Technology
Cyber Threats in Nigeria Drop 7.5% in 2021—Kaspersky
By Adedapo Adesanya
Cyber threats in Nigeria in 2021 depreciated by 7.5 per cent, according to the latest research by Kaspersky.
This dramatic change in the threat landscape is coming at a time regular and self-propagating malware is decreasing dramatically, as it is no longer effective and cannot fly under security radars.
Security researchers at Kaspersky noticed that Kenya recorded the highest decline with an unprecedented 28.6 per cent, while South Africa saw a 12 per cent decrease.
The reason for such a change was the introduction and popularisation of new cybercrime models in the region, with cybercrime tools becoming more targeted along with a long-running trend where malware creators rely not on the technical advantage of their technologies over security protection, but on the human factor.
The cybersecurity firm noted that this has stimulated the evolution of phishing schemes in 2021. In particular, the region saw a wave of ‘Anomalous’ spyware attacks.
The usual phishing spyware attack begins when attackers infect a victim by sending them an e-mail with a malicious attachment or a link to a compromised website and ends when the spyware is downloaded and activated on the victim’s device.
Having gathered all necessary data, the operator usually ends the operation by attempting to leave the infected system unnoticed. In anomalous attacks, however, the victim’s device becomes not only a source of data but also a tool for spyware distribution.
Having access to the victim’s email server, the malware operators use it to send phishing emails from a legitimate company’s email address. In this case, anomalous spyware attacks an organisation’s server for collecting stolen data from another organisation and sending further phishing emails.
Speaking on this, Maria Garnaeva, Senior Security Researcher at Kaspersky ICS CERT team, “The Anomalous spyware attacks have a huge potential for growth in South Africa, Kenya and Nigeria in 2022, because unlike regular spyware the entry-level for attackers who wish to employ this tactic is significantly lower – since instead of paying for their own infrastructure, they abuse and employ the victims’ resources.
“We see that cheaper attack methods have always been on the rise in the region and cybercriminals quickly pick up on new tactics. Kaspersky, therefore, suggests that in the nearest future, these countries should be prepared for such attacks.”
She explained that the mass scale attacks are not disappearing, but rather transforming with the scheme usually following a style where a user searches for a free version of an extremely popular legitimate spyware and the cybercriminals offer them a fake installer using ‘black SEO technic’ – the abuse of the legitimate search engines, resulting in the offering of the fraudulent websites first.
As a result of software installer execution, a few dozen malware samples are downloaded and installed with the goal of turning the infected devices into a part of the Glupteba botnet.
The whole fake installers campaign and botnet have been extremely active in South Africa in 2021 and continue to evolve, yet it is scarcely researched.
“While the Glupteba botnet seems to be a threat for consumers, we are still researching it and keeping an eye on its behaviour, since some distributed malware resembles APT-related samples like Lazarus APT groups and were recently used in the largest DDoS attack in Russia. It is too early to say it with a high level of confidence, but these factors may suggest that we are now entering the era where APT actors start to use existing malware distribution platforms which makes attribution of such attacks harder and opens a new vector similar to supply chain attacks,” added Ms Garnaeva.
Recommendations from Kaspersky
In order to stay protected from such new cybercrime models and threats, Kaspersky recommends the following:
– Pay close attention to and don’t open any suspicious files or attachments received from unknown sources.
– Do not download and install applications from untrusted sources.
– Do not click on any links received from unknown sources and suspicious online advertisements.
– Create strong passwords and don’t forget to change them regularly.
– Always install updates. Some of them may contain critical security issues fixes.
– Ignore messages asking to disable security systems for office software or antivirus software.
– Use a robust security solution appropriate to your system type and devices, such as Kaspersky Internet Security.
By Adedapo Adesanya
Nigeria will purchase to new communication satellites to boost Nigeria’s digital infrastructure as part of efforts to achieve President Bola Tinubu’s plan to grow the economy to $1 trillion.
The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Mr Bosun Tijani, disclosed this on Wednesday in Abuja at a press conference to mark Global Privacy Day 2026, organised by the Nigerian Data Protection Commission (NPDC).
Mr Tijani said the approval marked a significant shift in Nigeria’s digital strategy, noting that the country currently stands out in West Africa for lacking active communication satellites, a gap the new assets are expected to address.
“As you know, Mr President has been very clear about his ambition to build a $1 trillion economy, and digital technology is central to achieving that vision,” adding that, “The President has now approved that we should procure two new satellites. Nigeria today is the only country in West Africa with non-communication satellites. And we have been given the go-ahead to procure two new ones, ensuring that we can use that satellite to connect.”
He also said progress had been made on the Federal Government’s flagship 90,000-kilometre fibre optic backbone project, which is aimed at expanding broadband access across the country. According to the minister, about 60 per cent of the fibre project has been completed, while funding for the remaining work has already been secured.
“The 90,000 kilometres fibre optic project is not a dream. About 60 per cent of the work has already been completed, and the funding for the project is secure. As we bring more Nigerians online, connectivity without protection is incomplete. Privacy is the foundation of trust, safety, and sustainability in the digital world.”
“The success of Nigeria’s digital economy will depend not just on infrastructure and talent, but on trust, and the NDPC remains central to building that trust,” the minister said.
Mr Tijani said the Tinubu administration was positioning digital technology as a key driver of inclusive growth, improved public service delivery, and long-term economic expansion, adding that investments were also being channelled into digital skills, rural connectivity, and institutional reforms.
He stressed that the expansion of connectivity must be matched with stronger data protection, especially as Nigeria’s young and digitally active population continues to grow.
Recall that Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) recently granted licenses to three global internet service providers – Amazon’s Project Kuiper, BeetleSat-1, and and Germany-based Satelio IoT Services – as part of efforts to strengthen internet connectivity via satellite and to boost competition among existing internet service providers in the country.
By Dipo Olowookere
In 2026, there should be a surge in individual claims and constitutional privacy actions, a leading Data Protection Compliance Organisation (DPCO) in Nigeria, DataPro, has projected.
In a statement signed by its Head of Emerging Services, Ademikun Adeseyoju, the company noted that this means organisations must remain “litigation ready” by preserving processing records and strengthening internal controls.
In the disclosure to prepare for this year’s Privacy Week themed Privacy in the Age of Emerging Technologies: Trust, Ethics, and Innovation, it noted that 2026 would also be defined by board and executive ownership, as privacy will no longer be an IT-only concern but a standing governance issue requiring regular risk reports and dedicated budgets.
“DataPro anticipates intensity on sector-specific enforcement, with the NDPC (Nigeria Data Protection Commission) focusing on high-risk industries like fintech, healthcare, etc,” a part of the statement made available to Business Post on Wednesday said.
Giving a review of key milestones from the 2025 ecosystem, DataPro said the NDPC moved decisively into active enforcement, publicly naming non-compliant entities, particularly in the financial services sector.
It also said the year witnessed landmark court rulings, affirming that transparency in personal data handling is a constitutionally protected right, as courts awarded significant damages to data subjects for privacy breaches, signalling that organisational size no longer shields against accountability.
The firm noted that regulatory settlements with multinational technology firms have set a high bar for behavioural advertising and data processing standards in Nigeria.
In the cybersecurity landscape, the year under review experienced an unprecedented surge in cyber threats, as attackers shifted their focus from technical exploits to identity-driven campaigns, targeting valid credentials with high precision.
“This identity-centric threat environment has made robust access management a non-negotiable requirement for corporate resilience,” it stressed.
As for the 2026 Privacy Week, DataPro has lined up activities, with launch of the Privacy Pulse A year-in-review of Nigeria’s Data Protection Ecosystem on Thursday, January 29.
The next day, a webinar tagged Privacy Pulse to train attendees on the new mandatory bi-annual in-house audits and DPO certification requirements will hold and next Monday, there is an interactive quiz designed to test organizational response to identity-driven cyber campaigns.
A social media session answering complex privacy questions via concise 30-second videos is slated for Tuesday, February 3, and the next day, it is for a social media showcase where winners will be selected for their insights on building Trust, maintaining Ethics in AI, and fostering Innovation under the NDPA.
By Adedapo Adesanya
MTN Nigeria has revealed that it experienced 9,218 fibre cuts in 2025, causing widespread network disruptions across the country.
The telecommunications giant also reported that 211 sites were affected by theft and vandalism as of November 30, 2025, impacting essential services relied upon by customers daily.
The company recorded a total of 1,624,263 customer complaints, all of which were resolved across various service channels during the year. Despite these challenges, MTN reached 85 million subscribers by September 2025.
The chief executive of the telco, Mr Karl Toriola, made these revelations in his latest post on LinkedIn, acknowledging the company’s responsibility for network performance and its efforts to improve the customer experience.
He stated that the services fell short of customers’ expectations and clarified that some of these gaps were shaped by real operational challenges such as fibre cuts, theft, and vandalism.
“Their impact is felt directly by customers and reflected in what they tell us. We take responsibility for the signals we receive and for how we respond to the realities that shape the customer experience on our network,” he said.
Regardless, Mr Toriola added that, “There is progress to be proud of. And we clearly still have work to do.”
“We are not where we want to be yet, but our commitment to putting the customer at the centre of everything we do remains constant.”
As MTN prepares to celebrate its 25th anniversary in 2026, Mr Toriola reaffirmed the company’s dedication to listening to customers, responding quickly to issues, and driving consistent service improvements.
Some other milestones announced include addressing 1,624,263 customer complaints across all communication channels as well as receiving best network recognition from Ookla, getting back to profitability, and declaring interim dividends to shareholders.
The report comes in the wake of a February 2025 initiative by the Federal Ministry of Works and the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, which established a joint standing committee on the protection of fibre optic cables in Nigeria.
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