Technology
Kaspersky, Interpol Fortify Ties to Fight Cybercrime in Nigeria, Others
By Adedapo Adesanya
Kaspersky has contributed to INTERPOL’s Africa Cyber Surge Operation (ACSO) by sharing data comprising indicators of compromise (IoCs) on various cyber threats and types of cybercriminal activity targeting African countries, including Nigeria.
This evidence provided the grounds for a series of operational and investigative activities against the threat actors behind the cybercrimes and their malicious infrastructure.
The threat intelligence data was shared with INTERPOL as part of the agency’s long-standing Gateway project, which encourages the partnership between law enforcement and private industry players to accumulate threat data from multiple sources, enabling police authorities to prevent attacks.
Based on the information shared by Kaspersky, together with the rest of Gateway project partners, 28 cyber activity reports were drafted.
The ACSO was initiated by INTERPOL’s Cybercrime Directorate and INTERPOL Support Programme for the African Union (ISPA) and was carried out in collaboration with the AFRIPOL police agency and the African member countries.
Kaspersky supported INTERPOL’s operation by helping the agency to identify the malicious infrastructure hosted within African countries with the view to future takedown actions by the responsible bodies. The information shared by the company was gathered with the help of Kaspersky’s Threat Research, Security Services, and Global Research and Analysis Team (GReAT) analysts.
It helps to reveal phishing scam campaigns, ransomware C&C servers’ IP addresses, IP addresses linked to the malicious infrastructure within the African continent, IP addresses from which phishing and spam emails were sent out, and a list of scam and phishing websites.
The ASCO course identified unsophisticated cybercriminals and infrastructure compromised as part of their criminal activities. As a result, cyberattack enablers, including malware-hosting or distribution servers, phishing websites and compromised IP addresses, were taken down and cleaned.
Speaking on this, Interpol’s Director of Cybercrime Directorate, Mr Craig Jones, said, “The Africa Cyber Surge Operation, launched in July 2022, has brought together law enforcement officials from 27 countries, working together for almost four months on actionable intelligence provided by INTERPOL private partners.
“This intelligence focused on opportunities to prevent, detect, investigate and disrupt cybercrime through coordinated LE activities utilising INTERPOL platforms, tools, and channels.
“This operation focused both on cyber criminals and compromised network infrastructure in Africa, allowing member countries to identify more than 1,000 malicious IP addresses, Dark Web Markets, and individual threat actors, enhancing cooperation between INTERPOL, AFRIPOL and the member countries, and contributing to connecting policing for a safer world.”
On her part, Ms Genie Gan, the head of Public Affairs and Government Relations for Asia Pacific & Middle East, Turkey and Africa at Kaspersky, said, “Kaspersky has always seen international cooperation as a key element of the effective fight against borderless cybercrime and has been working closely with its partners, including INTERPOL, to disrupt malicious activities of threat actors worldwide.
“We are happy to be a part of INTERPOL’s ACSO and, together with other participants, help African countries tackle the cybercrime threat. The successful operation boosts the role of collaborative efforts in combating cyber offences and achieving greater cybersecurity.”
In 2019, Kaspersky and INTERPOL signed a five-year cooperation agreement, under which the company committed to providing human resources support, training, and threat intelligence data on the latest cybercriminal activities to the law enforcement agency.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
A mobile application, MyLagosApp, designed to provide real-time updates on events, entertainment, hospitality, transport services and government-related payments, has been launched by MTN Nigeria in partnership with the Lagos State Government.
The digital platform was created by the Software Lab in MTN, according to the Chief Information Officer of MTN Nigeria, Shoyinka Shodunke, and is embedded with global security standards and practices with ISO 27001 certification.
At the launch of the app last Thursday, it was emphasised that security was a key priority in the design and development of the app to ensure the protection of user data and secure access to the app’s features and functionalities.
MyLagosApp, currently entitled MyCityApp on the app store, is available for download on both Android and iOS platforms. Users have been encouraged to download it to experience firsthand how urban living in Lagos has been transformed with the app.
The Deputy Governor of Lagos, Mr Obafemi Hamzat, while speaking at the unveiling of the app, reinforced the government’s commitment to leveraging technology for enhanced city management and connectivity.
He described it as a demonstration of the administration’s dedication to enhancing the lives of citizens through technological innovation.
“I commend the collaboration between MTN Nigeria and the Lagos State Government, alongside other key stakeholders, for making this vision a reality.
“This partnership is a testament to the power of technology in bridging the gap between the public and private sectors to drive innovation and improve lives.
“The app serves as a vital link between the government and the people, simplifying access to public services, providing real-time updates, and promoting transparency and accountability in governance.
“Whether you need to navigate government processes, access essential city services, or stay informed about key developments, MyLagosApp places all the information you need right at your fingertips,” Mr Hamzat said on behalf of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
On his part, the chief executive of MTN Nigeria, Mr Karl Toriola, said, “As we embrace the future of e-governance, digital entertainment and commercial innovation, initiatives like this are essential in making Lagos a truly smart city, and we are proud to partner with the Lagos State Government to drive digital transformation and enhance urban living.
“With the launch of MyLagosApp, we are leveraging technology to simplify access to essential services, improve connectivity, and create a smarter, more efficient Lagos for residents and visitors alike.”
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) has launched an investigation into the data processing practices of Tiktok and Truecaller, amid growing concerns over potential privacy violations.
This was disclosed, the chief executive of NDPC, Mr Vincent Olatunji, at a press conference in Abuja, where he also announced the issuance of the Nigeria Data Protection Act – General Application and Implementation Directive (NDPC act – GAID 2025).
According to Mr Olatunji, the commission is particularly concerned about how these platforms handle Nigerian users’ personal data, including potential breaches of consent, data sharing with third parties, and overall compliance with the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDPA), 2023.
He said the NDPC is actively investigating the data processing activities of Tiktok and Truecaller to ensure their compliance with Nigeria’s data protection laws.
He noted that the goal was to safeguard the privacy rights of Nigerians and hold organizations accountable for how they collect, store, and use personal data.
The investigation follows increasing scrutiny of global technology companies over data privacy concerns, particularly regarding how personal information is processed, stored, and transmitted beyond national borders.
The NDPC act – GAID, 2025 provides a comprehensive framework for the implementation of Nigeria’s data protection law, setting out specific guidelines for compliance, enforcement mechanisms, and obligations for both private and public sector organisations.
He emphasized that the directive aims to strengthen Nigeria’s digital economy by fostering trust in data governance while ensuring that individuals’ rights to privacy are upheld in line with international best practices.
Mr Olatunji further reiterated that companies operating in Nigeria must align with the country’s data protection regulations or face regulatory actions, including fines and potential restrictions on their operations.
The NDPC has called on the public to report any data privacy violations and reaffirmed its commitment to transparency and due process in its investigations.
The agency stated that reporting data breaches have become easier with dedicated channels of reaching out to the commission from its official website.
By Adedapo Adesanya
Google has intensified calls for Nigerian businesses to tap into the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) as data shows how it is fundamentally transforming consumer behavior and creating unprecedented opportunities.
According to Mr Brendon Kraham, Vice President of Search and Commerce, Global Ads Solutions, the numbers show that Google products around the intersection of searching, streaming, scrolling, and shopping can help position businesses for growth.
Amid Nigeria’s economic challenges, technology is proving to be a pathway to drive brand awareness that resort to action.
“We’re observing a significant evolution in how people interact with technology and brands. This evolution is driven by AI and characterized by a multi-modal consumer journey, where searching, streaming, scrolling, and shopping seamlessly intertwine,” Mr Kraham stated.
He added that AI is now powering businesses when it comes to modern search and advertising with Google’s AI Overviews, powered by Gemini, demonstrating how AI can provide richer, more conversational answers, leading to increased user engagement and exploration.
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