Picture this, a movie scene with people celebrating with lively music, they are so loud that their voices overshadows the music out of excitement, so that you can hear their loud giggles from afar. Suddenly a dark image emerges from the nearby bush, on a black knee length Italian mafia blazer. The camera only takes a close shot at his back, and there is a creepy atmosphere that follows him as he approaches these people who are partying. Slowly, your mood changes from excitement to scary. As he gets close to his target, he takes a hidden position or completely disguise, and wait for the right time to execute his mission. This is the modus operandi of a hacker.

Now, take a few minutes, and let’s dive into this story with interesting plots, intrigues with friends turned cyber-villain and an unexpected rendezvous with the virtual underworld.

So, on Friday was my birthday! Birthdays comes with a special feeling actually, and I think it’s the same for everyone or for most people. But I am not usually prepared for the spotlight that it comes with. The spotlight and the feeling are always new to me every birthday. It’s a feeling I have never gotten used to it. It’s always seems like a first-time experience, and I am not really a big fan of it. Lolz! But I am immensely grateful to God for life every time and the opportunity to go again at this experience called life.

So, as usual, I get a barrage of messages via various online channels, apologies to my Facebook buddy, I have somewhat resigned from replying the birthday wishes on my timeline a while ago, because it’s a bit overwhelming, so the most I do is to ‘like’ it. Please note, your messages are greatly appreciated.

So, let’s get to the meat of this short piece (notice I have used ‘So’ to start the last 3 paragraphs for no reason… Lolz). Now, this is it, something happened on my birthday, I got an inbox message from a long-time family friend on Facebook wishing me happy birthday. The last time we chatted on Facebook was September 2014, and this is 2023 (9 good years gap!). For the sake of this article, permit me to use a pseudo name ‘Oliver’ to address him. So, getting Oliver’s message was strange and a surprise, but then it’s my birthday, I thought it’s not completely unexpected, since it’s only on birthdays some folks remember to say hello, lolz. Most of us are guilty right? So, let’s move on. Lolz.

The message from Oliver reads here below…

My first reaction was wow! This birthday is about to be a blast ooo! Check the time on the screenshot by the way, so it was among the first sets of messages I got. However, I was yet to open the message, because I like to open messages like that when I am ready to respond to it, to avoid forgetting to respond, but I could read it without opening it. Again, I didn’t want to rush, so I don’t look desperate, Lolz, it’s not pride, it’s culture speaking, whether good or bad, it’s another conversation. So, I thought to chill for some minutes before opening it and replying by sending my number.

Again, I wasn’t too sure of my guts feeling at this point, and after a while I started developing suspicion. But couldn’t lay my hands on anything. I have no prior experience of this kind. The reason I had a doubt though was that the ‘token’ he said he wants to send was most likely money, and if that is it, he could have just asked me for my account number direct, without asking for the phone number. Then again, I thought probably he wants to hear from me since it’s really been a long time.

While all these thoughts were going on, I got another message in my Facebook inbox from a stranger fellow. This was my friend, but we have never chatted on Facebook, and we are not even that close, and have never chatted before ever! We only do ‘hello’ and ‘hi’ when we see (actually we use ‘how far guy’ or ‘baba I hail ooo’ Lolz). For the sake of this article, I will call this friend ‘Judas.’ Lolz!

Here is his message;

This was the point where I said, now, the bad guys are here! Lolz! My cybersecurity antenna was up and blazing!!! I could literally hear the alarm in my head, pam! Pamm!! Pammm!!! (sorry, beep beep beep for those who may be lost, lolz)

I did a quick Google search of any incidence of people asking for your number on your birthday to scam you, and voila! I saw this article –

Title; Beware Facebook Birthday Requesting Your Phone Number Is Fraudulent

https://dubawa.org/beware-facebook-birthday-message-requesting-your-phone-number-is-fraudulent/

After reading the article, I went further by checking the timeline of Oliver and Judas, and I noticed suspicious activities on their timeline, where they had posted some Ponzi quick money-making schemes, and I realized the both accounts have been hacked and taken over a long time ago by scammers, who go about using social engineering to steal from people.

This is what I saw on Oliver’s timeline;

And I found similar post on Judas’ timeline, here it is;

So, with these, I needed no further confirmation that these were the work of hackers who have taken over the account of these two fellows to scam friends and close pals of theirs.

And as a guy who loves storytelling and adventure, I decided to catch some fun with them. I like to take the ‘fun’ a notch higher, it’s necessary or what do you think? Lolz. So, I replied their messages telling them to check their WhatsApp for my message, knowing that they obviously do not have access to the WhatsApp numbers of the people they hacked their Facebook account, and even if they do, there is definitely more fun to catch with these cheap cyber criminals. Lolz. See what how it played out in these screenshots;

Here is my reply to Oliver;

See similar reply and feedback from Judas here;

So, from their lineal responses to my reply, it was obvious, they have run out of steam. Lolz. They are yet to reply my message as at now, but legend has it that they never did. Lolzzzzzzz!

By the way, I don’t even have their WhatsApp numbers, let alone chatted them.

In summary, these are some scammers who use social engineering to hack into people’s bank account and steal from them. It is strategy that is actually believable, so, I wouldn’t call them bluff. The only issue they had was that, they met the unassuming cybersecurity initiate with the mindset of a Samurai X. So, it was a failed mission from outset.

So, guys, be very careful out there. These guys are actually smart, and they can be very patient until the time is right, and everything is perfect to strike like a sniper or like the bad guy in the movie scene I opened this story with. They waited for my birthday to reach out to me, and that was a vulnerable or ideal moment for me to fall for it, and a good strategy for them. So, guys;

i. Secure your devices,

ii. Use a paid VPN before connecting to any public WIFI, including hotels and other public places

iii. Setup 2 Factor authentication for your online accounts

iv. Protect your system with antimalware

v. Limit your personal information you put out in the public, especially on social media

vi. Do not use things like date of birth, your name and the likes for your passwords. Your password should be a combination of letters, Caps, numbers and symbols.

vii. Etc… (You can consult me for more cybersecurity tips on how to stay protected either as an individual or organisation).

And because you read to this point, or at least scroll to it… Lolz, I have a gift for you, it’s a quick cybersecurity checklist, to check how well you are doing in protecting your data online, courtesy Cyblack @Cyblackorg on X (formerly Twitter).

Let me know if you enjoyed it and generally what your thoughts are in comment section. If you have any topic or concept in cybersecurity you want me to write about, let me know in the comment section as well, and please share it before I show up in your dream! Lolz.

Au revoir!

Spraying the last of the cologne, I felt the coldness of the spray container on my palm, which never happened when the contents were still full.

Observing how the perfume’s spraying sound gradually faded until it was no longer audible. The audio faded in and out like the end of a song.

The body spray lived a fulfilled life, one that fully served its creator’s purpose, brought beauty to humanity, and made its principal amiable while it was still in existence. As it aligns with what is written in the great book — Rev. 4:11.

It never disappoints while it has breath, oh dear perfume, what a colourful and fulfilling life!

I recall the principal going on a date and repeatedly making the damsel fall in love due to the aroma of the spray.

Life is all about purpose, and the best way to live a life of purpose is not to seek or find purpose; rather, the best way to fulfil a purpose is to be available for the creator’s use, and in that surrender, you will find and fulfil your purpose, just like the body spray.

Some perfume will end up in the palaces and courts of Kings, royalties, and emperors, while others will end up in the loving and tender bosoms of the peasant’s village farmer, roadside mechanics, and civil servants.

Some will find themselves in the tender bosoms of babies and young adults, while others will find themselves in the hands of two Love birds about to wed.
Some will find themselves in the tough hands of politicians running state and global affairs, while others will be among the community leaders of the countryside.

The perfume’s only duty is to release its fragrance wherever it goes. It stops being a perfume, body spray or cologne the day it refuses to gift humanity with its fragrance.

It’s a perfume because it emits fragrance, not because it comes in a perfume-like container.

Functionality and benefits are always in demand, while aesthetics has long been forgotten.

The purpose is the life, purpose is living. Without purpose, abuse is inevitable.
The greatest prayer every day is “I surrender to my Creator”

Agents of destiny can influence where and how you manifest your purpose as a perfume, but your purpose is your purpose, and it never changes.

Some agents of destiny can be the shopkeeper at Ebeano, Spar, ShopRite, or the local community store who unconsciously places you in a strategic position on the shelf where the princes of the land come to shop. This position can influence the future king’s decision, and you find yourself in the palace fulfilling purpose.

Your uniqueness as a fragrance is not known or demonstrated in the factory where you were created; you are simply one of the products and are treated as such. But your uniqueness is in the field, the palaces, the homes, and the hands of those who release your fragrance; they know better than anyone else that you are not a kitchen knife, a spoon, a hair comb, a toothbrush, or any other house utensil; they cannot mistake you for any of those. They are aware of your mission.

The Creator has an agenda, and the purpose of the perfume is to play a role in that grand plan.

You are not unique until you start living and fulfilling your purpose.

And as the perfume breathed its last, it smiled at what a meaningful life it had lived because it passed away empty.

You are not unique until you start living and fulfilling your purpose.

Image credit: rawpixel

The South is sleeping, the South is sleeping,
said the Observer
No, I am not sleeping said the South

At noon, the South is sleeping, the South sleeping,
yelled the Observer,
No, I am not sleeping you drunk!
Said the South to the Observer

At dusk, the South is sleeping, the South is sleeping…
Cried the Observer,
And when we did not get the usual response from the South this time,
We looked and saw that the head of the South was off and its prosperous city was taken over by the marauders from the upper desert region😢
Too late, wished it had listened to the Observer.

- 🖋️ Ernest Ademola Ehigie
@IAmContentKing

What is that thing that you have done and enjoyed doing it in this lockdown without any financial reward?

That might be what you were actually created to do.

Think about it?

For some, it may be more than one thing, but first, attend the one that got your attention the most with accessible capacity and resources to actualize.

Something you enjoy doing with the potential of being of value to someone. Aside from your regular job.

And if what you have enjoyed doing in this lockdown is the same with what you have always done, good for you. I mean great! But if it’s different, it’s time to start following your true self.

You may need to plan and prepare for the transition, but now is the time to start with every little action towards what you have seen. However, be prepared for the crazy and meandering path of not being understood by everyone that has cheered you before up until now.

This lockdown gave clarity and refinement to what a lot of us have been doing or wanting to do, and we have no choice but to allow ourselves to simply be.

So when a fellow sojourner shares experience with you, I think you should consider it.

It’s time to find clarity. If you think you need help with this, reach out to whoever you think can.

After this lockdown, the ones that will birth the most significant path will be those who ultimately found themselves and decided to follow their true self, follow the career they were born to be in, start the business, create the platform, or birth the idea, regardless of how long they have been on the path that was not for them. Regardless of what the world has known them for up till now.

Life is short and this lockdown has given you a second chance to truly live your life, a chance to bless the world with the gift you have been given.

Please don’t hold back now, you may not have this opportunity again

Kanye West was continually scolded for drawing sneakers’ designs instead of doing his assignments, little did he know that was where he was going to make millions from that eventually made him a billionaire.

Maybe that thing that’s always distracting you is the real deal

Here these words by a foremost spiritual leader and culture shaper of this century; “Whatever God put in your heart, go after it. Quit looking at how impossible it is, how long it’s been, what you don’t have. Shake off the disappointments, what didn’t work out, who left you. You have greatness in you”. — Joel Osteen

Play your part, while I play mine and let’s inspire each other.

Act now!

#ExponentialDecade

#Movement

#Truth

#Lockdown

“Everything you see exists together in a delicate balance

You need to understand that balance

And respect all the creatures

From the crawling ant

To the leaping antelope

We’re all connected in the great circle of life” — James Earl Jones (Balance — Mufasa)

In this season and moving forward, what will determine the major outcome of how people fare will be how well they find or maintain Balance in all the unsteadiness or steadiness and uncertainties or certainties.

However you spend the lockdown and its afterwards, whether learning, unlearning, relearning, resting, or working, they all rest on your Balance. Ultimate internal balance.

Here are some clues to finding balance;

#Calm

#Meditate

#Observe

#Strategy

#Action

1. Calm ~ Protect your mind, be calm in the storm, avoid entertaining junk in the name of being updated with Covid-19 and other negative energy. Get informed but without being pessimistic. Be calm.

2. Meditate ~ Empty yourself and connect to your Source, be more aware of the purpose of Providence in all these realities. Let your imagination soar. Just meditate.

3. Observe ~ Pay attention to your environment more than ever before. Listen more to the unsaid and unheard. Allow your intuition to soar. Learn to observe.

4. Strategy ~ Analyse and strategize with the data and signals in the airwaves, develop them into purposeful and useful information with value for self and/or for others. Have a strategy.

5. Action ~ With all the above said, take action and move from knowing to being.

“It is not the strongest species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the ones most responsive to change”. — Charles Darwin

And finally, rest in the confidence of these divine utterance by the renowned prophet Jeremiah in Jeremiah 1:18 — “Stand at attention while I prepare you for your work. I’m making you as impregnable as a castle, Immovable as a steel post, solid as a concrete block wall. You’re a one-man defense system against this culture, Against Judah’s kings and princes, against the priests and local leaders”

#Balance

#COVID19

Credit:

Sound — James Earl Jones

Image — NASA & Twitter

Video created by @iamcontentking

As a trained historian, I was taught that environment is a determinant of history but the ingenuity of Man has continued to pull down the limitations of the environment…

What this practically means is that the world in its nature is ladened with limitations but Man has always found a way to surmount those limitations.

You can’t stop the cheese from moving, but when the cheese moves, Man moves, and sometimes Man anticipates the cheese’s next move before it moves and counters it with necessary preparation and response.

We are in the midst of another nudge (natural or man-made) from the biological environment for Man to surmount his limitation, a calling that will change Man’s environment forever beyond Man’s biological terrain as we have seen already…

There were still stones everywhere after the Stone Age, but Man moved on to a new civilization because it was time!

Covid-19 howbeit unfortunate has provided another curve to what level of limitation Man can pull down through his ingenuity.

Malaria was once a death sentence until Man tapped into his ingenuity and pulled down the walls of limitation that confronted him at that time. This is however not a comparison of this current pandemic with Malaria, but an illustration to drive down the core of this message which is Man’s ingenuity!

This photo of Anita Elberse taking a virtual lecture at Harvard Business School HBS speaks volumes to Man’s inherent ingenuity to surmount it’s limitations and find a New Normal.

This is not the end

* * *

We shall overcome

* * *

But we may not be the same again

* * *

#Godspeed

Photo credit: IG @anitaelberse

The CRUCIFIX

***

When I look at the crucifix

My heart sobs in admiration

Left to only imagine what manner of love

Would make an all-powerful become all-vulnerable?

Love for those who do not care to care

Leaving the throne of grandeur and magnificence

For a wooden cross, does not make sense

***

When I stubbornly walked alone

Peril preyed on my helpless frame

Bullied out of the way by ranging storms

And as I grope in the dark

Affliction let all hell loose

Sending my bowed head back to the soul-ripping orgy.

In the trenches of sin, I was powerless

Hope was an illusion

But when I behold the crucifix

My eyes could not comprehend the light

***

As I walked inside the courtroom,

My deeds precede me

They called me unkind but justified names

I heard ‘murderous thief’ from a colleague

‘Idolatrous violator’ from a neighbour

And ‘persona non grata’ from social media followers

Truly I was caught on camera

Guilty as charged

But as I waited for sentence in the dock

This Messiah said No!

‘I will pay’ He says

With a soothing voice echoing like soul music

Despising His Royalty and reputable records

Hacked at His prime like a nobody

***

Oh! What a privilege

For an outcast from a minority like me

When I saw the crucifix

I wonder with a billion question

How could He plead guilty for the terrors of a terrorist?

I remember that Friday night on Calvary

When He laid on that cross,

It was bloody but beautiful

It was messy but a miracle

So messy even the Father forsook Him

“Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?”

He cried out at the ninth hour

***

Even with His Father’s status

He was not spared

Dragged on Twitter and tore His purple robe

“Crucify Him” trended all-day

Forgetting His massive giveaway barely a week

That broke Guinness World record

Like political propaganda

Mankind’s greatest benefactor

Was branded a malefactor overnight

***

When I saw the Crucifix

As blood gushed from His sides

He winked at me smiling

Wow, so He knew about His suffering

Made no attempt to defend

But ensure no plot and script was missing

Like a football game, he was only watching a replay

***

Life serves many difficult cups

But not the one Christ drank from

A smoothie containing the apex of all earth and hell cruelty

One struck of the poisonous nail in His body

Reverberates to the brain and bone marrow like a charged Hurricane

He was Jesus, so He couldn’t say “wetin, na me kill Jesus?”

When the grief became excruciating

***

When I saw the crucifix

Rabboni had paid the ultimate price for me

Which no other mortal could dare

Greater love hath no man than this,

That a man lay down his life for his friends.

A sacrifice that made me free!

***

©️ Ernest Ademola Ehigie

@IAmContentKing

***
image credit: @TheBenildean

While humanity slept
There was a biological rage
A war not engaged with conventional weaponry
And our combatants will not be stock of yesterday’s military.

The new Armed Forces
Formation-ready on the frontline of this battle
Abandoning their kith and kin
To keep humanity from peril
So we can see tomorrow

Before you say “it’s their job!”
While we enjoy the company of loved ones
Another family is making a difficult decision
Isolating their father and doctor of the house to the apartment garage for a season
As he continues to treat Covid-19 patient
While the wife is left alone
Tending to their 3 weeks old baby
And 2 whining and hungry kids

Maybe “Sacrifice” will be a better word
To describe their life-and-death fit
We can make their plight easier
By keeping apart a few feet
Obey simple hygiene routines
And special care of our aged ones

The new Armed Forces
Without guns and weapons of mass destruction
Yet their harmless arms is saving the world.
If there be any lesson
Our world will never remain the same again

The world has seen a lot
But none as the fall-outs of this scourge
A Sunday when it was safer not to go to church
An evening when it’s more caring not to touch
Even when a fellow is cold

It used to be divided we fall
United we stand
But there is a new narrative in town
Together we die
Divided we survive
And Separated in Solidarity we win the war
Paradigms are shifting.
Truth no longer Truth?
Maybe not
Maybe context has changed
And changed forever

The new Armed Forces
While they hold forth life from extinction
In the midst of the pandemic
Yet we have the shortest memory of them
And their efforts we overlook
But their sacrifice we can’t deny
Keeping humanity from extermination

In our isolation
We look up to them for a cure
For answers to this global question
Bringing great nations to their knees
And making us realize the fragility and vulnerability of humanity

In these trying times
Talks will be delivered
Policies will be made
Orders will be given
From our Fortified fortresses
And plans executed
But many lives will be saved
By healthcare givers

Doctors are the new Armed Forces 😢
With Nurses, Lab scientists, Medical personnel et al on the frontlines of this Mortal combat
We owe them a duty
To remember them
Appreciate their efforts
And hold them high
In our supplications
They are in the trenches of hospitals
Shielding us from premature Armageddon

While we wait for the good news
From the labour room of research
To uncover Covid-19’s Achilles heel
And triumph from ER the world over
We pray these knights in shining armour conquer
As they put on their kits to care
Because victory belongs to God.

- Ernest Ademola Ehigie
@iamcontentking