ROMA – Dr Makhamisa Senekane, a lecturer in the Department of Physics and Electronics at the National University of Lesotho (NUL) is assessing a new way of bullet-proofing your online information to ensure it is safe.
When you send sensitive information online, such as banking information, there is a way to hide that information from crooks.
“However,” he says, “some methods of hiding information (encryption) are very difficult to bullet-proof. That is why we are assessing a new way of bullet-proofing the security of your online experience.”

In the world of information hiding (encryption), you are sending the information from this side and your name is Alice.
And the one who receives the information on the other side is called Bob (Robert).

As far as Alice and Bob are concerned, one can sleep peacefully at night, these folks cause no problems whatsoever.
But then comes the third person called Eve (Eavesdropper, if you know what we mean?) and everything turns upside-down.

Eve is interested in getting the message that Alice is sending to Bob, so that she (Eve) can use this message for her personal gain.
That message may as well be a password you use to log into your online banking system.

If Eve is successful, you may wake up one day with all your money wiped off from your bank account in one stroke.
Now you know why the gurus, like Dr Senekane, are working day and night to make sure that that just won’t happen, if possible.
First, let’s consider one of the normal approaches which Senekane says it’s hard to prove their security.
Rest assured, we are using the simplest examples, in real life, it is more complex.

Suppose Alice is sending a number 10 to Bob on the other side of the online device.
But both know that Eve, that shady character, is waiting like a hungry shark on the route between them, to devour the information.
Hiding now begins.
The computer system generates the information called security keys.
Let’s say it gives the first key to Alice as the number 3 and the second key to Bob as the number 7.
“Prime numbers, those numbers such as 2, 3, 7, 11, 13, 17, the numbers that can only be divided by 1 or themselves, are often preferred because, as they get bigger, they are often hard to deal with,” Senekane says.
A bit of maths here but a simple one will suffice.
On the side of Alice, 10 is raised to power 3 times 7 (Remember 3 for Alice and 7 for Bob).
So 3 times 7 is 21.

So 10 is raised to power 21 which makes the number 1000000000000000000000, that is, 1 followed by 21 zeros.
When Eve the crook tries to steal the information, she comes across this ginormous number.
She is fooled because she doesn’t know that actually, that number represents 10.

When this mammoth number reaches Bob’s side of the system, Bob’s side has two advantages.
It “knows” Bob’s own key, 7, and it “knows” Alice’s key, 3.

Immediately, it can tell that there was a number which was raised to power 3 times 7—a number that was raised to power 21.
To arrive to this mammoth number (1 with 21 zeros), it can only mean that 10 was raised to power 21.
Now it is clear, Alice sent Bob the number 10!

But it appeared to Eve as a huge number she could not make sense out of.
Problem solved?
Not so fast.
It is not difficult to see that should Eve have access to both Alice and Bob’s keys, that is 3 and 7 respectively, she doesn’t need to be a rocket scientist to realize the hidden number sent was actually 10.
“That is why we need to hide these keys also, 3 and 7 and that is the most difficult part,” Dr Senekane says.
“It is hard to prove mathematically, that Eve can’t find the keys and use them for her own benefit.”
That is why he is assessing the use of quantum physics.

In this case, another line is created between Alice and Bob to exchange keys.
But the keys are sent, not as numbers but as photons (very tiny particles that make up light).
The number of particles interpreted in the binary format, are translated to either 3 or 7 for Alice and Bob.
But here is the big trick for Eve.

Photons are quantum particles (that is enough).
When you try to measure them they become something else.

So when Eve tries to measure these particles, they lose their identity (from quantum to classical) and the Bob’s side immediately realises that Eve interfered and the whole transaction stops.
What matters, is not so much that Eve did not see the information.

It is that we can detect that she saw the information and we can stop her on her tracks.
So Dr Senekane and the team are working to ensure that the techniques used to generate these keys using quantum physics are indeed mathematically provably secure.
This is to ensure that if the techniques are implemented correctly, the only way that Eve can interfere without being detected is by violating the fundamental laws of nature; a feat that is quite impossible.

Own Correspondent

ROMA – THATO Rammoko and Mohale Molieleng, two National University of Lesotho (NUL) trained computer enthusiasts, are introducing eventspoynt, your electronic ticket to your favourite events.

It is fully paperless!

You buy your ticket online, you pay online with either M-Pesa or Ecocash or even your bank account and, listen to this one, you only bring your phone to the event!

No paper. Nothing!

Just your phone!

This is it! www.eventspoynt.com or inbox Eventspoynt.

So you are one of those in the Born After Technology (BAT) generation who is baffled by the prevalence of paper-based tickets in the 21st century?

Or, are you, perhaps, one of those hardworking fellows who like organizing events but get frustrated when potential clients blame distance or even obscurity, of your ticket selling outlet?

Or maybe you are just a good old environmental enthusiast bewildered by the ever-declining forest resources that help keep our atmospheric greenhouse gases balanced—and you want to see paperless technology reinforced, bit by bit?

Take heart.

Thato Rammoko and Mohale Molieleng have a solution.

“I am a computer trained hip-hop artist,” Rammoko said in an interview.

“It turns out those double passions, computer and hip-hop, combine in him to create the product we are introducing today,” he said.

How?

Everybody somehow knows a thing or two about Lesotho’s rising hip-hop music.

But have you heard a thing or two about the music from an insider?

Okay, listen to Rammoko relate.

“Outside my technology life, I am a hip-hop artist,” he said.

“Some people call our fast-moving music industry sotho-hop.”

In a nutshell, it is a version of hip-hop delivered in a combination of Sesotho and English or in Sesotho only.

It drives young people crazy!

But behind the vibe, pop and fanfare, there are glaring cracks.

“It is an industry that is moving fast, but with no financial rewards in the end,” said Rammoko.

‘In this industry, it is not uncommon for you to be famous, have your music played on radios, TV and all over, while you are broke.”

‘It is a survival industry!”

He added in a tone layered with determination to transform the status-quo.

Here are the problems.

Lack of proper copyright law means “you can sell just one CD for M100, and the next thing you hear your music played across the country, while you remain with that measly M100 you started with, in your pocket”.

Your CD has been copied!

So they have a strategy, they no longer make money through selling CDs.

They give them for free and then organize live events.

“But this alternative is no picnic either,” Rammoko added, holding his breath.

Fraud, fraud, fraud, is a problem here.

“When you are on a stage delivering music to your fans, you can see the hundreds and hundreds in the adoring crowd, only to receive income that clearly doesn’t correspond to the numbers.”

“It leaves you wondering, what happened there—we mean, like— at the gate?”

Oop! Eventspoynt jumps in at this point.

It is a brilliant solution, not only for hip-hop events but for all kinds of events.

Doing it is as simple as ABC.

You go online—register.

Then you choose your event, and the kind of ticket you want to buy, e.g. VIP, Goldern Circle or normal ticket.

Then you pay the given price with your M-Pesa, Ecocash or through your bank account.

During the paying process, a unique number, called order number, is generated.

This you use as a reference when you pay in any of those options.

Once they receive your payment, Eventspoynt folks confirm both by your email and by your order number and your e-ticket is sent to your email.

You can either print it (but please don’t, save the trees), or you can leave it on your phone.

When time comes for the event, you show up with your phone on hand [or your printed paper if you are the Born Before Technology (BBT)].

And here is Rammoko again: “In your e-ticket, there is a code called QR code.”

That is Quick Response two dimensional bar code, it determines if or not you will enter the event.

“We scan the code, in your electronic PDF ticket on your phone or on you printed paper. For scanning we use any phone that has a camera, as long as an app is installed there, to recognise the QR code.”

This time around, no money is exchanging hands.

Thus fraud is kept at bay.

It is stress-free for both the buyers and sellers of the tickets.

All you need to attend you favourite show is to have a phone and money in your M-Pesa account.

That is it!

It doesn’t get easier than that!

The beauty of this system is that it is versatile – all kinds of event organisers can use it as a tool.

And you can buy a ticket, while in any corner of the Mountain Kingdom, or beyond.

Eish! Those are NUL trained computer gurus for you!

Own Correspondent

ROMA – JUST so you know, Coder in Africa (Coderina) is coming to the National University of Lesotho (NUL).
But who is CODERINA, by the way?  It is an organisation best known for pushing the boundaries of innovation among young people in Africa.
Coderina Director, Olajide Ademola Ajayi, said their passion is in “facilitating a culture of innovation to enable young people transform the world they live in.”

Based in Dublin, Ireland, and Abuja in Nigeria, Coderina (coderina.org) will grace the NUL International Science, Technology and Innovation Conference and Expo (NULISTICE-2018) with an event that will include coaching and competition between teams of young innovative minds.
Why did Coderina choose NUL?  Ajayi could never have been more succinct.
“Our missions align,” he said.

In those three words, he did more than just summarise the marriage between the two institutions.  Actually, he laid a foundation for a long-term relationship. Now, listen to Ajayi, as he explains the motives. “We believe that Africans are creative,” he said.  So what’s been missing?
“We only need to nurture and create an enabling environment for innovation to thrive,” he added. “This is what we are bringing to NULISTICE-2018.”
Sounds good!

But how is it done?  Coderina organises open or themed innovation challenges, to challenge the creativity of young people.
So in the upcoming event, expect the following for those who will take part: learning the design thinking process and ideas presentation, and taking part in business case development and programming competition, among others.

Prizes for winners will be awarded during the NULISTICE Gala Dinner during the same week.
And those really brilliant projects stand a good chance of being incubated.
But before you leave (after hearing the word programming), note this — Coderina is not only focused on IT, for those who are outside the field.
If you don’t believe us, let them say it: “Creativity and innovation is our focus. In certain cases, IT tools can be deployed to aid creativity, but lack of IT skills is not a barrier to innovation and entrepreneurship.”
Yep!

By now, the whiz—kids amongst you are already salivating at the prospect of taking part in this event.
So who will participate? Some of you are already asking. All interested young university and college students and graduates.
Not only from NUL, whiz—kids from around the country, or even beyond, will take part.
NUL may be leading innovation efforts in Lesotho.

But it doesn’t believe it has a monopoly over innovation. Be patient, more details will be provided on how to join. It’s interesting to know that NUL and Coderina have actually signed an MOU to work together.  Even more interesting is how the twosome innovators met.
“It was sheer providence,” Ajayi said.

At one point, one NUL fourth year Economics student, Tshepang Khumalo, went to Ghana to represent NUL in a Tuning Africa event after beating her African peers in a fierce competition. Hands up those who still remember this story: “NUL student beats African peers, wins a Tuning Africa race to Ghana.” You heard this story, right on this page — is that right?

It turns out Khumalo brought back more than just a trophy, she brought CODERINA to Lesotho. And she is now Coderina’s representative in Lesotho!
“One of our directors had a chance meeting in Ghana with a student from NUL who is passionate about innovation,” Ajayi revealed.
That student happened to be none other than Khumalo.

“Introductions were made, MOU signed, and here we are!”
In case you didn’t know, Coderina events will be just some of the many events during the NULISTICE-2018 week.  There will be NULISTICE (www.nulistice.org.ls) itself, a combination of an International Conference and an Expo. “At the conference, people from around the world are expected to come and share their latest research in the area of Science, Technology and Innovation,” Dr Mosotho George, the spokesperson for NULISTICE, said.

Local and international innovators and entrepreneurs from all walks of life will also have a chance to display their works at the Expo, where a plenty of stalls will fill the “Innovation Market.”
You won’t believe it!

Another huge event alongside NULISITICE will be the Africa-EU Renewable Energy Research and Innovation Symposium. Sponsored by EU, our local company, Enigma, and a host of other organisations, the event will also bring renewable energy enthusiasts from across the world.
All these events will be held in Maseru.

After these events, Maseru will never be the same again. You bet! (Submit your abstract to the NUL international Science, Technology and Innovation Conference and Expo & Africa-EU Renewable Energy Research and Innovation Symposium for Jan 2018 @ www.nulistice.org.ls)

Own Correspondent