Embracing Divine Destiny on an Unplanned Path

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Embracing Divine Destiny on an Unplanned Path

Life has a curious way of setting us on unexpected journeys, often leading us to embrace a divine destiny we never anticipated. My path took an unforeseen turn on a seemingly ordinary day at a bustling Nigerian bus park. As I stood at the ticket counter, my diminutive frame dwarfed by the imposing presence of a fellow traveller, I had no inkling of the profound connection that fate was about to forge. With my ticket in hand, I rushed to claim the prized window seat – a small victory for any Nigerian road traveller. As if on cue, he arrived at the vehicle seconds later and chose the second row of seats since I had already taken the first. He sat directly behind me, and both of us were near the window. His face didn’t give him away as Igbo, but his voice did. The numerous calls he received and made were all about business and family, his thick accent punctuating every word. I wanted to turn around and tell him I was Igbo as well, but I couldn’t. The phrase “Abum onye Igbo” (I am Igbo) formed in my mouth, but I held my tongue back and remained facing forward. I heard everything he was saying, knowing he was unaware that I could understand or that anyone else on the bus filled with Hausas might be Igbo.  I longed for a little of the oneness we share with our tribe to rub off on me too, the same way a Yoruba would easily identify with another Yoruba or a Hausa man wouldn’t hesitate to connect with another Hausa man. I wondered what I would say next after introducing myself to him, but I lost the zeal and remained silent almost throughout the journey. My silence would have persisted until we reached our destination if the accident had never happened. The accident was terrible, but we survived. At the hospital ward where we were admitted, my tongue suddenly became loose, and I spoke Igbo with reckless abandon, only occasionally punctuating it with English. It seemed as if the pain in my plastered arm neutralized whatever had been holding me back earlier during the journey. He was surprised to hear me speak to him in Igbo, and I could tell he wondered why I hadn’t introduced myself earlier. His left leg was heavily bandaged. We had been at the hospital for a week, and I had even been unconscious for two days after we were rushed in. As I sat beside him, my mind wandered, eventually settling on an important lesson: the sudden transition to speaking my language highlighted that ‘I do not have to wait for any opportunity to preach the gospel’. Sometimes, the opportunity could come in grave circumstances, even on the platter of an accident. But what if I hadn’t survived? What if he had died? What if I couldn’t say a word before he died? He would have passed away without knowing I was a child of God, without me witnessing to him. The same way he would have died without knowing I was Igbo. A whole lot of ‘not-knowings’ all because I was tongue-tied. I asked how he felt, and he said he was getting better but wished he was with his family instead of in a hospital far from home. I felt sorry for him but said nothing, instead thinking of writing my name and other messages on his leg bandage, just as I had done on my arm bandage. I waited for him to calm down after expressing his woes before telling him about Jesus. Afterwards, we became almost inseparable, always together, talking about Jesus and speaking Igbo. The day I was discharged, he was fast asleep. I got to leave early because my injury was minor. I wrote on a sheet of paper and left it by his bedside in the male ward: Luke 1:37 – With God all these things are possible. You will be fine and you will get to see your family soon. Cheers!!! As I boarded a bus at Gusau, I wished he was there again so I could speak Igbo with him. Just then, I heard the priceless language right beside me from a young girl, about my age, speaking to someone over the phone. I smiled brightly and waited for her to finish first. READ ALSO: God’s Loudest Scream Came in a Silent Dream

Top Cybersecurity Threats of 2024

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Top cybersecurity threats of 2024

Cybersecurity threat is any criminal activity that has potential to take place through the use of computer devices and the internet. There are many types of cybersecurity threats today, they come from different sources technically known as vectors. Such sources may include state actors, terrorist groups, organized criminal groups, hackers, malicious insiders like; employee, supplier, vendor, competitor, etc. Contemporary world is increasingly being shaped and controlled by automation powered by artificial intelligence, internet-of-things, cloud infrastructure and others; dependence on digital handlers are no longer optional. This development comes with its inevitable security risks. Cyberspace has become the current battle field where criminal elements have continued to innovate various methods of attacks on existing vita resources. Knowledge of these attacks and the vectors is key to planning and implementing preventive and responsive security measures. In no particular order; see below highlight of some top cyber security threats of 2024. Social engineering: this sort of crime occurs when a cybercriminal deceives internet users to provide sensitive personal information; the information given is oftentimes used to commit various kinds of crimes against the person or the organization they represent. Social engineering plays on human intelligence and emotion; it uses of tricks and games to generate personal and confidential information from ignorant people and use same to commit further cybercrimes. Third party exposure: talks about level of potential cyber threats an organization is exposure to due to its relationship with vendors and suppliers within its information technology supply chain. Configuration mistake: otherwise known as misconfiguration, refers to errors in information technology system configuration settings; examples may include fraudulent dataset, hidden data, unstructured data, wrong formatting, failure to patch or wrong patch, non-configuration of firewalls, non-segmentation of network, not using multi-factor authentication, ignorant workforce. These mistakes can occur in any stage of development, deployment and operation of an information technology infrastructure. Artificial intelligence threat: this malicious act could occur when cybercriminals use AI techniques to exploit system vulnerabilities and launch attack. Mobil device threat:  is a threat that take place through use of mobile device. Suffice to say that most known cybersecurity threats can occur via mobile devices. This power tool is also a powerful threat. Insider threat: Insider threat is any security risk that come from people within an organization. This maybe anyone who by virtue of their roles have access to sensitive information and other corporate resources capable of being used against the business. There are two types of insider threat. One is intentional threat, the other is accidental threat. The former is oftentimes premeditated and by impulse, the latter is by ignorance or accidental. State sponsored threat:  this sort of event occurs when some rogue nation states sponsor or directly carry out cyber-attacks against fellow states, prominent organizations or individuals. DNS tunneling: this sort of attack allows hackers to bypass network security by using Domain Name System as conveyor for malicious data traffic. Tunneling is a powerful tool for hackers, and a serious threat for resource owners and managers. Ransomware: this event occurs when malware takes control, locks and encrypt a resource (this could be data, files, or system), render it inaccessible, then makes a demand as condition for its release. Trojan horse: is a virus that disguise as genuine or legitimate program to gain access to a system. Attackers oftentimes use social engineering as delivery channel for this sort of threat. Drive by attack: also known as drive-by download use “exploit kits” to launch automatic download of malware onto a system without a user’s consent. It is usually associated with compromised webpages or plug n play devices. Poor cyber hygiene: cyber hygiene means maintaining healthy cyber practices for security of systems, devices, networks and data. Main goal is to secure sensitive data against attacks. When this is lacking – poor cyber hygiene is the case. Example may include poor network security, lack of configuration management, lack of cybersecurity training for employee. Cloud vulnerability: this refers to weakness in cloud infrastructure which attackers can take advantage of and gain unauthorized access to data resources. Poor data management: this refers to fluid practices that negate the security of data resources. Cyber bulling: this sort of event happens when digital communication channel is used to send intimidating, assaulting and damaging messages to a target. Cyber stalking: this sort of event occurs when digital communication channel is used to track and harass a target (usually a person). DDoS attack: Distributed Denial of Service is a malicious act of disrupting and denying normal traffic flow to a web resource through the use of overwhelming requests that renders the resource incapable. Brute force: is a hacking method that applies trial and error to crack login credentials, encryption keys and pass words to gain unauthorized access to a network or account. It is reported that brute force success rate is rising; making it a simple and reliable tool for cyber criminals. Man-in-the-middle:  also known as MITM or path attack occurs when a cybercriminal secretly intercepts and alters a flowing conversation between two parties without their knowledge or consent. Poor post incident management: this results when after-incident is not properly managed to prevent recurrence. Cybersecurity threats are a serious challenge to businesses. Managing it requires good understanding of different methods in which they may occur. What was discussed in this article is not exhaustive, as such there should be ongoing efforts to uncover and have good insight to more. ALSO READ Cybersecurity Threat Of Social Engineering

Security Implications of Dark Web

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Security Implications of Dark Web

Dark web is one of the three layers of web on the world wide web; other are surface web and deep web. This article highlights some of the activities on dark web and their overall security implications. Surface web: also known as clean or visible web is a part of the web for public use. This is where most people routinely use every day for their online needs through search engines like google, Bing, yahoo, LinkedIn, YouTube, Facebook, and company websites. One of the unique features of surface web is that its web resources are indexed by search engine, thereby making them searchable and accessible. It is a powerful but fraction part of the web which is said to constitute about ten percent of web resources. No login credential is required to access most websites on surface web. Deep web: this is the web beyond surface web. The web resources on deep web are not searchable by search engines; and they require authentication (that is, login credentials) for access. Deep web play host to reserved and protected data which is not for public consumption. Such reserved data may include but not limited to government record, medical record, financial record, classified military records, online library resources, organization websites for internal use and other related data. Deep web is reported to playing host to about ninety percent of entire web resources. Dark web: also known as darknet is a subset of deep web. The striking features of this layer of web is that it is the deepest part of the web and it is only accessible through a special web browser known as TOR (The Onion Router); and overlay networks such as I2P. The strongest attraction of dark web is its anonymity (secrecy) For instance, TOR resources loudly guaranteed users of protection against tracking, surveillance and censorship. Dark web is also reported to constitute about five percent of deep web. Dark web, generally known as underground web market for criminals and other merchants of illegality is also used by genuine and law-abiding people for purpose of information gathering and sharing while remaining anonymous. See below, some type of information mostly traded on dark web and their security implications: Stolen information: confidential and personal information such as login credentials, passwords, codes, pin, social security number, payment card details, etc. are exchanged on dark web for facilitation of cybercrimes. Breached data: stolen information like classified government records, account details, company trade secrets, customer details, payrolls, medical records, intellectual properties, company financial records, etc. are traded on dark platform and used to commit various crimes against the owners and sometimes the public. Fraud guide: various cyber criminal forums use dark web to recruit and train cyber fraudsters through sharing fraud guide resources. These guides further drive s and promotes multiplication of criminals. Hack guide: cyber criminals use dark web as hands-on academy to train hackers. This in turn drives and promotes multiplication of cyber criminals who prowl the internet to carry out crimes against individuals and organizations. Malwares: different types of malicious wares such Ransomware, DDoS, Trojan horses, infested USB and other plug-n-play devices are sold on dark web. These malwares are then used to lunch attacks against the public. Drug peddling: drug cartels across the globe use dark web as a market place for sourcing, distribution and retail of control substances. The substances then spread with wide implications for both users and non-users, Gun running: illegal trade of guns and ammunitions amongst criminal merchants have identified as one of the notable trades on dark web platform. Illegal use of guns inevitably drives violent crimes and leads to destructions of lives and properties. Human trafficking: criminal merchants also carry out trade of humans for purpose of forced labor and sexual exploitation through dark web. This inhuman criminality is a huge assault on humanity and a drain on human resources. In conclusion, dark web is a special kind of web, used by special kind of people and for special kind of purpose. While its original intent for creation was genuine however; like other resources, its been overtaken by criminals who hide under its anonymity to engage in trades that holds so much risks to individuals and corporate organizations. ALSO READ: Entrepreneur: 7 Reasons Why You Need A Website

The Day I Lost My Dad

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THE DAY I LOST MY DAD

I lost my dad! It was strange not to have been woken up by my dad’s honk. Whenever I slept off without seeing him, I was rest assured when he arrived, he would come to my room to give me pecks that I wholeheartedly adored. But that night, what woke me up was the choking silence. I woke up to its grip and sound. No laughter, no chatter, no familiar hum of my father’s snoring. Just silence. I laid in bed, thinking of he arrived yet or not. I checked my small watch lying beside me on the bed. It was not too late into the night yet, just some minutes past seven. But the silence all over was deafening. I knew something was off. “Dad?” I called out, my voice a little bit low, raspy due to the short sleep I had. No response. I threw off the covers and rushed to his room. His bed was empty, the sheets neatly tucked in. “Mom?” I called, running to the living room. “He is not back?” I asked my mom. She was sitting on the couch, her eyes red and puffy. “Hi, sweetie,” she said, her voice trembling. “Where’s Dad?” I demanded. She took a deep breath. “He didn’t come home last night. I thought he was working late, but…I just got a call from the hospital.” My heart sank. “What? What happened?” I asked walking to her with my heart throbbing. She hesitated. “He was in an accident. “So, what happened, mom?” I asked with trembling voice. I sensed something was off already but I didn’t want to admit it. The more I questioned her, the more she let our her hot tears. I didn’t want to believe this. “He is gone!” She managed to say amidst tears. I felt like I’d been punched in the gut. “No,” I whispered, collapsing onto the couch beside her. Then, I gave out a loud shout, “No!” She walked up to me and held me tightly. I wailed, cried and screamed. We sat there, holding each other, and crying profusely. The night was a long one. We literally slept off on the rug after hours of weeping. We were in the hospital the following day. The hospital was a blur. I remember walking through the doors, seeing the somber faces, and feeling like I was in a nightmare. My father’s body lay in the morgue, cold and still. I couldn’t bear to look at him. Tears ran down my cheeks unheeded. I saw the same on my mother’s face too. She consoled me. No one to console her. It looked like a nightmare. “Dad! Wake up!” I whispered. I guessed it was too late because he remained silent no matter the number of times I called out. A nurse approached us, her eyes sympathetic. “I’m so sorry for your loss. Would you like to see him?” My mother nodded, but I shook my head. “I can’t,” I whispered. The nurse nodded understandingly. “It’s okay. Take your time.” We sat in the waiting room, surrounded by sterile walls and the stench of disinfectant. My mother held my hand, her grip was tight. “I’m so sorry, sweetie,” she whispered. “I know how much he meant to you.” She soberly said. She held her tears. I nodded, unable to speak. My father was more than just a parent, he was my hero, my confidant, my best friend. As we left the hospital, the bright sunlight hit me like a slap in the face. How could the world be so beautiful when my heart was shattering into a million pieces? I went through the motions, numb and detached in the days that followed. I felt nothing. I didn’t want to leave. But on the day of the funeral, something shifted. As I stood, looking out at the sea of faces, I felt a surge of anger and sadness. I thought of who be in my school to see me graduate, to walk me down the aisle, to meet his grandchildren. But most of all, I was angry that he was not here to tell me that everything will be okay. I cried bitterly on this day. Tears streamed down my face as I looked out at my mother, who was crying uncontrollably too. People gathered around but their condolences wouldn’t do a thing to erase my dad’s unforgettable memories. The days turned into weeks, and the weeks turned into months. The pain never fully went away, but it became bearable. Have I learned to live with it? I can’t say. When the silence became too much, I would whisper, “Dad, I miss you.” And in my heart, I knew he was still with me, guiding me through the darkness. I still miss him. I still do. READ ALSO How One Girl Faces Her Family’s Dark Legacy

A Young Mother’s Heartbreaking Journey to Truth

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A Young Mother's Heartbreaking Journey to Truth

Falling in love with a soldier makes you a fool, or so they say. As a young mother, I learned this truth the hard way. The day I said yes to Ikem, I knew I had just said yes to life on the battlefield, and the life that followed only confirmed it. Everything felt different from that moment forward. It was as if I was living on borrowed time, living someone else’s life and walking in their shoes always. It was foolish of me to have said yes because that gave Ikem freedom and a place to cool off from the effects of the war. He was not from our town and was just there for a while. Soon he was gone again; he said something about the war brewing in the North and that the soldiers posted to our town had to go and stop it. It suited him: fighting and being at war just in time after planting his child inside me. I knew my mother would curse me if she found out I got pregnant by a soldier, so I hid it well, wondering what could have been and what was not at the moment. Days spanned into weeks and weeks into months; mother found out after I was three months gone and cursed me. I felt the heat of her anger but not more than I felt the heat of Ikem’s love when I remembered our time together; on those nights when he and I were alone in his room at the soldiers’ quarters. It was love, it just had to be, but it felt different now, having to bear the results and shame of a pregnancy with a man unknown to my parents and even to my community. All those memories were what made me cry, not the fact that mother cursed me and threatened to drive me out of her house once I delivered my child. Shame drove me insane as I counted the days and hated every part of my body, especially the area carrying the one who would soon call me a mother. I was due nine months later, and when I heard nothing from Ikem, I endured the long walk to the Post Office; clerks there could easily write one letter for a shilling and post it for five shillings. I still had the money Ikem had given me, which made me feel special, but right now it felt like he had paid me off, particularly after making love to me. “Write me a letter,” I managed to say to the male attendant in the post office. It was when he asked for the postal address that I discovered I didn’t even know where Ikem was. I was a foolish teenager and a confused one at that. The tears welled in my eyes as the attendant waited for my response. “To August,” I said and walked away shamefully under the full glare of the elderly cleaner woman. She would say I was stupid, but in truth, I was desperate. What was I going to say? Tell them I was pregnant by a man I knew nothing about his whereabouts, that I was stupid enough to get pregnant at sixteen? I just didn’t want to have Ikem’s child and not have him by my side. I wanted him to know of my predicament and just see how he would come home to me. What I didn’t know was that halfway around the world, Ikem had been buried along with other fallen heroes on the battlefield. If I had sent that letter to the right address, it would have gotten to him, but it would have met his death. READ ALSO: Embracing Love After Life’s Hardest Trials

How One Girl Faced Her Family’s Dark Legacy

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How One Girl Faced Her Family’s Dark Legacy

I thought of sheol, hades, and death as my grandfather’s hands moved in circular motions on Órogun, his chi and our family’s deity. As a young girl, I watched these rituals with fear, not yet understanding the weight they would place on my future. My grandfather touched the calabash just at the feet of the standing Órogun and then took some of the blood in it and smeared it on my forehead. It was my blood; wrung out of the cloth material that grandfather had handed me the moment I told him I’d started seeing my nsọ – my menstruation. He said we would dedicate it to Órogun so he waited for the third month when the flow became a little heavier. And so here we were, at the back of our hut, at the thatched outhouse made of mud, before the personal deity of our family, offering my menstrual blood to it. “Say you will not allow any man to touch you. The day you do, the man will surely die. If you get pregnant through him, the child would belong to this family and would bear my name,” he said in Ika, our language. I repeated after my grandfather, my Ika reeling off my tongue in quick succession. He touched my forehead with his bloody fingers and made a mark. A dot just between my eyes, and he said that we would leave my blood there; we were offering it to Órogun and he would accept it. We would find the calabash empty by the time we checked back tomorrow. Órogun would drink it all. I felt repulsed immediately as I stepped out of the family shrine and wished I didn’t have to live with my heathen grandfather. I wished I lived with my mother in the city and that she hadn’t borne me out of wedlock. I wished every female in the family got married and didn’t have children without a father. I walked to my room in the main house and I wondered what Madea, my best friend, would think of me when I told her in school the next day; she would say, of course, that I’m a traditionalist. I wondered what Miss Enoch would think of me too; she would say I had chosen the devil over Jesus, whom she preached to me about. Well, they did none of that when I told them in school, and to my surprise, Mrs Enoch told me never to use cloth material again and not to allow my blood to be wrung out of it. She gave me a pack of sanitary pads and asked that I dispose of them in our latrine or burn them after use. Then she told me to denounce whatever ties I had with Órogun immediately. I went back home and everything began to make sense to me. Órogun would accept our blood of innocence but would deny us husbands; it’s all in the oath we took before it that any man who touches us would die. That oath didn’t stop at just any passerby but even husbands. It was all-encompassing, and I saw the sheer wickedness of it all. Grandfather thought he was protecting us from losing our virginity but didn’t know that he was making us lose more than that: our future. My mum has never had a stable relationship. My father died while he was making love to her; she told me that in a hurried whisper and how she had to run away to avoid being caught by the police. My aunties were not left out of the struggle either, all three of them getting old but not married. I wish grandfather knew that his ritual was causing something in the lives of his daughters and maybe even in the lives of his granddaughters. I went to the shrine and peeped in to see if Órogun had accepted my blood and probably drunk all of it as my grandfather said it would. The calabash was still there, and I walked in to take it; the almost congealed liquid stared at my face, and I ran out quickly to dispose of it in the latrine. READ ALSO: A Christian Journey That Started With Theft

God’s Loudest Scream Came in a Silent Dream

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God's Loudest Scream Came in a Silent Dream

I dreamt of Hajara. She wasn’t pregnant, even in my dream, and she made sure I saw her new engagement ring. She was getting married to another man. I also saw mangoes; the last thing I remembered before waking up was trying to pluck them, succeeding only when I used a plastic bottle with a hole in the side. Hajara loved mangoes, but it was only after she left me that I started paying attention to the things she wanted—the unspoken things, the times she wanted a child, and mangoes. But it’s too late now. My wife of three unhappy years divorced me and is marrying another man. We never had children because I couldn’t give her one. Things happened to me as a youth. I was from a believing home but struggled to live up to my family’s high standards. I fell away soon after getting admission into the university. I never partied, smoked, or took hard drugs. On the contrary, I was cool-headed, still went to church, was an executive in my fellowship, lifted holy hands, and served the Lord. But it was all a façade. I would tell people to live a holy life, but I doubted that very life myself. How could one do all these things on the outside but be nothing but a sepulchre of dry bones inside? Deep down, I had departed from the faith. I had one careless night with a lady from fellowship. I never knew she had STDs and transmitted them to me. Trust me, I was fine, and it happened only once. Nothing changed, and I continued my life. Years later, I met and married Hajara, still in my confused state about who Christ was. There, the truth emerged. The disease, untreated, had eaten deep into my system. I was declared sterile, and then I thought of Susan from school. Hajara only stayed with me for as long as she could bear. She walked out as soon as she found a good opportunity. Dreams meant nothing to me, but this one broke me. I had lost everything. I even had nothing in the first place. Still on my bed, wallowing in self-pity, my mom’s favourite scripture came to me: “His Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are God’s beloved children – Rom 8:16.” I’d never had any witness in my spirit. Never heard from God and never felt anything. “Did you allow yourself to be loved and then God turned you away?“ I heard inside me. I started yelling, ignoring the tears that rushed to my eyes and the hot sensation in my chest that was almost choking me. “How do I allow myself to be loved? Of course, I’ve been here, I’ve always been here on earth. He should have reached out to me if He loved me enough. He was there when I lost my wife, He was there when I was pronounced sterile and—” I stopped. God never leaves us. He is always there and very much around. He was there when I slept with Susan when I gave myself to the pleasure of sin and then took back its wages. I imagined Him screaming to stop me, “Hey son, she’s got STDs!“ But would I have listened? Could I even hear Him? The tears streamed down my face now. “You never surrendered to God to be loved. You never surrendered to the ultimate power of His Spirit. You never tasted the life of Christ which He released when He resurrected.“ I heard again. I thought about the many times we woke up at home for devotion, the many times I spent in Sunday school and youth fellowship, and the many times I participated in student fellowship and outreaches. I knew I was deceiving myself. I never really surrendered. That didn’t keep God away still. He was hot on my heels to see that I got it right with Him first. “Lord, I don’t know what it means to be given to you, but help me, please help me. I’ve never known any man who asked you for help and you abandoned such a life. Please help me.” And so it took a dream to make me do a quick rundown of my life in minutes. I saw God clearly for the first time in my life, and what a beautiful sight it was to behold! Love will never be silent. Love will always scream out, even if it means coming through any subtle manner it knows. Love can never be kept hidden; it would seep out to that very soul that needs it. Love is God. READ ALSO: How a Teacher’s Faith Helped a Disabled Student Walk

16 Trending Physical Security Threats Every Corporate Organization should Prepare to Deal with

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16 Trending Physical Security Threats

Physical security is responsible for overall protection of assets, people and information in the business place. Threat is any person, group, and/or activity that have potential to cause breach of security within a defined space. While the underlie principle of physical security has universal application; what may be defined or accepted as threat is relative to time and space. Threat is synonymous with loss as such, whatever is seen as security threat must elicit thoughtful concern from organization who might suffer its impacts. For instance, pilfering may seem inconsequential in most business setting however, if was not confronted and addressed it can run down a business. The starting point for any corporate organization is to put in place a functional security team who have capability to harness available resources to prevent or frustrate potential threats. Physical security threats are constantly evolving alongside modern society. This is largely influenced by workplace culture, technology, knowledge, socioeconomic factors, globalization, and available market. To stay abreast or ahead of this trend, an organization must build agility, resilience and dominance. What can shape the kind of physical security threats a business may face include type and size of such business, industry, location, leadership and regulation, policing and criminal justice system. Here is highlight of all-time physical security threats every corporate organization should prepare to deal with. Access breach – happens when people and/or materials enter or leave business premises without authorized approval. An organization with porous access management will struggle to exist. Any state or country characterize by border (land, water, and air) porosity will be overrun by criminality. General theft – this old stealth craft may occur in form of stealing, dupe/swindle, pilfering, shoplifting, diversion, shrinkage, padding, undersupply, cargo theft, siphon, fraud, etc. regardless of its form, it is a business killer. Vandalism – this threat is a property crime. It involves willful destruction of a company property Stowaway – this sort of security threat is applicable to aviation and maritime transport sector. It occurs when people illegally board an airplane or ship with intent to enter another country without following official protocol. Burglary – this refers to act of gaining illegal access into a locked building, room or office with intent to commit crime. Oftentimes it involves forceful breaking and entry; sometimes, it may happen with ease of access. Arson – this is act of intentionally setting fire on a property to cause loss to the owner or users. It may be influenced by a disease called pyromania or by vengeance or by criminal intent. Robbery – this old coercive craft involves act of violence through the aid of a weapon to take what belongs to others. Civil unrest – this may occur in form of riot, protest, demonstration, strike, picketing, lockout or lockdown. Regardless of how it happens, it can cause business disruption. Kidnapping – involves abduction or hostage taking of people with aim for a gain. Identity theft – this crime involves intentionally taking on identity of another person and conducting relationship in the name and profile of the person. It is very common on cyber space; however, it also exists in physical world. For instance, a non-staff thief can use identity credentials of a staff to prowl, and to access or exit company premises. Natural disaster – this is an act of nature (force majeure) which may include flood, drought, storm, hurricane, tornado, and earthquake. Convergence of threat – also known as cyber-physical threat is a peculiar kind of threat that is increasingly bridging the gap between physical and cyber security worlds. When a cyber-attack impacts physical services of an organization, a convergence of threat is playing out. For instance, a ransomware or distributed denial of service can cause panic and frustration for customers of an organization thereby creating mutual insecurity. Product adulteration – this sort of security threat is applicable to manufacturing industry. It is a practice of faking a branded product that enjoy widespread industry acceptance and sometimes dominance. Workplace violence – this applies whenever any act of violence against someone happens in a business premises. It may include robbery, assault, harassment, fight, and other types of uncontrolled aggression. Fraud/embezzlement – fraud is a dishonest act of stealing money or property by deception or trick, while embezzlement involves stealing company’s money by a person of trust and authority. Sexual harassment and/or rape – this refers to intimidating act against someone for sexual pleasure; or forcefully having sexual intercourse with a person. This threat is most common with female gender; however, a male can also become victim of it. Physical security threats are realities of modern world business. The security threats exposed above are not new, however, criminals have continued to innovate new ways of committing them such that solutions which worked a decade ago may not be effective today. Proper prior planning will prevent poor performance in responding to these threats. ALSO READ: Insider Threat Management And Guide

5 Ways to Manage a Healthy Gut for Optimal Well-Being

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5 Ways to Manage a Healthy Gut for Optimal Well Being

5 Ways to Manage a Healthy Gut for Optimal Well-Being As humans, having a healthy gut plays a crucial role in maintaining overall health. It boosts not only digestion, but also the immune system, mental health, and energy levels. Your gut naturally contains trillions of bacteria that influence these functions, which makes them important to nurture this environment. A gut environment with more harmful bacteria than beneficial ones, can lead to various problems such as bloating, constipation, or even more serious health problems. Fortunately, there some effective dietary and lifestyle changes that will help you achieve and manage healthy gut.   Eat a Balanced diet, rich in fiber One of the important factors in gut health is a balanced diet but most importantly, a fiber-rich diet. Fiber helps to keep your digestive system running smoothly, by bulking up stool and moving it smoothly through the intestines. It also acts as food for the beneficial bacteria in your gut. Eating this type of diet also enhances digestion, reduce inflammation and oxidative stress. Incorporating a variety of fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains into your daily diet helps nourish your gut microbiome and supports digestion. Foods like apples, bananas, carrots, lentils, and brown rice are excellent choices for gut-friendly fiber. Incorporate Probiotics and Prebiotics Probiotics and prebiotics are essential for maintaining a proper balance of good bacteria in your gut. Probiotics are live bacteria when administered in adequate amounts function like the beneficial bacteria found in the gut. Popular probiotic-rich foods include yogurt and kimchi. These foods help to introduce and increase the population of beneficial bacteria in your gut. Prebiotics, on the other hand, are types of fiber that feed the good bacteria already present in your gut, helping them grow and thrive. They also improve gut motility. Common sources of prebiotics include garlic, onions, and bananas. The combination of probiotics and prebiotics in your diet, will aid a thriving gut for digestion and immunity. Stay Hydrated Hydration plays a critical role in keeping your gut healthy.  Drinking water and staying hydrated aids digestion, motility, eliminate waste and lubricate gut lining. Dehydration can affect your digestive system and lead to constipation and other digestive discomforts. It is medically recommended to drink at least eight glasses of water a day, although individual hydration needs can vary depending on factors such as age, activity level, and climate. Water-rich fruits and vegetables, like cucumbers and watermelon, are also great ways to boost hydration. By ensuring that your body stays hydrated, it is beneficial for your gut to get the moisture it needs to function effectively.   Limit Processed Foods and Sugars A diet high in processed foods and sugars can cause a negative impact gut health. They enhance the growth of harmful bacteria in the gut, which can lead to an imbalance known as dysbiosis. Processed foods are often low in fiber and nutrients, thereby contributing to digestive disorders. To maintain a healthy gut, it’s important to reduce your daily intake of highly processed foods. Instead, consume whole, nutrient-rich foods that promote gut health, such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and lean proteins. Manage Stress Stress and lack of sleep can have a significant impact on your overall health and that includes your gut health as well. The gut and brain are closely connected through what’s known as the gut-brain axis, meaning whatever stress is exerted on your brain will negatively impact your gut. High levels of stress can lead to symptoms such as bloating, gas, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). To manage stress, relaxation techniques such as yoga, meditation, sleeping or deep breathing exercises can be carried out or incorporated into your regular routine. Regular physical activity can also help reduce stress levels and improve digestion. Aim to sleep for an average of 8hours per night to allow your body to repair and maintain a healthy digestive system.   Conclusion Maintaining a healthy gut requires a combination of both change in dietary plan and lifestyle. Therefore, eating a balanced diet rich in fiber, incorporating probiotics and prebiotics, staying hydrated, limiting processed and sugary foods, managing stress and getting adequate sleep, you can support your gut’s health and, in turn, your overall well-being. These will help keep your digestive system in balance, promoting better digestion, immunity, and energy levels required for proper body function. Also Read : Stay Young And Healthy The Right Way

5 Food Security Measures to Ensure In Your Homes

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5 Food Security Measures to Ensure In Your Homes

                                          5 Food Security Measures to Ensure In Your Homes   Food security is a critical global issue that needs to be addressed, with 1 out of 9 people suffering from hunger. Food security according to the World Health Organization (WHO), is defined as ‘when all people have physical, social, and economic access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life’. We live in a time of economic instability and uncertain climate. Accessing nutritious food, is important now than ever. The foundation of food security starts at home but it is now a major challenge for households worldwide. Ensuring your family’s access to nutritious food is crucial for stability and sustainability. This will protect your household from food shortages and increase your resilience. This article will discuss 5 ways to can protect your home, each offering a practical guide on how to empower your household against food insecurity.   Proper Meal Planning Meal planning is a very essential tool that helps protect your home from food insecurity. It ensures food availability, reduce unnecessary food wastage and promotes healthy living. A proper guide to carry out this plan is; Assessment of each family member’s dietary needs- it is important to put this into consideration while planning. Creation of a weekly food plan- meals for an entire week should be planned Making a food item or grocery list- this itemizes everything you need for meal preparation. Shopping for food items- purchase of listed items should been done, also, remember to check the expiry date of good products you purchase if you’re going to be buying in bulk or storing for a long time.   2. Proper Food storage This is another important means to ensuring food security in your home. Food storage will help prevent spoilage and contamination of food items, prevent wastage and increase the shelf life of food. Some tips to ensure proper food storage are; Dry storage for grains- clean and air tight containers should be used to store grain products such as beans and rice to help prevent contamination and spoilage. Refrigeration of perishable products at 40°F(4°C) Proper labelling of containers or bags used for storage for proper identification. Non-perishable goods such as canned foods should be stored well too.   3. Growing your own food Cultivating your own food in your backyard or that unused land can help boost food security. It helps to increase food availability, reduce cost of external food supply, as a food source during emergencies. If you want to start cultivating your own food; Prepare an organic fertilizer rich soil Start will small crops to grow Plant the seeds, water them regularly to ensure efficient growth When it’s harvest time, harvest carefully to avoid wastage and properly store the excess product harvested.   4. Pest Control Pests are organisms that destroy plant and crops. This can cause food insecurity in a home. Effective pest control helps protect your crops or food items against damage, reduce food wastage and contamination. Reduce pest infestation by; Proper food storage Ensuring the kitchen and storage area is clean always. Use of pest repellants plants.   5. Emergency food supply During financial or economic crises, emergency food supply will protect your household against food insecurity.  Stock non-perishable food items such as canned goods in bulk. Examples of food items that should be classified as emergency food supply are canned meat, vegetables, grains, water.   In conclusion, each home has to be protected against food insecurity by all means. Therefore, proper meal planning, food storage, encouraging gardening, pest control and emergency food supply will help empower a household against food insecurity. All these should be known and implemented to promote food security in a home! Also Read : How To Promote Food Security Through Security In Nigeria