Internet Banking: Zenith cautions on software token

The Zenith Bank plc has sounded yet another warning to its teeming customers on the Internet banking, especially on the use of its software token.

This is coming as ITRealms reports that Zenith Bank announced the reduction of transfer limit from N50,000 to N20,000.

In addition, Zenith Bank says that from January 1st 2014, the use of the software token will be discontinued for all internet banking transactions.

In a mail sent to Zenith Bank customers and made available to ITRealms, read thus:

“Dear Valued Customer,

“Please be informed that the daily transfer limit for the software token on internet banking has been reduced from N50,000 to N20,000. Consequently, only hardware tokens will now be used to authenticate transfers above N20,000 on internet banking.

“In addition, from January 1st 2014, use of the software token will be discontinued for all internet banking transactions.

“Kindly request a hardware token if you do not have one already. It is more efficient and secure, and enables you make transfers up to two million Naira, daily. There is no limit to the number of transfers you can make, so long as the maximum daily limit is not exceeded.”

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ICANN study group meets in Italy on new gTLD

ITRealms

The study group ‘Studienkreis’ of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Number (ICANN) has scheduled its 13th meeting for September 12 through 13, 2013 in Pisa, Italy in the context of the global Internet policy.

Founder and chairman of the ICANN Studienkreis, Wolfgang Kleinwächter, confirmed to ITRealms that this year´s meeting would have a different format, stressing that the study group would move from a more “knowledge transfer conference” towards a “brainstorming meeting.”

“We will have no traditional panels anymore but ‘round table discussions’ on issues where we list a number of ‘resource persons’ but everybody is invited to join the discussion,” Kleinwachter said.

He also said that as always, the meeting starts on Thursday with a welcome coffee followed by a session which gives us an overview about the Internet situation - policy, legislation markets, community, ccTLD management - in the host country.

This, he said, would be followed by the opening session address by ICANN chief executive officer (CEO), Fadi Chehadé, as a key note speaker.

The final session on Thursday, the chairman said, would be on diplomacy and policy with lessons learned from the recent Internet Governance related conferences within the United Nations (UN), the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and other international organizations.

The cultural dinner is this year hosted by the ccTLD Registry for .it.

While on Friday, the study group will spend the whole morning with ICANNs new gTLD programme. After the lunch break we will have David Maher’s “Annual Internet Development Speech” followed by a dialogue between Avri Doria and Vernita Harris from the NTIA of the US Department of Commerce about the IANA function, the ATRT2 review and other issues related to ICANNs future.

The final session - the look into the future- will be moderated by Peter Dengate Thrush , the former Chair of the ICANN Board based on a “food for thought” speech by Beth Beth Noveck from New York University, who chairs one of ICANNs  new Strategic Panels.

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Youth impact is our mission with Cliqfest, says Etisalat

Etisalat Nigeria has disclosed that its mission of introducing Cliqfest was to impact positively on Nigerian youths.

The Manager, Youth Segment, Etisalat Nigeria, Idiare Atimomo made this disclosure to ITRealms, while commenting recently at the 31^st session of Cliqfest, which held at Abia State Polytechnic, Aba.

“Etisalat was on a mission to impact positively on Nigerian youths and would stop at nothing to demonstrate its commitment to creating equal opportunities among Nigerian students which will help them develop their talents in a bid to attain success once out of school,” he said.

Atimomo explained that Cliqfest is one of the ways Etisalat tries to connect with customers in the youth segment.

“We understand their telephony needs and have responded to it innovatively with our Easycliq package. Bringing Etisalat Cliqfest to Nigerian higher institutions is just one of the ways we show how much we appreciate our customers and reward them,” he said.

According to him, part of the empowerment seminar, avails participants to learn what will help them develop and improve their skills later in life.

“This is the 31st higher institution we have been to, impacting knowledge and giving out gifts,” Atimomo declared.

At the Abia Poly edition, several students won gifts during a raffle draw, which included Etisalat Gaga Smart phones, Nokia Asha Smart phones, recharge cards among other prizes, just as a brand new Kia Picanto car was won by Chikelu Obijiofor, a HND1 student of Business Administration and Management.

The event was spiced up with musical performances from popular Nigerian artistes like Terry G, Mr. Raw and first runner up of the just concluded Nigerian Idol, Debbie Rise.

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Durban47: NGPC considers GAC advice on New gTLDs

ICANN board chair, Steve Crocker:

@ITRealms:-

The New gTLD Programme Committee (NGPC) set up by the board of Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) has commenced consideration of the advice from the Government Advisory Committee (GAC) following its 47 public meeting in Durban, South Africa.

ITRealms gathers that NGPC met on Tuesday, 13 August, 2013, to give consideration to the GAC's further advice regarding new gTLD applications in the GAC Durban Communiqué  issued on 18 July 2013.

According to ITRealms investigations, GAC advice on new gTLDS came during the ICANN 47 public meeting in Durban, regarding the New gTLD applications in its own Durban Communiqué.

The New gTLD advice in the Durban Communiqué related to Section 3.1 of the Applicant Guidebook is further to the contents of the Beijing Communiqué.

GAC noted that “Section 3.1 of the Applicant Guidebook, applicants have 21 calendar days from this publication date to submit a response to the ICANN Board. Applicants subject to the advice will be notified directly by the New gTLD Customer Service Center and will receive instructions for submitting a response.

“Applicant responses to the ICANN Board should be submitted to the Customer Service Center no later than 23:59:59 UTC on 23 August 2013. ICANN will publish applicant responses and provide them to the Board,” part of the Section 3.1 read.

Further investigations by ITRealms revealed that NGPC is developing a GAC scorecard similar to the one used to address the Beijing Advice as well as during the GAC and the Board meetings in Brussels on 28 February and 1 March 2011.

Expectedly, each GAC scorecard item will be noted with a "1A", "1B", or "2":

ITRealms gathered that "1A" indicates that the NGPC's proposed position is consistent with GAC advice as described in the Scorecard. 

While "1B" suggests that the NGPC's proposed position is consistent with GAC advice as described in the Scorecard in principle, with some revisions to be made. 

Just as "2" implies that the NGPC's current position is not consistent with GAC advice as described in the Scorecard, and further discussion with the GAC is required following relevant procedures in the ICANN Bylaws.

The Durban scorecard as recalled by ITRealms is not yet finalized and, with respect to some of the items, cannot be finalized until after the review of applicant responses.

At its most recent meeting, the NGPC also adopted resolutions prohibiting Dotless Domains in new gTLDs and adopting the BGC's Recommendation to deny Reconsideration Request 13-4.

Even as the NGPC next meet has been scheduled for 10 September 2013, provide a further update following that meeting.

ITRealms
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