Nigeria to Experience Increased Cybersecurity Threats in 2024 – Report
The Cyber Security Experts Association of Nigeria has projected an uptick in insider threats for the country in 2024, driven by a surge in the malicious utilization of Artificial Intelligence.
As the overarching body for cybersecurity professionals in Nigeria, the association emphasized the significance of collaboration with law enforcement to effectively address and legally pursue these fraudulent activities. The association’s 2024 forecast outlined key trends in the cybersecurity landscape.
The report stated, “In anticipating the road ahead, the CSEAN National Cyber Threat Forecasts 2024 points to a continued surge in mis/disinformation, ransomware attacks, assaults against vulnerable government online assets, crypto scams, benefit and employment scams, information and credential theft, AI-enabled threats, impersonation scams, insider threats, cyber hacktivism, and web defacement.”
“Amid these economic hardships, cybercrime has become an increasingly attractive option, offering substantial illegal earnings. Businesses and organisations must adopt various measures to combat this growing threat.
“These include increasing employee pay to better align with the cost of living, offering financial incentives for loyalty, conducting ethics training emphasizing cyber security responsibilities, monitoring employee behaviour, and implementing robust cyber security protocols like multifactor authentication.
“In light of the events of 2023, where Nigeria witnessed the disruptive force of cyber hacktivism following the coup d’état in Niger, it is highly likely that 2024 will see an increase in similar activities.”
To mitigate this escalating threat of cyber hacktivism in 2024, the report said, “Nigeria must adopt a multi-faceted approach. Strengthening cyber security infrastructure is paramount. This involves investing in advanced security technologies and enhancing the capability of cyber security personnel.”
Commenting on the report, the President of the Cyber Security Experts Association of Nigeria, Ade Soyinka, emphasized the need for collaboration between public and private sectors, the adoption of updated computing resources, and a commitment to cyber security best practices are imperative.
