The Chief Executive Officer of HoganHost and ZuumHost, Joseph Hogan, in this interview with DANIEL AYANTOYE, speaks on the growing concerns around illegal websites and cybercrime, the role of hosting companies in safeguarding digital spaces, infrastructure limitations, foreign competition, and the need for stronger regulation and government support to boost the sector’s contribution to the economy Illegal websites used for cybercrime are on the rise.
Why are hosting companies allowing this to persist? Web hosting companies have policies. Just like we do at Hogan Host, companies are empowered to shut down sites that are found to be fraudulent. Also, people are allowed to report sites that are involved in criminal or fraudulent activities.
We will then contact the owner and carry out an investigation. If the report is true, we will terminate the website immediately. How many fraudulent websites have you shut down over the past two years? I will say we have shut down around 15 websites in two years.
We usually ensure efficiency with the websites hosted with us. The problem is that people are after money, and that is why they fall victim to scams. If you are not greedy, you cannot be scammed. How can someone tell you to click a link to access free N50,000 or N100,000, and you click it without asking yourself who put the money there?
These links are created by scammers and encrypted to deceive the vulnerable. I usually tell people to be mindful of the links they click. When you click, they will access your information from the device you are using. Scammers can access your passwords, secret PINs, and other relevant information on your computer or phone the moment you click their link.
Isn’t it worrying that the rise of illegal websites could increase risks to client data protection? Yes, it is worrisome. Client data protection concerns can arise mainly because hosting is the backbone of digital business. When providers fail in uptime, security, or support, customers may suffer immediate losses.
Yes, the sector is growing fast, and issues of standards and accountability are still evolving. But in this case, it lies with the hosting companies to ensure data is effectively protected to avoid putting clients at risk. It seems there are no effective regulations to tackle these irregularities in the sector.
There are general ICT regulations, but the hosting sector needs more focused standards around uptime guarantees, data protection, and service accountability to strengthen trust and protect customers. Adequate regulation is important because it can improve standards, encourage accountability, and build customer trust, provided it supports growth rather than creating unnecessary barriers.
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What is your perspective on this? The issue is largely historical. Some local providers have struggled with infrastructure limitations, inconsistent uptime, and slow technical support, which affected confidence among developers. Over time, this created the perception that foreign providers are more dependable.