Cybersecurity Trends in Africa: 7 Things You Must Know

When taking a look at the changing times, you must keep an eye on technology. More specifically, cybersecurity is the next frontier of tech in a Web 2.0 world.

There are more than 1.2 billion people on the continent of Africa, and the number of internet users is rapidly increasing by the day. As such, there are several cybersecurity threats that will come into play, as various African nations continuously grow and embrace the web.

If you’re looking into cybersecurity trends in Africa and want to learn more, consider the points below.

Ransomware is one of the most serious forms of cyberthreats. They involve a situation in which a hacker hijacks your system, demanding money to relinquish it.

In various areas of Africa, ransomware is among the most common threats.

Cryptolocker is among the most severe forms of ransomware threats. With this ransomware, a trojan horse attacks the system and embeds itself in the system.

Malware threats are on the rise in certain African countries. For instance, South Africa is experiencing a 22 percent increase in bank-related malware threats.

It can be debilitating to the economy if left unchecked and can defraud countless people out of their hard-earned money.

Malware incidents, in general, are on the rise throughout the continent, which is why businesses and consumers alike need to be aware of these incidents and vigilant about protecting them.

Since cyber threats are on the rise, it’s only right that companies in all industries are paying attention. Businesses that formerly had no cybersecurity departments are placing heavy emphasis on stopping these threats.

It is the case because it’s important to get ahead of these issues, to be able to avoid setbacks that can be costly. These threats can also compromise a company’s personal information, leaving both employees and customers vulnerable.

It’s also important to build a website equipped with protective measures. Since malware and phishing threats are on the rise, companies are choosing to take more security measures when they develop their sites.

It means that they are turning away from one-size-fits-all templates that are easily exploitable and are instead looking into custom sites that are built with cyber defense in mind.

Building the site in this way acts as an investment into a company and prevents cyber threats that are avoidable for the most part.

In terms of cyber threats, e-mail scams are on the rise throughout the continent.

It usually happens through phishing. Perpetrators include links in their e-mails that get unsuspecting victims to click and give up credit card numbers and other forms of personal information.

It is also quite common for people to commit fraud via e-mail, making bogus claims in an attempt to get people’s money or personal information.

Since these e-mail scams are on the rise, users are also becoming wiser and are taking measures to enhance their spam settings and avoid clicking links that appear to be suspicious.

Keep in mind that the threats that are going around are not just limited to computers and cell phones.

A variety of Internet of Things (IoT)-enabled devices is prone to threats right now. These devices range from video game systems and kitchen appliances to industrial machinery.

Since just about every device on the market today has at least some form of internet capability, it’s essential to protect them only as you would a computer.

Put, if a device can connect to the internet, it can be exploited. People are becoming more aware of this and are adding security measures to their IoT devices.

Social media outlets are wildly popular in countries like Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, and South Africa. These outlets aren’t exempt from cyber threats, either.

As such, it is essential to be mindful of scamming users that send DMs in an attempt to get you to click on dangerous links. People are also perpetrating fraud in attempts to get people’s passwords and personal information on social media networks.

Since social media is a big part of the evolution of the web, understanding these sorts of threats is vital.

Right now, the continent is in dire need of cybersecurity professionals to address these sorts of threats. The average user is becoming savvier by the day and is taking action to counteract these issues.

People are getting used to using services like VPNs and other solutions to protect themselves when they browse. That’s what it is going to be able to stay ahead of the curve when it comes to cyber threats in Africa.

These are some of the most common cybersecurity trends that you need to keep in mind when you are learning about the way tech is evolving in Africa.

Since we all use the web in our everyday lives for business and personal use, addressing cyber threats is a basic form of security and survival, similar to protecting your banking information or your home.

If you live in an African country, you will want to stay ahead of the curve with these trends that are on the rise.

Take the time to contact us for all of your cybersecurity needs.