‘Hacker’ hits State House computer network using Malawi President’s name

February 13, 2015 Nyasa Times Reporter 77 Comments

A State House computer network has been breached by a hacker using President Peter Mutharika’s name, it has been reported.

President Mutharika: Hacker used his nameto breach State House computer network
President Mutharika: Hacker used his nameto breach State House computer network

Malawi Police Service deputy inspector-general responsible for operations Rodney Jose said a suspect has been arrested but shielded the name for fear of jeopardising investigations.

The hacker swindled unsuspecting individuals and companies, according to a report in Malawi press.

It is feared that the classified network was hacked.

State House press officials are not commenting on who was behind the intrusion or how much data was taken.

But according to Jose,  Police suspect that the crime involved a syndicate,rather than an individual,

“It seems this man has a lot of computer knowledge and was hacking computers to steal from people using the name of the State house

“This is being a very sensitive matter, we cannot divulge more  information now. But investigations are still on going. We will give more details to you when investigations are through”, the deputy police chief is quoted by The Nation, Malawi’s daily.

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77 replies on “‘Hacker’ hits State House computer network using Malawi President’s name”

  1. What is happening with our security.Just afew months ago acouple of prominent citizens(Ministers) have been robbed.And today we are talking about the President.We must open our eyes.

  2. If computer hackers have reached the extent of entering into the state house, then one can deduce to say that there is minimal security in this country. I guess the one should be amongst those who are very close or within the cumpass.Mention the name of the suspect, then crue would be given. Hackers are dangerous since important government infomation could be unveiled to the aleins.

  7. Ziwani kuti Galu naye akakhala ali ndi njala amaluma mbuyake sizodabwitsa a Boma kumbukirani system ija munagwiritsa ntchito pokhomelera anzanu pa Chisankho chamu 2014, now it starts to bite yourself.

  11. Padzana Cashgate,boardergate(immigration) ,tsanyagate,dzulo Floodsgate,teacher’s Salarygate,teacher’s leave Grandgate,vendorgate,davidogate,salary icrimentgate, Waterboardgate,electricitygate lero Computergate. Mawa Timva Za Valentinegate. Mchiyani Kodi Amalawi.

  17. The sate house is full of IT illiterates and so too is the intelligence bureau headed by che Dausi Every Malawian is keen to learn more about this, though not hopeful that we will get further information as it is unlikely that the police will get the hacker.

  18. how can someone bring a panga knife to the state House and start hacking computers. where was the security people. its a shame to our security

  19. to nr9…the internet traffic in malawi is very very low, hence, its possible to track down hackers very easily…

  20. Mulembeni ntchito ameneyo there no time to take him to court that man knows Job……we need people who can think like that in this country to give gorvment toughtime on security issues mu IT… THESE DAYS MANY COUNTRIES ARE AT CYBER WAR ….trying to secure info as well as spying others ….Musamumange ameneyo

  22. The same tape u use to measure others will be used to measure u that’s what we are seeing here u thought by hacking MEC’s computers it would end there? Next time they should hack your banking system so that you wake up having no cent by the way how would you entrust the whole intelligence bureau into the hands of Dausi who knows literally nothing about IT and who attended school 5 decades ago s shame on you Mr president there is no need to be sorry for you chifukwa izi nizofuna izi.

  29. Ameneyu poyamba anathandiza DPP kupanga hack ma computer a MEC , sanamulipire bwino ndiye akupanga chikuwawe…

  31. Wake up my country, the world is in the wire today.

    The biggest problem is that everybody in Govt ICT is system analyst/programmer who have never run any code before, even a “Hello World”. So pathetic. Ask their positions. P4, P5 P7 and the list is endless….. useless department. If I was Chilima, this could be the starting point to Reform Civil Service. Nkhalamba zonse paulendo.

  32. It started with rt.Hon Chilima,then Hon A.Muluzi,then the jacking of Nankhumwa’s vehicle and now at state house.Fellow countrymen,are we really safe?By hacking computers,it is a warning short for the reoccuring of cashgate.Please my President,do something.

  33. hahahahahaha, Noone can catch a hacker even in USA, UK and many developing countries. That one caught is not real.
    However, DPP chilipo akufuna kusokoneza umboni wake.

  34. Hacking means breaking into a computer system and distort the files and information in.Hacking is a computer crime.

  35. Having worked in some of the major technology companies in the west for over 10 years and based on experience, I have a very simple message for the government. I will make my point in a simple language to make it more understandable. Breaches like these have to be a major wake up call for the government. Unfortunately, I don’t see any decent advocate with proper technology background in the current government. This breach and reaction bear the hallmarks of how less serious the government is on information technology. The world is driven by technology these days. There has been less talk on information technology by the government – the government is spending a lot of energy on issues that help them gain political mileage. If the government is willing to see substantial and accelerated growth, they have to make it easier for the information to be easily available to the people in masses. Information is very powerful in this day and age. These days there are buzzwords like ‘big data’, ‘business intelligence’, would be useful if the government can take advantage and adopt these opportunities. Information has to be made available in a secure manner. This means government going back to the drawing board putting in place programmes which will enhance technology. Look at India, Rwanda – they have made a lot of investment in the technology sector, which in turn has propelled other sectors like manufacturing, agriculture etc. Technology is the driver of economies. Even wars which are being fought all over the world are highly dependent on technology. Consider the subsidy programme if it were backed up by better IT infrastructure, making the information readily available to farmers? Can someone tell me any visible initiatives in Malawi which have been put in place to improve our technology infrastructure? My argument is very simple. If the government educate people by making the information available at the touch of the button, they will definitely make major changes to their lives. Message to the government – refocus your priorities and make technology high on the agenda. Some of us are ready to help with strategy.

  37. the network was not hacked but rather the guy just accessed it,so security in place.such place requires National cyber security.musova!!

  38. i am surprised to hear that they have swindled companies.
    1.Does the president responsible for companies?
    2. What are duties of government offices?
    3.What are duties of the president?
    4. Malawi never develop until we seperate party fro government or we remove corruped leaders from government.

  39. chancellor college is one goos example of educated fools who put their databases on foolishly for outsiders tio access them mbuzi za anthu achina Allan tchnogwe, patrick kalamula

  40. If the police can swiftly arrest a hacker like this, I should think our cyberwalls could have been strong to detect this. Or is it news today while the hacker could have been arrested way back?
    It must have an entrapment i believe…..it boils down to malawi politics yosakana basi.

    Ku nyumba kwa VP, ku nyumba kwa minister ku hackidwa….kenako timva kuti state house ya hackidwatu kkkkkkkkkkkkkkk. Cry my beloved Malawi

  41. I’m reliably informed that the guy who has been arrested is part of a group of young IT experts who were used to do things during the 2014 elections but are not being paid their agreed “fees” . These chaps have been sending warnings to DPP gurus that, very soon, they will start doing things to embarrass the leadership and eventually expose the May, 2014 electoral fraud . I’m further informed that what has happened is just the beginning of things to come .

  44. Shaaaa!! mpaka pamenepa zandiopsa. One day these pple will hack our private parts away. M’badwo wogugulawu utivuta. Computer akuidziwa moipa asanalowe mkalasi. kkkkkk

  45. According to Wikipedia – Hack (computer security) to break into computers and computer networks

    Now Nyasatimes, can you tell me which computers were attached/visited/compromised? Somebody’s email password is “stolen” (probably stumbled upon on a paper/diary with the password or kapena mu phone) and then akutumiza ma email to recipients/victims using computer networks elsewhere (not at State House) inu muli “Hacker hits State House computer network”

    Amalawi kufuna kupanga news popanda news!!

    Anzanu a CNN, BBC consult experts in specific fields when reporting news in specialized areas. Wa computer apanga report za computer, wa economics apanga report za economy, wa military apanga report. Zomwe mumatha ndi za miseche zomwezi basi!

  46. Mpang’ono pamenepo. anthu akamati chitetezo sichilibwino m’mawona ngati ndinthano. chupiti zanu nonse kubomako.

  52. If people are able to hack into what is supposed to be MALAWI’S most secure network in the name of the Head of State, then there is bleach of security! All those who earn money in the name of securing the President should be fired bocause this suspect was supposed to be caught when he hacking into their system using other people’s names!

  54. I don’t see anything new here. As a country, we have always been in a hacked mode. We are not serious with information and memos to the President are in junior civil servants’ memory sticks being shared at drinking joints. The whole intelligence bureau is headed by a former Presidential Valet . We are a shame to say the least!

  56. akufuna angokuwonetserani kuti there is no security in this your country. Do something please, we are not safe here.

  57. That’s what we call brilliance in IT. This shows to me that in the state house there is no ICT expertise. Its not easy to catch a computer hacker. This suspect will soon be released and that the state house will not find the truth at the end of the day. You can only find the device user but not a real hacker. Nowadays people who hacks never uses a truthful ICT devices. But if that is the truth then you don’t need to punished this guy politely negotiate with him to be part of your intelligence team he can very much assist you guys in ICTs. Don’t condemn him but amalgamate with him in Technical support team.

  58. What we should be asking is that have we Malawians gone so sophisticated that we can hack state house network and again has our police gone so technologically advanced to catch a hacker within hours? Until these questions are answered it is safe to presume that this guy is no hacker but an opportunist who happens to have won trust of the state house and in the process stumbled upon sensitive passwords and used them maliciously.

  60. Sorry, time to wake up Civil Service ICT. IDS and port blocking was easy to block such people. The guy must have used footprinting and other related avenues to break into the network. Very sad. Now use ………….. to catch him.

    Employ me. You will never have this in my time.

  62. use his skill to safe guard the country on Hackers, no need to punish him but let him apply his skill in good use.

  63. That guy deserve an award not arrest, coz he has shown the president that he’s just surrounded by old fools, pointed by him for politics,he’s must choose people with qualification and by merit

  65. Dont blame the opposition. Mwayambano sono aMalawi blame game. Kupusa uku kuzatha liti amangwethu? Deal with the culprit, name and shame them. Crimimals should not be sheilded neither give them

  68. So our police are capable of netting a hacker within a short period of time? FBI, New Scotland Yard, Mossad, KGB and name them – Take long and with much effort. We should lend them our police service. The other side of the coin is that, the hacker might not have been ‘real’ or the state house security is not ‘real’. God forbid.

  72. The problem of trusting people who were in opposition and put them close to the president they can do anything coz they don’t love the president and The party. Be very careful with such poeple

  74. That one must be ill end immediate he is not serious with his life and these are the people who can easily kill the president.

  75. afana mwagela ndakunyadilani kwambili kumeneko ndiye kuba kwa makono pachizungu amati “fraud” 010101010=?

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