March 1, 2024 at 01:05AM
African economies faced varied cyber threats in 2023, with Kenya experiencing a 68% rise in ransomware attacks and South Africa seeing a 29% increase in phishing attempts. Cybercriminals are leveraging AI and social engineering tactics, particularly in BEC attacks. Organizations in Africa should invest in cybersecurity expertise to combat evolving threats and embrace best practices for safeguarding data.
From the meeting notes, we can gather the following key takeaways:
1. Increase in Cyber Threats: There has been a significant rise in cyber threats in African countries, with Kenya experiencing a 68% increase in ransomware attacks and South Africa seeing a 29% jump in phishing attacks targeting sensitive information.
2. AI Integration: Cyber attackers are increasingly incorporating artificial intelligence into their toolkits, including the abuse of AI large language models to create more convincing social engineering attacks. This trend poses a growing threat to cybersecurity in the region.
3. BEC Attacks: Business email compromise (BEC) attacks remain the primary cyber threat to organizations and individuals in Africa, with specific sectors like financial, telecom, government, and retail being targeted the most.
4. Need for Cybersecurity Investment: To effectively combat cyber threats, it has been recommended that African organizations should invest in the development of their cybersecurity experts through regular training and certification. Enhancing the skills of cybersecurity employees is crucial in preventing and responding to cyberattacks.
5. AI Promises and Threats: While AI technologies present benefits, they also pose potential threats to societies, including unequal treatment of African citizens in facial recognition, financial fraud, and AI-powered targeting.
6. Hacking Critical Infrastructure: The adoption of operational technology to automate critical infrastructure systems is under attack, with a significant percentage of OT computers encountering threats. This includes attacks from cybercriminals, nation-state groups, and the rise of hacktivism driven by various socio-cultural and macro-economic agendas.
7. Mobile Threats: Mobile devices are the primary means of accessing the internet in Africa, and there has been a 10% increase in threats directed at mobile devices across the continent. This includes a rise in mobile ransomware and credential-seeking SMS phishing attacks. Protecting mobile employees working offsite presents a significant challenge for organizations.
8. Best Practices: It has been emphasized that organizations should focus on patching software and devices, managing credentials and identities more closely, and implementing best practices when it comes to safeguarding personal and corporate data to mitigate the risks associated with cyber threats.
These takeaways highlight the evolving and complex nature of cyber threats in Africa, emphasizing the need for proactive measures and investments in cybersecurity to mitigate the risks effectively.