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Nigerian Businesses Record 2,308 Cyber Attacks Weekly – Report

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Worldwide, the number of attacks experienced per business each week is 870 on average – alarmingly, in Nigeria, this weekly figure is 2 308 across all industry sectors collectively. The more-granular per-industry analysis reveals this figure is higher still for businesses in the finance and banking sector.

Finance and banking under siege

Mobile banking is one of the fastest growing sectors in the country. In fact, between May 2019 and May 2020, mobile payments grew by an incredible 391%. Financial inclusion, largely enabled by smart mobile solutions, has done much to drive Nigeria’s economy.

However, cybercriminals are taking notice of this increasing reliance on mobile devices, exploiting the rapidly expanding finance sector.

Of all Nigerian businesses across sectors from health to education, the most targeted is finance and banking. “Over the last six months, the number of attacks against these institutions in Nigeria was 3 682 per week, while globally, this figure is far lower at 774,” says Pankaj Bhula, Check Point Software Technology Regional Director for Africa. “To protect this booming industry, more must be done to drive awareness around cybersecurity.”

The report also revealed that, over the past six months, 62% of Nigeria’s businesses fell victim to Remote Code Execution (RCE) attacks, making this the top class of vulnerability exploits.

A cybercriminal can gain remote control to a device and the private data stored on it in an RCE attack. Considering the most targeted sector is finance, which holds a wealth of sensitive user data, the rise of RCE attacks is concerning.

Social engineering and deepfakes: 2022’s challenges

Check Point Software Technologies forecast several alarming cyber-threat trends for 2022, including the weaponisation of deepfake technologies by cybercriminals to create fake news campaigns as part of elaborate phishing attacks, predominantly carried out over email.

In fact, in Nigeria, email was recorded as the origin point for 60% of cyberattacks over the last month, according to the report. As it’s the prevailing vector for delivery of malicious files, awareness around social engineering attacks like these must be bolstered.

On the topic of deepfake technologies, Remi Afon, president of the Cyber Security Experts Association of Nigeria, reiterated that it’s a huge area of concern in 2022. While the technology can be leveraged by criminals to scam and dupe victims, a more insidious purpose is using deepfakes to create political instability and scandal.

For Afon, this technology and the resulting spread of misinformation could have far-reaching ramifications for Nigeria’s 2023 General Election, to be held next February.

Protecting Nigeria’s businesses from attacks

In November, 20% of businesses in Nigeria were impacted by an info stealer called Floxif. This malware, which was also responsible for the bulk of malware attacks in Kenya, caused large-scale devastation to even large tech companies in 2017 when it infected over 2 million users.

While big businesses may seem like more lucrative targets, the increasing prevalence of Floxif attacks on companies of all sizes shows that cybercriminals do not discriminate. Smaller companies must remain as vigilant as large enterprises.

To do this, it’s crucial that budgets are earmarked for effective IT security infrastructure that will enable a proactive rather than reactive approach to cybercrime. Proactive businesses are more resilient, have backups, and can protect sensitive data in stronger or more innovative ways.

These companies also run the latest updates of their security software, web browsers, and operating systems to ensure any new vulnerabilities are patched to protect against attacks.

Of course, people are a large part of the cybersecurity equation. As such, businesses must equip staff with information on best practices for staying safe online when working in the office or remotely.

Such information would promote vigilance around phishing emails and encourage the use of password managers and trusted Wi-Fi networks, while highlighting the dangers of accessing unsecured websites.

With the right security solutions in place, and a focus on cybersecurity awareness kept top of mind, businesses can prevent cyberattacks to keep Nigeria’s economy on track.

 


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E-Business

US Supreme Court Upholds Law Banning TikTok

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The United States Supreme Court has upheld a law seeking to ban TikTok in the United States.

US Supreme Court Upholds Law Banning TikTok

The court ruled that the law does not infringe upon free speech rights, citing the US government’s legitimate national security concerns about the Chinese ownership of the app.

Last week, the Supreme Court listened to the arguments from ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, claiming the law violated free speech.

“There is no doubt that TikTok provides a unique platform for expression, engagement, and community to over 170 million Americans,” the justices stated.

With this decision, the ban set for Sunday remains in place, despite calls from lawmakers and officials across the political spectrum for a delay.

Last year, Congress passed a law requiring ByteDance to sell TikTok or shut it down in the US by January 19, reflecting widespread concerns in Washington that the app could be exploited by China for espionage or propaganda.

On Friday, White House officials informed the media that the ban would not be enforced, leaving the final decision to President-elect Donald Trump, who assumes office the next day.

In December 2024, TikTok asked the US Supreme Court to temporarily block a law that would force its Chinese owner to sell the popular video-sharing platform or shut it down by January 19.

The appeal came the same day TikTok, Shou Zi Chew, CEO, met with US President-elect Donald Trump.

 

 

 


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FG Says NINs will Facilitate Cash Transfers to 18.1m People

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Federal government has plans to expand the national social register to 18.1 million names and to reach at least 70 million poor households across the country by the end of this year, according to Prof Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda,  minister, Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development (FMHADMSD).

FG Says NINs will Facilitate Cash Transfers to 18.1m People

Federal government has been distributing cash assistance to poor citizens through a program that requires verification using the National Identification Number (NIN).

The rate of poverty in the country is alarming, the minister said in an interview with Arise News, reason why the federal government plans to extend the humanitarian outreach program to target more homes. Each household receives the sum of N75,000 ($45).

Giving update on the payments, the minister said the first tranche of the conditional cash transfers were paid to five million households between October and December 2024, while the second and third tranches were paid to 2.8 million households.

“The president has directed, based on CBN’s new regulations, that before any payment is made to an individual or household, they must have a digital identity we can trace. That is the NIN number,” the Yilwatda told Arise News.

The cash transfer enabled by digital ID was launched in 2023, and last year, the federal government said around 25 million Nigerians had already benefitted from the scheme.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


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NIMC Grants NCoS Licence to Register Inmates for NIN

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National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has granted licence for the Nigerian Correctional Service, (NCoS) to register inmates in the over 252 custodial centres across the country for National Identity Numbers, (NIN).

NIMC Grants NCoS Licence to Register Inmates for NIN

The approval followed the request made by Sylvester Nwakuche, acting controller general of the NCoS, who paid a visit to Engr Abisoye Coker-Odusote, director general/chief executive Officer of NIMC, in her office.

The acting controller-general, said the licence to carry out registration of inmates for NIN would eliminate exclusion of inmates from the country’s National Development plans, ensure their safety and security and facilitate their smooth recapture in times of jailbreaks.

The NCoS boss said the visit to the headquarters of NIMC was in search of collaboration that would enable the Service carry out its mandate seamlessly following on going reforms of the Correctional Service system.

According to Nwakuche, there are lots of socio-economic developments within the Correctional Service systems which had led to a number of inmates obtaining University degrees, Masters Degrees and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in various fields.

He said such inmates should not be excluded from the national development plans of the country as they should be integrated into the society to become useful for their families and the country.

Nwakuche said inside the Correctional centres are those awaiting trials whose innocence and otherwise has to be decided by the Courts, but argued that in times of National planning, census and other critical national development issues, they should not be disallowed from participating.

Coker-Odusote who granted the licence said NIN has become critical and essential to the country’s national development plans, stressing that NIMC has gone far with the private sector, especially the banks and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) as all banks accounts are now linked with the NIN.

Coker-Odusote said the Eight points Agenda of President Bola Tinubu are also anchored on the Country’s digital identity or National identity Number, stressing that for instance NIN was tied to students loans to eradicate duplicity and prevent ghost beneficiaries.

Coker-Odusote expressed delight in the partnership with the NCoS, saying that the Commission had already entered into partnership with the Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS and other agencies in order to facilitate the smooth delivery of their constitutional mandates.

She commended Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, minister of Interior, for his dynamic leadership and role in ensuring the delivery of dividends of democracy to Nigeria through various reforms.


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