Currently, Malawi’s broadband penetration has risen from 6% in 2013 to around 17.1% in 2016, which is relatively low compared to other Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries and the rest of the world. However, with the rapid development of the ICT sector, the Government of Malawi through the Malawi Growth and Development Strategy (MGDS 20112016), recognizes the potential broadband growth which puts the users of ICT services at a cyber risk. Thus, the Government of Malawi needs to be prepared and deploy effective strategies or measures to create a conducive environment that builds trust and confidence in the use of ICTs by Malawian businesses and citizens. 1.2.2 Cybercrime in Malawi The Government of Malawi recognizes that high levels of crime across the nation results in significant socio-economic damage and nullifies significant developmental activities. In fact, in the National ICT Policy (2013), the Government set out to establish sufficient national capacity to deal with national security, the violation of human rights, and the undesirable impacts of ICTs such as the privacy violations, cybercrimes, digital frauds and terrorism. Despite the government’s position, and like other nations across the world, cybercrime continues to be a real threat and facet of life in Malawi. Cyber criminals continue to commit cybercrimes of larger scales and sophistication across various countries, including Malawi. Many of these cyber criminals seek to make use of confidential and sensitive information and usually have detrimental effects on individuals, businesses and government institutions in the country. Consistent with global trends, a major sector targeted by cyber criminals in Malawi is the financial sector. Other key cybercrime incidents that have been observed in the country include identity theft, various email scams, distribution of compromising images, attacks on computer data and systems. Therefore, it is critical that Malawi develops a strategy that protects its citizens and institutions from these cyber criminals and enhances the nation’s ability to detect, prosecute and prevent cybercrimes in Malawi. The high levels of ICT access and usage in the country coupled with the absence of specific legislation dealing with cyber security issues in Malawi proved a big challenge in the fight against common forms of cybercrime namely—true cybercrimes, which are committed against the confidentiality, integrity and availability of computers, computer systems and networks, hacking, malware and website defacement among others. Secondly, traditional crimes, which Page | 8