Experts have described Nigeria as quickly becoming a mobile-first country, with mobile penetration increasing from 53 percent in 2016 to 84 percent in 2017 and currently 93 percent in 2018.
According to a global provider of cyber security solutions, Check Point Software Technologies report Nigeria and other Africa countries are under heavy threat from cybercriminals.
The report said criminals now see African countries as a porous ground to launch cyber attacks on government agencies, organizations and individuals.
Considering that the availability of phones is at a lower price point, more Nigerians are now able to afford a mobile device, and they have become easy target for cyber attacks, the report said.
It further explained that Africa has become an important region for growth and investment and is currently attracting cybercriminals who now consider the continent as a choice target to launch cyber attacks for personal gains.
The report said even though the continent’s internet penetration was only 35.2 percent in December 2017, which was 19.2 percent behind the world average, cybercrime remained a serious threat to countries in the region.
One of the main challenges that the security industry in Africa and the entire globe continuously fight against is mobile security.
It’s hardly surprising given that sub-Saharan Africa alone currently has a unique mobile subscriber penetration of 44 percent, which is expected to hit 52 percent in 2025, the report said.
Analysing the implications of the report on businesses, regional director, Africa at Check Point, Rick Rogers said; “The sheer economy of scale offered by mobile devices is incredibly appealing to cybercriminals.
“They are using every available opportunity to attack individuals and organizations through their mobile devices, including Apps, particularly because these devices are so popular, and people usually do not take as strict precautions when it comes to securing them as they would with their laptops for example.”
According to him, Check Point, in its survey, discovered two major vulnerabilities related to mobile devices over the past month alone, which he listed to include Man-in-the-Disk and FakesApp.
