Telecom
Africa Still too Trusting of Email Communication – Report
While 65% of Africans surveyed are concerned about cybercrime, 53% think that trusting emails from people they know is good enough; 28% have fallen for a phishing email and 50% have had a malware infection.
Additionally, 64% don’t know what ransomware is and yet believe they can easily identify a security threat, and 52% don’t know what multi-factor authentication is.
These are some of the key findings from the 2019 KnowBe4 African Report, released by global security awareness training and simulated phishing platform KnowBe4.
The report is based on feedback from respondents across Botswana, Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius, Morocco, Nigeria and South Africa.
KnowBe4 said that of all countries surveyed, Kenyans (75%) and South Africans (74%) were the most concerned about the risk of cyber crime and yet respondents were comfortable giving away their personal information as long as they understood what it was being used for (Kenyans 26.59% and South Africans 57%).
“It’s a worrying trend – many phishing scams will use any means necessary to tease out valuable nuggets of personal information and phone calls or emails from so-called ‘trusted sources’ are among the most common methods used,” the company stated.
According to KnowBe4, the problem is that most users are not aware of how cyber criminals operate and the tools that they use.
“More than half of respondents across all eight countries felt very confident that they would recognise a security incident or issue if they saw one, but a significant percentage have had a PC infection, and more than a quarter had fallen for a scam. In South Africa, 50% of respondents had their PCs infected, while in Kenya, Ghana and Egypt, this number rose to 67%.”
The KnowBe4 survey also found that even though nearly half of respondents across all eight countries felt that their organisations had trained them adequately, a quarter of them didn’t know what a ransomware was. For South Africans, a worrying 31.5% thought that a cyber threat that encrypts files and demands payments was a Trojan virus and 26.9% of Kenyans agreed.
Egypt and Morocco thought it was a drive-by download, while Ghana thought it was a botnet.
“More than 50% of respondents are not aware of what multi-factor authentication is or the benefit thereof. Using stolen credentials was the third most common attack vector used in successful breaches and applying multi-factor authentication, which is combining your password with something that you own, such as a One-Time-Password app on your phone, which reduces this risk significantly,” the company added.
According to the report email security is one of the biggest threats facing the average user – with over 70% of those surveyed using email to collaborate.
KnowBe4 stated: “Most people don’t realise what a risky email looks like or how their actions can result in their systems becoming infected. While more than half of respondents in Botswana, Egypt, Kenya, Ghana, Morocco and Mauritius have enough security smarts to avoid clicking on links or opening attachments they don’t expect, a startling 46% still trusted emails from people they knew. In South Africa, those statistics are completely turned around – more than half of respondents (52%) trust emails from people they know, while only 49.5% don’t open attachments they have not expected.”
“Email remains one of the most successful forms of cyber attack today for this very reason. People are quick to click on links or attachments sent to them from people who they know, not realising that cyber criminals have potentially hacked or spoofed (impersonated) their friend’s, colleague’s or suppliers’ systems to spread malware, or launch other forms of attacks.”
The company also expressed concern that phishing and social engineering attacks have spread to other communication channels, particularly WhatsApp – and given that the platform is in use over 90% in Africa, this was a serious concern.
“Training in cybersecurity threats, methodologies, entry points and vulnerabilities has become critical for the organisation. This not only helps to minimise the growing risk of human error that’s allowing threats to bypass their complex and powerful security systems, but helps to protect their employees,” KnowBe4 added.
Cyber security specialists believe businesses should adopt the stance of ‘expecting an attack’ in order to improve their preparedness and have controls in place to detect and prevent before major damage is caused.
The premise is that it is not enough to have systems in place to detect and notify of attacks, there must be the ability to stop an attack.
Airtel Nigeria, as part its ongoing commitment to delivering a seamless and exceptional retail experience for its customers has launched its new Company-Owned-Company-Operated (COCO) retail store in Sangotedo, Lagos, on Friday, 24th January 2025.
The new retail store aligns with Airtel’s dedication to providing topnotch experience for its customers, offering end-to-end customer support, instant activation of new SIM cards, bill payments, data plan subscriptions, device purchases, and troubleshooting services.
Speaking during the launch, Femi Oshinlaja, Chief Commercial Officer, Airtel Nigeria, reiterated Airtel’s commitment to delivering world-class service to its customers.
“At Airtel, our mission has always been to delight our customers by delivering unmatched satisfaction and we understand that connectivity is the lifeblood of modern business and everyday life. This is why we are passionate about ensuring that every customer’s journey with us is seamless, convenient, and rewarding,” he said.
“We are proud to be part of the Sangotedo community and excited to deepen our partnership with the people and businesses in this vibrant part of Lagos. This shop is a reflection of our belief that access to excellent telecommunications services should be within everyone’s reach,” he added.
The launch event was attended by senior Airtel executives and included a guided tour of the cutting-edge facility, showcasing the innovative features and personalized services that customers can now enjoy. Leveraging the latest retail technologies and best practices, the store sets a new benchmark for customer service excellence in the telecommunications industry.
In her closing remarks, Human Resources Director, Airtel Nigeria, Adebimpe Ayo-Elias emphasized Airtel’s goal in promoting quality customer service.
“At Airtel, we understand the importance of having a conducive environment for effective customer service and with the launch of this new shop, we have made provisions for 24 seats to accommodate everyone.
“Every customer who walks in is assured of receiving top notch quality customer care. We would continue to be the reason to imagine and look forward to achieving even greater milestones,” she said.
Airtel remains committed to enhancing its retail footprint across Nigeria, ensuring customers have convenient access to superior telecommunications services.
Galaxy Backbone (GBB) proudly recognizes the outstanding efforts of its employees, whose dedication and innovation have significantly contributed to the organization’s success and recognition in recent times.
These achievements underscore GBB’s unwavering commitment to excellence in service delivery and pioneering technological solutions that advance Nigeria’s public sector.
The development, launch, and implementation of the GBB GovMail Email Platform in November 2024 by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, marked a transformative milestone in Nigeria’s digital transformation journey. GovMail provides Civil and Public servants across the public sector with a secure, efficient, and reliable platform for official communication.
By fostering seamless collaboration and ensuring the integrity of government data, GovMail directly supports the federal government’s vision for a digitally enabled public sector that prioritizes accountability and efficiency.
This groundbreaking initiative was driven by an exceptional teamwork, led by GBB’s, Head of Cloud Operations and supported by GBB’s team of Cloud Solution Specialists. Their innovation and “can-do spirit” embody GBB’s commitment to delivering cost-effective technology solutions that empower governance and enhance service delivery to citizens.
In recognition of their outstanding contributions, the team members were formerly recognized and commended by GBB’s Executive Management, led by the Managing Director/CEO, Professor Ibrahim A. Adeyanju. The expressed delight by the team’s spirit, commitment and dedication and encouraged other members of Staff to emulate their great work for GBB, the Public sector and the nation at large.
In a similar way, GBB also commended a member of its Datacentre Team for his exceptional skill and dedication in responding to a critical incident at the National Shared Services Centre (NSSC) in 2024. His swift actions safeguarded critical infrastructure, and ensured uninterrupted business continuity. These Individuals have in their unique ways, shown professionalism and technical expertise, which aligns with GBB’s core values.
These commendations highlight GBB’s dedication to fostering a culture of excellence, innovation, and recognition. Through initiatives like GovMail and the unwavering efforts of its talented workforce, GBB continues to lead the charge in advancing Nigeria’s digital transformation agenda and strengthening governance through cutting-edge technologies.
Federal government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the West Indian Ocean Cable Company (WIOCC) to provide internet facilities and services to three million Nigerian homes.
The project, backed by a $10 million initial investment from WIOCC, aims to enhance internet access in both urban and rural areas, bridging the digital divide and promoting inclusive development.
Bosun Tijani, minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, signed the agreement on behalf of the Federal Government, while Darren Bedford, WIOCC’s group chief development officer, signed on behalf of the company during the ceremony held in Abuja.
Tijani noted that the initiative would facilitate the connection of fiber optic cables to Nigerian homes, schools, hospitals, and public offices, enabling reliable internet services.
“The partnership will create opportunities for training Nigerians and supporting the local manufacturing of accessories such as batteries,” Tijani said.
The Minister said that widespread internet connectivity in Nigerian homes and offices would soon drive down the prices of data, calls, and SMS, as Nigerians would have alternative platforms for internet access across the country, beyond just their phones.
Tijani explained that the development is a key part of the current administration’s efforts to position Nigeria as a $1 trillion economy in the coming years, with both the government and private sector making aggressive investments in digital infrastructure.
He added that once completed, the project would provide Nigerians in cities with a minimum internet speed of 25Mbps for downloads at home, while those in rural areas would have at least 10Mbps download speeds in their homes.
According to him, “This company is already making significant investments in Nigeria, starting with their submarine cable investment. However, what’s even more important is that they are bringing something long overdue for our people – fiber-to-home connectivity.
“Imagine needing to use the internet – this is the global standard. You shouldn’t have to wait to use it on your phone. The ability to access top-quality, world-class service is only possible if you have that kind of connection. Our goal is to make this mainstream, so it’s not just available in a few high-end estates or parts of Lagos. They are committing to connecting around 3 million homes in the coming years.”
In his remarks, Darren Bedford, of WIOCC, said that the MoU signed with the Federal Government aimed to bring internet directly to homes, hospitals, schools, and other key establishments.
Bedford stated that the initial phase of the investment would cost his company approximately $10 million, with plans to expand coverage to more states, local governments, and institutions.
He highlighted that over 40,000 homes and several institutions have already been connected with fiber infrastructure for internet services. However, he acknowledged challenges, including Right of Way (RoW) issues and insecurity in certain states.
He emphasized the significant impact of the project, noting that most of Nigeria remains unconnected, with people and businesses relying on mobile internet rather than high-speed broadband. “This project is the first step in creating an environment where Nigerians can participate in the global digital economy,” he said.
With an initial target of connecting 3 million homes, Bedford explained that the goal is to set realistic expectations, allowing for reassessment during the rollout.
He suggested that the target could grow to 10 or even 30 million homes as the project progresses
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