, computer owners have invested a huge share of their incomes to acquire this technology. To buy a new, but run-of-the-mill, laptop many have to cough up a sum equal to, or more than, their entire monthly pre-tax income. And, as computer users know, technology in this sector quickly becomes outdated, so upgrades and replacements become a huge burden too.

Second, the cost of acquiring software is prohibitive: Operating systems, office suites, anti-virus. I’ve seen more pirated versions of Windows, Office, and Norton in 5 months here than I have in the rest of my life. In fact, apart from a few brand new computers, I think every one I have come across is running a cracked version of one of these three softwares. In most cases, pirated software either doesn’t work properly (for instance, most cracked versions of Windows will not allow patches and security fixes from Microsoft) or is riddled with viruses. It’s a crude analogy, but completely accurate: The vast majority of portable drives (flash, pen, or thumb drives) carry viruses. If you aren’t using protection in the form of a working, updated anti-virus program, you will become infected. Practicing safe-computing here is a must!

And third, the dawn of the cyber-era in Ghana is coming more than a decade into the Internet Age. This means computer users here are entering a world that is rife with threats from experienced online crooks and bullies – and I’m talking advertisers. If you have been surfing the web for a few years, you probably have learned to differentiate between a valid link to desirable information, and a sponsored link that will take you to a vendor’s portal. Often there are subtle clues that help us spot the dark cyber-alleys: links whose text is slightly different in styles or size than the rest of the page; a tiny, well-hidden disclaimer noting “ads sponsored by Google”; a difficult-to-spot ‘x’ that allows the user to close the advertisement; or sometimes the ad’s location on the page (along the top of side banner). But a new computer user, entering a cyber market that’s as unregulated as the wild west, has little chance of emerging from these dangerous digital alleys unscathed. Spyware, adware, malware, trojans, worms, spam, phishing…all out there waiting for the unsuspecting surfer to fall into their trap.

Take these problems as one and you have a daunting challenge facing Ghanaians trying to join the digital age. In a dangerous world one needs the savvy to avoid danger, the tools to protect themselves when they do encounter a problem, and the resources to repair any damages done, none of which most Ghanaians can claim.

 

(In a later post I plan to detail some steps, and free tools people in LDCs or the US can and should use to protect themselves from digital threats.)