The Rise of Cyber Attacks Across the African Continent

In recent months, Africa has seen a troubling rise in cyber attacks, revealing a growing threat to the continent’s cybersecurity. According to the latest Global Threat Index report from Check Point Software Technologies, many African countries are becoming major targets for cybercriminals, highlighting a critical need for better security measures.

Ethiopia Faces the Greatest Risk

Ethiopia stands out as the most targeted country globally, with a concerning Normalized Risk Index (NRI) score of 100%. This indicates that the country is extremely vulnerable to cyber attacks, impacting both its private and public sectors. The rise in cyber threats in Ethiopia reflects a broader issue affecting many African nations, driven by increasing digital use and more sophisticated cybercriminal techniques.

Challenges in Zimbabwe and Nigeria

Zimbabwe is also struggling with significant cybersecurity issues, ranked third globally with an NRI score of 77.1%. This shows the serious level of cyber threats affecting its infrastructure and businesses. The situation in Zimbabwe is similar to that in other African countries, where sophisticated malware and ransomware attacks are disrupting operations and compromising sensitive information.

Nigeria, a major player in Africa’s tech scene, has seen its vulnerability rise sharply as well. It’s now ranked 19th globally with an NRI of 58.5%. This increase in risk highlights how Nigeria’s fast-growing digital economy has made it a prime target for cyber-criminals.

The Global Threat Index report also points out several malware families causing significant problems in Africa. For example, FakeUpdates (SocGholish) has been used to install Remote Access Trojans (RATs) like AsyncRAT, while Remcos has exploited vulnerabilities to gain unauthorized access. Other threats include Qbot, which targets organizations for credential theft and ransomware, and Phorpiex, known for large-scale spam campaigns in Zimbabwe and Mozambique. Vidar, an infostealer malware-as-a-service, is used to gather sensitive data from browsers and digital wallets.

These malware types show how varied and evolving cyber threats are, underscoring the need for strong endpoint protection and comprehensive security strategies. Cybercriminals are adapting their methods to exploit new vulnerabilities, making it crucial for organizations to stay ahead.

The Need for Better Cybersecurity

Issam El Haddioui, head of security sales engineering for Check Point Africa, stresses the urgent need to address these cybersecurity issues. The increasing frequency and sophistication of attacks reveal major gaps in Africa’s cybersecurity defenses. Vulnerabilities like the CrowdStrike Falcon sensor exploit further highlight the need for improved protection.

Maya Horowitz, VP of research at Check Point Software, agrees, noting that opportunistic malware like Remcos requires a proactive approach to cybersecurity. To reduce the risk of attacks, African organizations must focus on endpoint protection, vigilant monitoring, and thorough user education.

To combat the rising tide of cyber threats, African nations need to strengthen their cybersecurity measures. This means investing in advanced security technologies, fostering collaboration between public and private sectors, and increasing cybersecurity awareness and training. Governments and businesses must adopt a proactive stance to keep their defenses up-to-date with the evolving threat landscape.

The growing number of African countries appearing on global cyber attack lists serves as a wake-up call for all involved. To protect digital infrastructure and ensure citizen safety, Africa must enhance its cybersecurity framework and address these challenges head-on.