Glitches
Season’s Greetings!
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Something happened last week, and it made me remember an occurrence that happened many years ago.
First of all, I do not know if it is only in Africa that this kind of thing happens—a moment whereby a telecommunication server is hacked into or there is a glitch that people take advantage of to use data free of charge and unlimitedly (without a cap) before it eventually stops. We usually use a VPN to get the free browsing, or sometimes just a dial or a code. Honestly, these VPNs or codes are harmless; nothing happens to someone’s phone or personal identity as people often claim. Yes, this happens in Nigeria occasionally, and whenever it does, interested Nigerians who are aware usually take good advantage of the glitch, or “cheat” as we normally call it, and use it unlimitedly until it stops.
Many years ago, while I was still living in the village, this kind of glitch happened. Because I did not always have a data subscription back then, I swung into action to make use of the opportunity to surf the internet, especially for downloading movies. During that period, I met a friend who was always begging for data subscription. I told him about the trend of “free browsing,” and behold, this friend of mine said he does not use such things because it is indirectly stealing and, according to him, a sin. I was dumbfounded! I could not just comprehend his belief at all.
Is taking advantage of a glitch a sin or a crime?
I understand that there are different scenarios where this kind of act clearly appears to be stealing and a crime—situations such as taking advantage of mistakenly credited money from a bank or stealing goods from a stranded truck loaded with items. But things like data glitches? No way!
Something similar happened again last week. There was a glitch or loophole in one telecommunication company in Nigeria, and a VPN was made available that allowed free and unlimited internet browsing. I told some friends who do not always have data subscriptions on their phones, and guess what? I got those same frowning reactions again. Lol.
Thanks for reading.