Africa: 2023 cyberthreats landscape, next year predictions

December 4, 2023

5 minutes read

Africa

In recent years, African countries have been working hard to adopt the 2030 African digital transformation agenda.

Sectors such as finance, education, agriculture, government, security, and manufacturing are actively moving to online platforms and adopting digital technologies to improve their operations.

As technology continues to advance across the continent, it is important to remember that cybersecurity and personal data protection are key principles in making sure the digital transformation project runs smoothly and minimizes the risks that come with it.

The year 2023 saw many cyberattacks across several countries. These attacks targeted important infrastructure, financial institutions, governments, and businesses.

As African countries push for digital transformation and experience rapid economic growth, cybersecurity remains a serious concern for businesses.

Unfortunately, some African countries have weak security systems to fight cybercrime, leaving them vulnerable to cyberattacks. They lack strong prevention mechanisms and effective intrusion detection systems, which puts sensitive transactions at risk.

Financial institutions in particular have seen an increase in the volume and complexity of cyberattacks. According to the 2023 Africa Financial Industry Barometer, 97% of leaders in African financial institutions ranked cybercrime and cybersecurity regulations as the biggest threats to the financial services industry, along with worsening economic conditions.

These cyberattacks pose a serious threat to the region’s economic growth and its critical infrastructure. For example, MTN Nigeria lost $53 million from its mobile money service, forcing the company to take legal action against several banks in Nigeria.

In Kenya, distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks affected financial institutions and the e-citizen portal. In South Africa, there has been a rise in backdoor and spyware attacks, with over 106,000 attempts recorded.

Cybersecurity incidents like these are happening across many African countries, and there is an urgent need to strengthen protection measures.

Failing to do so could have serious consequences for individuals, businesses, and the overall socio-economic development of the continent.

Africa is not facing this problem alone. In September 2023, other parts of the world also experienced major cyberattacks. For example, on September 6, the travel booking company Sabre suffered a ransomware attack where 1.3 terabytes of data were stolen.

A few days later, on September 11, another ransomware attack on Save the Children resulted in the loss of 6.8 terabytes of data. MGM Resorts also faced a cyberattack that severely impacted its operations.

On September 12, CoinEx, a Hong Kong-based cryptocurrency exchange, lost $70 million due to a cyberattack.

In Africa, the most common cyberthreats in 2023 included insider threats, phishing attacks, mobile malware, ransomware, and man-in-the-middle (MitM) attacks, among others. According to the 2023 Positive Technology report, financial institutions were the most targeted (18%), followed by telecommunications companies (13%), government agencies (12%), and organizations in trade (12%) and industry (10%).

The consequences of these cyberattacks include the loss of customers or business, loss of critical data, threats to national security, damage to reputation, revenue losses, temporary or permanent closures, lawsuits, and time wastage due to system downtime.

Cyberthreat Predictions for 2024

Looking ahead to 2024, reports suggest that Africa will continue to be a major target for cyberattacks. New techniques are expected to emerge, including the use of AI, increased hacktivism, and the targeting of smart home technologies.

New botnets and rootkits may appear, and hacker-for-hire services are likely to rise, along with supply chain attacks.

According to cybersecurity experts, there will likely be more attacks on smart home devices such as home cameras and connected car systems.

These devices are often not well-protected, making them attractive targets for hackers. With more people working from home, weak points in home systems could be exploited to target businesses.

Hacktivism is also expected to increase in many parts of Africa, with hackers launching Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks, using deepfakes, and spreading disinformation.

Additionally, cybercriminals may develop new methods to automate cyberespionage, gathering information from social media and other online platforms related to their targets.

State-sponsored cyberattacks could also rise due to increasing geopolitical tensions. These attacks could lead to data theft, IT infrastructure damage, espionage, and cyber-sabotage.

Generative AI tools may be used to create more convincing phishing emails, which are often the starting point of cyberattacks on organizations. The use of AI could make these messages more persuasive and tailored to specific individuals, increasing the risk of successful attacks.

Many African countries are still struggling with inadequate cybersecurity measures, insufficient skilled professionals, and a lack of information security laws. Economic challenges also make it difficult for governments to allocate enough funds for cybersecurity.

What Can Be Done?

African governments need to develop, implement, and regularly update national cybersecurity policies and strategies, involving various stakeholders in the process.

Creating a national institution dedicated to cybersecurity is crucial to coordinate activities, monitor threats, and help organizations recover from cyberattacks.

Governments should also work on enacting and enforcing laws that protect personal data and combat cybercrime, ensuring the digital security of citizens and organizations. Regular cybersecurity awareness campaigns are needed to educate people about privacy risks in the digital world.

It is also important for governments to identify critical infrastructure that could be severely affected by cyberattacks. Collaboration between governments and industries is key to strengthening defenses and sharing best practices.

Organizations must adopt best practices for protecting personal and business data. This includes having an updated incident response plan in place, conducting regular cybersecurity training, and testing their systems against attacks.

Implementing strict access controls and using network segmentation can limit the damage from cyberattacks.

In conclusion, as Africa continues its digital transformation journey, improving cybersecurity measures will be essential for protecting the continent’s growing economy, its critical infrastructure, and its people from the increasing threat of cyberattacks.

Share:
Subscribe
Notify of
guest
0 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Related Links

Stock

Stocks Dip as Trump’s Tax Bill Passes, Focus to July9 Deadline

Global stock markets declined on July 4, 2025, as U.S. President Donald Trump’s sweeping tax-cut ...

OPEC

OPEC+ Considers Larger Oil Output Hike for August

OPEC+, comprising eight key members—Saudi Arabia, Russia, UAE, Kuwait, Oman, Iraq, Kazakhstan, and Algeria, will ...

Angélique Kidjo:First AfricanArtist Honored with Hollywood Walk of Fame

The Beninese music icon and five-time Grammy Award winner Angélique Kidjo has been named a ...

Zambia

Zambia Declares End to Cholera Outbreak

Zambia has officially declared an end to its latest cholera outbreak, marking a significant public ...

Features

Netherlands Returns 119 Looted Benin Bronzes to Nigeria

On Thursday, June 26, 2025, the Netherlands returned 119 looted artifacts, known as the Benin ...

Ngugi-wa-Thiongo

Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o:Passed the pen to the Next Generation.

Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o, a legendary Kenyan writer, scholar, and revolutionary voice in African literature passed ...

ECOWAS

ECOWAS Celebrates 50th Anniversary Amid Sahel States Tensions

On May 28, 1975, fifteen West African nations signed the Lagos Treaty, establishing the Economic ...

What Really Moves Bitcoin’s Price? A Comprehensive Guide to the Key Drivers of Volatility and Value

What Really Moves Bitcoin’s Price? A Comprehensive Guide to the Key Drivers of Volatility and Value

​Bitcoin, the pioneering cryptocurrency, has captivated the financial world with its innovative technology and notable ...

Guinea Sets September 2025 Date for Constitutional Referendum as Military Inches Toward Democratic Transition

Guinea Sets September 2025 Date for Constitutional Referendum as Military Inches Toward Democratic Transition

Guinea’s military-led government has officially announced that a national referendum on a new constitution will ...

Ivory Coast economic growth

Côte d’Ivoire’s Economic Boom Faces Political Test in 2025 Election

Ivory Coast’s Economic Success: A Model for West Africa Côte d’Ivoire has emerged as one ...

Phillis Wheatley

Phillis Wheatley: The Trailblazing African American Poet Who Defied Oppression

Phillis Wheatley: A Pioneer in Black Literature and Poetry Phillis Wheatley was a groundbreaking poet ...

Women Participation in Politics

International Women’s Day 2025: Advancing Rights, Equality, and Leadership for African Women

The 2025 International Women’s Day (IWD) theme, “For ALL Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment,” ...

Latest News

Today in History

July 7th is the day in 1946 that Howard Hughes nearly dies when his XF-11 spy plane prototype crashes in a Beverly Hills neighborhood.

Exchange Rate Per Dollar

AM Armenian Dram384.7644
GH Ghana Cedi10.3561
GM Gambian Dalasi72.2028
GN Guinea Franc8,678.57
NG Nigerian Naira₦1,531.09
CF CFA Franc BEAC557.9774
07 Jul · CurrencyRate · USD
CurrencyRate.Today
Check: 07 Jul 2025 07:05 UTC
Latest change: 07 Jul 2025 07:00 UTC
API: CurrencyRate
Disclaimers. This plugin or website cannot guarantee the accuracy of the exchange rates displayed. You should confirm current rates before making any transactions that could be affected by changes in the exchange rates.
You can install this WP plugin on your website from the WordPress official website: Exchange Rates🚀

YOUR THOUGHTS

Let us know what you think

Contact the People’s Paper with feedback on stories and how we could make wapress.africa even better!

newsletter image

Stay up to date with the latest from West Africa Press

Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on WApress.

Subscribe Newsletter!

Be the first to receive our latest contents and more...

Need help?