Search Site: OnlineNigeria

GENERAL FLAWS? A NOTE TO WAEC AND NECO WEBMASTERS

The emergence of online-realtime registration of students for WAEC and NECO in Nigeria and other African countries as the case may be, could be described as 'a fruit of globalization", 'the benefit of information technology" and the 'tangible aspect" of computer age.

The emergence of online-realtime registration of students for WAEC and NECO in Nigeria and other African countries as the case may be, could be described as 'a fruit of globalization", 'the benefit of information technology" and the 'tangible aspect" of computer age. This has totally eliminated the tedious 'batch processing" method in use prior to the electronic systems.

Apart from eliminating it successfully, it has also reduced the possibility of increasing 'high blood pressure" patients among youths, usually, on whether the submitted hard copies of forms would reach its destination or whether it would even be processed with or without exactitude.

However, though the modern electronic registration method has just passed a 'BETA" period (I may call it), it did not go without flaws and loopholes, which made it easily hackable to both 'digital and analogue" hackers. The flaws are diverse (as identified below) for the product to have been used. Recommendations are also included.

1. THE PHOTOGRAPH UPLOAD: There are two major flaws on this aspect. The website lacks necessary code which should be able to digitally sign or stamp every passport uploaded to/on it. As a result, people can easily transfer the photocard to an editor (word), photocopier, e.t.c and have the photograph changed to the photo of the 'second person", as no serious check is done in examination halls. If the passports are digitally signed or have some special, undetachable codes written on them, it becomes difficult for it to be changed.

Besides, there should be standing order to punish any entity, establishment and business centres suspected and confirmed to be executing this felony with or without remuneration.

SPECIMEN

2. THE PHOTO RESOLUTION: Though the quality and dimensions of the passport has been stated on the websites, there is no way of rejecting any photograph not meeting the strict but simple requirement interms of colour, brightness, size(bytes/kb). As a result, people can have their photo scanned in dark manner so as to enhance misrepresentation in the exam hall. With this, any body can sit for exam for another.
   
3. THE RIGHT CLICK AND COPY ATTRTIBUTES: Any website that is built with security as the watchword should have righclick attributes disabled. With this, it will be practically impossible for anyone to export and edit a page. This can simply be handled by designing the photocard to open with protected Acrobat Reader (PDF), or outright protection of the site from rightclick.
   
4. EXAMINATION CENTRE: One of the website (name:withheld) lacks ability to generate exam centre immediately. Due to this, the 'late registration group of people" might not have their centres published.

Please, something should be dome about this. All fingers are not equal. People

should be able to register for the examination within a specified/mapped out

period and still have their centres published.

Finally, this is an advice to both examination bodies. Individuals are not excluded. To them (individuals) I will say-what you know, someone else also does.

Be warned.

Name: Obiefuna, N. Manobis

E-mail: JefXcelSystems@GMail.com

Phone: 0803-505-2430