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 Modupe Gbadeyanka
All roads will lead to Radisson Blu Hotel in Lagos for the first Rural Connectivity Summit (RuralConnect Summit) slated for Wednesday, October 22, 2025.
The event is organised by a notable digital news platform, Business Metrics Limited, under the theme Rethinking Digital Connectivity to Unlock Rural Economic Potential.
The programme will bring together under one roof telecommunications operators, government regulators, policy makers, technology firms, financial institutions, donor agencies, civil society groups, community leaders and grassroots representatives.
These critical stakeholders will explore action points and practical solutions for extending digital access to rural Nigeria and reduce digital divide.
Dialogue at the summit is anchored on key pillars of unconventional infrastructure rollout, policy reforms, innovative financing models, digital literacy programmes, collaborations and use cases in agricultural technology integration, and enhanced access to healthcare and education.
The convener and partnership coordinator for RuralConnect Summit, Mr Omobayo Azeez, said the conference is a pioneering seven-year initiative designed to tackle Nigeria’s persistent digital divide and unlock the economic potential of rural communities.
It seeks to address the stark reality that, while cities such as Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt enjoy advanced internet infrastructure, over 70 per cent of Nigeria’s rural population remains digitally excluded.
Official estimates reveal that more than 20 million Nigerians currently lack any form of access to modern connectivity—a figure larger than the population of many African countries.
According to Mr Azeez, this situation not only reflects a serious access gap but also highlights a significant untapped opportunity for innovation, market growth and inclusive development.
“Digital transformation cannot be said to be successful if millions of Nigerians in rural areas remain cut off. The Rural Connectivity Summit is not just another conference – it is a movement to bridge the divide, create opportunities, and ensure that connectivity becomes a catalyst for national growth.
“We are setting a seven-year agenda that will continue to drive practical solutions until no community is left behind,” he stated, noting that the initiative builds on Business Metrics Limited’s strong track record of shaping national dialogues around Nigeria’s digital economy and telecommunications sector.
Its past programmes include the first national forum on 5G readiness in 2022, advocacy for a Dig-Once Policy to accelerate fibre deployment, high-level summits on indigenous content development, and Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII) protection, among others.
With the Rural Connectivity Summit, Business Metrics Limited seeks to create a legacy platform where government, private sector, and development partners work hand-in-hand to democratise access to digital technologies and transform the fortunes of rural communities across Nigeria.
The October gathering will therefore not only mark the beginning of this multi-stakeholder journey but will also set measurable benchmarks for progress in the years to come, reaffirming Nigeria’s commitment to inclusivity and sustainable digital transformation.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The chief executive of MTN Nigeria, Mr Karl Toriola, has said that Nigeria needs to invest in data infrastructure, power supply, and skills development to support the growth of Artificial Intelligence in the country.
This was part of assertions made as he presented his paper Toward a United AI Strategy for Africa at the ongoing 2025 Gulf Information Technology Exhibition (GITEX) on Tuesday in Abuja.
He called on the public and private sectors to collaborate with it to address the challenges and opportunities inherent in AI development in the country.
Mr Toriola said the country required patience and capacity to build and implement AI solutions to maximise its potential.
“I would love to see a headline that says Nigeria has articulated a clear strategy on how to advance artificial intelligence.
“I would like to read that it has harnessed the resources, both private and public, and is executing them with discipline and labour,” he said.
Mr Toriola said that Nigeria had faced a significant gap in data centre capacity, with an estimated 90-megawatt gap.
The MTN Nigeria CEO, who recently became the VP for Africa at MTN Group, identified the country’s poor power supply as a major challenge, adding that AI data centres required massive amounts of energy, equivalent to one nuclear power plant per data centre.
He advised that the country should build sovereign data ecosystems, adding that it will require computing infrastructure collectively.
“There is about a 90-megawatt gap in terms of data centre capacity today. It is estimated that data consumption from AI will be 16-fold of what we are consuming today,” he said.
According to him, “What we, as a nation, are going to try to do is to build sovereign data ecosystems, which requires computing infrastructure collectively. We do have some connectivity, but it is a long way to go.
“AI data centre that are being built today are of the scale that they need one nuclear power plant per data center. And that is where we have a huge gap,” he added.
According to him, MTN will continue to invest, execute and deliver solutions to consumers, Small, Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and large enterprises that enable them to tap into AI opportunities.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) has commenced a sector-by-sector investigation into organisations suspected of breaching the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDP Act), 2023.
According to Mr Babatunde Bamigboye, Head, Legal, Enforcement and Regulations at the commission, the exercise is aimed at safeguarding the fundamental rights, freedoms, and interests of data subjects as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution, while strengthening the legal foundations of Nigeria’s digital economy.
Business Post reports that the NDP Act was enacted to ensure Nigeria’s trusted and beneficial participation in regional and global economies through the responsible use of personal data.
The action is in line with Sections 5(i), 6(a), 6(c), 46(3), and 47(1)-(2) of the Act, the Commission said. Adding that it has issued Compliance Notices to several organizations. The names of these entities were published on August 23, 2025, in major newspapers nationwide.
Companies under investigation include banks, pension firms, gaming companies, insurance brokers, and other corporate bodies.
The affected organizations have 21 days to provide evidence of filing their NDP Act Compliance Audit Returns for 2024, proof of appointing a Data Protection Officer with their contact details, a summary of technical and organizational data protection measures, and evidence of registration as a Data Controller or Processor of Major Importance.
The NDPC warned that failure to comply with the directive could lead to enforcement actions, including enforcement orders, administrative fines, or criminal prosecution as stipulated in the Act.
The agency also reaffirmed its commitment to promoting accountability and trust within Nigeria’s data protection ecosystem while ensuring the protection of citizens’ rights and the growth of the digital economy.
Recall that the NDPC had already sanctioned some companies including Meta, Multichoice, and Fidelity Bank in recent times.
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