According to the Check Point Software 2022 Security Report, Africa experienced the highest number of cyberattacks in the world in 2017. As a result, organizations and consumers must become more aware of the threats they face in the digital landscape.
- 1450 cyberattacks occur each week.
Check Point Research has detected an increase in cyberattacks against the government, insurance, and finance sectors in South Africa and other African nations. There have been more than 1,450 attacks per week on average in the country. As more threats emerge from cloud and mobile platforms in the coming months, this pattern will likely continue. Threat actors will not confine their attention to South Africa, but will potentially target nations across the continent.
- Emergence of supply chain attacks
The rapid adoption of the cloud in Africa has led to an increase in supply chain attacks, with Okta’s cloud-based identity management platform being compromised. Check Point anticipates that supply chain attacks will continue through 2023, with the open-source community posing a significant risk. Typically, suppliers utilizing these open-source systems have not adequately vetted them or have been lax in managing these environments, resulting in the emergence of cybersecurity vulnerabilities. South Africa and Kenya have emerged as major targets in the cloud. Many businesses in both nations are migrating their workloads to the cloud.
- Vulnerabilities of the remote workforce
Working remotely has compelled many organizations to rely on the collaboration of services and applications across multiple platforms. Many businesses in southern and eastern Africa continue to permit their employees to access corporate information via mobile devices without implementing enhanced security. Top malware families such as Hiddad will continue to gain access to Android-based mobile devices by repackaging and distributing legitimate apps to third-party stores. These applications facilitate access to the operating system’s built-in security features. In 2023, more malware alternatives will gain prominence.
- Malware disruptions
Major malware families like Emotet (Botnet), Nanocore (RAT), and Qbot (Trojan) are anticipated to cause significant disruptions on the continent. This will require organizations to prioritize security controls with a threat prevention approach across all platforms. Doing so will strengthen their defenses against ransomware and supply chain threats. Ransomware was the leading threat globally in 2022. More countries will likely experience government-targeted cyberattacks due to the unpredictability of service delivery and vital infrastructure across Africa’s diverse economies. To mitigate this risk, both the public and private sectors must adopt a robust architecture with uncompromised security and unmatched operational efficiency.
5.Tech-driven defenses
Organizations can bolster their defensive postures thanks to the availability of more advanced technology. For instance, Kenyan businesses have adopted the Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) and Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) methodologies. These enable organizations to manage the network and network security concurrently by combining the network system and security measures. It is now common for employees to connect to a company’s systems via a VPN from home or a co-working space and use cloud-based services to complete their work. Diversifying workplace and data asset locations has made it more challenging for an organization’s IT department to manage everything under a unified security policy. ZTNA and SASE integrate network services and security services, allowing security to be maintained without interfering with employee productivity.
- increased attack speed
The evolving cyberthreat landscape is expected to create challenges for businesses in Africa and other regions worldwide in the upcoming months.
Attack vectors will become more vicious as artificial intelligence and machine learning are adopted more widely. To ensure the safety of their environments, organizations and consumers must adopt a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy. This increases the pressure on users to keep up with the most recent trends in the threat landscape. We are aware that the methods used by these criminals to plan and carry out attacks are constantly changing. With smaller, more nimble malicious groups looking to exploit any potential vulnerabilities in company and end user defenses, people cannot afford to disregard cybersecurity.
- Automotive hacking is growing.
Modern automobiles are outfitted with automated software that provides drivers with seamless connectivity in areas such as cruise control, engine timing, door locking, airbags, and advanced driver assistance systems. As more driverless vehicles hit the road in 2023, it is anticipated that the use of microphones and other devices for eavesdropping and gaining control of the vehicle will increase.
- Mobile is the new target.
In 2019, cybersecurity trends predicted a sharp rise in mobile banking malware or attacks, making our mobile devices a target for cybercriminals. This has occurred. All of our images, financial transactions, emails, and communications put more people at risk. Cybersecurity developments in 2023 may be centered on a smartphone virus or malware.
- Data breach is a top priority.
Data will continue to be a source of concern for businesses around the world. Digital data security is a major concern for both individuals and businesses. Any small vulnerability or flaw in your system browser or software could be exploited by hackers to gain access to private information.
- internal threats
Human error is one of the most common causes of data breaches. A single bad day or intentional flaw can bring a company to its knees, resulting in stolen data worth millions of dollars. Consequently, ensure that employees are aware of the need to protect data in every way possible.
