fbpx
Founder Institute Lagos Founder Institute Lagos Founder Institute Lagos
  • Home
  • About
  • Partners
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • Signup to receive updates
Innovation | Startups | Funding | Tech Blog in Africa
Advertisement
  • Home
  • Startups
  • Hubs
  • Funding
  • WomenTech
  • CleanTech
  • Blockchain
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Startups
  • Hubs
  • Funding
  • WomenTech
  • CleanTech
  • Blockchain
No Result
View All Result
Innovation | Startups | Funding | Tech Blog in Africa
No Result
View All Result
Home General

Malware-related attacks are hidden within Users’ Devices – Kaspersky Reports

In 2020, 25% of Kaspersky private users in South Africa, 40% in Kenya and 38% in Nigeria were attacked by such threats

by Dare Afolabi
2021/03/23
in General
Malware - techbuild

Credits: Solutionsreview.com

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

There is a common misconception that the most dangerous threats to encounter on modern users’ digital journeys are likely to appear during Internet surfing.

The reality, however, based on the most recent analysis of cyberattacks in South Africa, Kenya and Nigeria within 2020 by Kaspersky experts demonstrate that users are in fact more likely to face malware-related attacks hidden within their devices.

Such threats are classified as ‘local’, which means they are detected either on users’ devices or on portable data storage devices, such as flash drives.

In 2020, 25% of Kaspersky private users in South Africa, 40% in Kenya and 38% in Nigeria were attacked by such threats.

RelatedPosts

Inaugural DICE 2023 Tech Mixer Draws Over 250 Industry Pioneers, Igniting Tech Conversations

VC4A celebrates a Decade, pledges for 10x Early Stage Investing in Africa

Spotify Wrapped 2023: Asake, Rema, Apostle Joshua Selman top most streamed in Nigeria

TGI Group launches Women in TGI Webinar Series

To provide a comparison, web attacks only affected 9% of users in South Africa, 11% in Kenya and 8% in Nigeria.


Also read, Popular Dating Apps in Africa are Threats in Disguise – Kaspersky


When looking at corporate users in these regions, the numbers are similar: 23% of corporate users in South Africa, 29% in Kenya and 35% in Nigeria encountered such local threats within 2020.

Unfortunately, there has been an increase in the sophistication of such threats – which may be hiding on the user’s device within a seemingly legitimate file for a while, to fly under the radar, and only strike later.

“The cyber threat landscape across Africa is constantly evolving,” says Denis Parinov, a cybersecurity expert at Kaspersky.

“A few years ago, there were much more drive-by attacks – cases when different malicious software is downloaded and being run while the user simply browses the Internet. Nowadays, most of the web-threats “stays in browser”: they specialize in content replacement, browser locking or clickjacking, online-skimming, cookie stuffing, etc.


Also read, Potential Unwanted Applications now Surpassing Malware attacks in Africa


Now the situation when a user could download a malicious file directly is not too often. It’s more common for malware to be disguised as something else to hide from the security solutions, remaining an unseen threat to users.

The good news however is that modern security solutions are too advanced for such malware to fly under radars – it is more likely to be blocked either during the initial scan of the file by a security solution that happens by default, or within the very moment such programs attempt to launch.”

To protect against cyber threats including malware, Kaspersky recommends keeping to the following guidelines:

  • Do not follow dubious links from letters, messages in instant messengers or SMS
  • Regularly install updates for the operating system and applications
  • Install applications only from official stores
  • Use complex and different passwords for accounts
  • Regularly copy important data from your device to the cloud, to a USB flash drive or hard drive
  • Do not give applications access to those functions that they do not need
  • Install a reliable security solution such as Kaspersky Internet Security

In addition, companies are encouraged to provide training to improve cyber literacy among their employees.

For example, the automated platform Kaspersky ASAP helps to develop safe behaviour skills and form sustainable cybersecurity habits.

The solution allows the company to assess the current knowledge of an employee in the field of cybersecurity, and in accordance with this, determine the set of skills that the employee needs, depending on job duties and risk profile, and build a timetable for the program.


Don’t miss important articles during the week. Subscribe to techbuild.africa weekly digest for updates.

Join @techbuildafrica on Telegram
ShareTweetShareSendShare

Subscribe us

Recent Posts

  • Inaugural DICE 2023 Tech Mixer Draws Over 250 Industry Pioneers, Igniting Tech Conversations
  • VC4A celebrates a Decade, pledges for 10x Early Stage Investing in Africa
  • Social Entrepreneur? Apply for FINCA Ventures Prize ($100K)
  • Spotify Wrapped 2023: Asake, Rema, Apostle Joshua Selman top most streamed in Nigeria
  • AFEX announces Africa Exchange to Further Transform the Commodity Space
  • GoMetro raises £9 Million Series A Funding from Zenobē, FutureGrowth, Others
  • TGI Group launches Women in TGI Webinar Series
  • YouTube launches ‘The Voices of Africa’ to celebrate Africa’s diverse Cultural Heritage
  • ISN Hubs Welcomes Oge Nnaife as New Executive Director
  • Grey unveils New Brand Identity to drive its Global Expansion
Innovation | Startups | Funding | Tech Blog in Africa

© 2013-2021 techbuild.africa. All Rights Reserved.

Navigate Site

  • About
  • Contact
  • WE-Forum
  • Privacy
  • Sitemap
  • Terms
  • Blockchain
  • CleanTech

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Startups
  • Hubs
  • Funding
  • WomenTech
  • CleanTech
  • Blockchain

© 2013-2021 techbuild.africa. All Rights Reserved.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In