INTELLIGENT BRANDS // Enterprise Security
Zimbabwe , Ethiopia , Kenya , most targeted African countries by cyber threats announces Check Point
In its most recent analysis of cybersecurity threats across Africa , Check Point Software Technologies , a AI-powered , cloud-delivered cyber security platform , provides alarming trends and sheds light on the challenges faced by businesses and organisations in Africa .
Cybersecurity threats loom large in Africa , with a Normalised Risk Index of 95.4 , Zimbabwe leads the pack - ranking 2nd as the most attacked country globally , followed closely by Ethiopia at 92.6 , 3rd and Kenya at 69.4 , 10th . These rankings reflect the urgent need for heightened cybersecurity measures and proactive defence strategies to mitigate the ever-evolving threat landscape .
The findings from the Risk Ranking highlight the critical importance of cybersecurity readiness for African businesses . Despite efforts to bolster defences , countries like Angola , 7 , Uganda , 11 , and Macao , 12 have also experienced significant shifts in their risk rankings , emphasizing the dynamic nature of cyber threats .
Ghana , for instance , has seen a notable rise in its risk index , climbing from the 21st position to 13th , signifying the escalating cyber risks faced by organisations in the country .
As cybersecurity continues to be a top concern globally , it is imperative for African businesses to remain vigilant and prioritise investments in robust security solutions to safeguard against potential cyber-attacks .
Check Point Security Engineering Manager : Africa Issam El Haddaoui , says , “ In light of these statistics , organisations in Africa must adopt a proactive approach to cybersecurity , leveraging advanced threat intelligence , robust defence mechanisms , and comprehensive incident response plans . The findings highlight the top attacked industries and prevalent malware strains , underscoring the critical need for enhanced cybersecurity measures .”
Globally , education , research remained in the 1st place in the attacked industries , followed by government , military and healthcare . In Africa , the landscape is slightly different this month .
Insurance , legal : The insurance and legal sectors in Africa have become prime targets for cyber-attacks , facing significant risks to sensitive data and critical operations .
SI , VAR , distributor : Service integrators , value-added resellers , and distributors are also under constant threat , highlighting the importance of securing supply chains and partner networks .
Healthcare : The healthcare industry faces persistent cybersecurity threats , jeopardizing patient privacy and the integrity of medical records .
Consultant : Consulting firms are increasingly vulnerable to cyber-attacks , posing risks to client data confidentiality and business continuity .
Government , military : Government agencies and military institutions are highvalue targets for cyber adversaries , requiring robust defence mechanisms to safeguard national security interests .
Globally , FakeUpdates was the most prevalent malware last month with an impact of 6 % worldwide organisations , followed by Androxgh0st with a global impact of 4 %, and Qbot with a global impact of 3 %. However , the situation in Africa is quite different .
Issam El Haddaoui , Security Engineering Manager : Africa , Check Point
Phorpiex : This notorious botnet , also known as Trik , has been active since 2010 , orchestrating large-scale spam campaigns and distributing various malware families across Zimbabwe , Nigeria , and Mozambique .
Allcome Clipper : Targeting cryptocurrencies , Allcome Clipper hijacks clipboard data for outgoing transactions , to significant financial losses and identity theft in Zimbabwe and Nigeria .
Expiro : This polymorphic file infector steals user and system information , perpetuating infections and compromising data integrity in Zimbabwe and Nigeria . p
64 INTELLIGENTCIO AFRICA www . intelligentcio . com