- Ransomware Attacks and backdoors are the leading threats Kenyans contend with
- According to the CAK, Kenya experienced 860 million cyberattacks in 2022–2023.
- Check Point Research has also identified ransomware Attacks among the first rising in Africa.
Kenya was the second most attacked country by cybercriminals in the Middle East, Turkey, and Africa region (META), according to new data released by cybersecurity solutions provider Kaspersky.
Only Turkey recorded the highest number of attacks among the 12 countries in the META region. The region comprises Bahrain, Egypt, Kenya, Kuwait, Nigeria, Qatar, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, UAE, Oman, and Pakistan.keyvone lee jersey yeezy boost 350 v2 hyperspace sac eastpak custom youth hockey jerseys jock strap custom sublimated hockey jerseys jock strap johnny manziel jersey nike air jordan 1 elevate low brock purdy jersey brock bowers jersey college football jerseys air max 270 women custom youth hockey jerseys custom dallas stars jersey
Kenya, however, recorded an eight per cent overall decline in cyber threats last year (2023), according to the latest analysis by cybersecurity solutions provider Kaspersky.
East Africa’s Largest economy recorded a drop despite the evolution of the cyber threat landscape in the region and new emerging threats being on the rise.
Ransomware Attacks on the Increase
The insights show that ransomware attacks increased by 68 per cent in Kenya, backdoors by 47 per cent, exploits by 22 per cent, and phishing witnessed a 19 per cent rise.
Experts from Kaspersky disclosed that the greatest threat comes from emerging technology trends such as Artificial Intelligence (AI-driven threats), influencing the scale of modern threats.
Kaspersky’s Head of Research Center for the Middle East, Turkey, and Africa, Amin Hasbini, said that threats targeting industrial control systems within critical infrastructure in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia have also been recording increased attention.
“As the cyber security landscape evolves, cyber threats continue to become diverse and sophisticated,” said Hasbini.
The firm said Kenya came in second after Turkiye, with 39.2 per cent of users affected by online threats caused by vulnerabilities on web pages in emails or web services since Kenya has the highest internet penetration in Africa.
“This trend is evident due to the emergence of advanced technologies like AI and the escalating geopolitical and economic turbulence within the Middle East, Turkiye, Africa (META) region. These factors collectively contribute to the surge in cybercrime and the heightened complexity of cyber-attacks,” he added.
Despite the annual decline in threats, the Communications Authority of Kenya’s latest report points out that the number of cyber threats in the country increased in the three months leading up to December 2023.
According to the regulator, Kenya experienced 860 million cyberattacks in the preceding Financial Year 2022–2023.
Hasbini adds that victims must back up data, apply multi-layered security defences that scan suspicious email attachments, and keep the software up-to-date to minimize ransomware entry points.
An Africa Perspective
Kaspersky’s analysis further reveals that online threats stemming from vulnerabilities on web pages, emails, or web services have shown considerable fluctuations across the region. Turkey experienced the highest proportion of users affected by such threats (41.8 per cent), followed by Kenya (39.2 per cent), Qatar (38.8 per cent), and South Africa (35 per cent).
On the contrary, Oman (23.4 per cent) and Egypt (27.4 per cent) experienced the fewest affected users, with Saudi Arabia (29.9 per cent) and Kuwait (30.8 per cent) following suit.
Check Point Research (CPR), the Threat Intelligence arm of Check Point Software Technologies Ltd, a leading AI-powered, cloud-delivered cyber security platform provider, has also released its 2024 Annual Security Report.
This year’s edition delves into the increasing complexity of cyber threats, focusing on the dramatic rise in ransomware incidents and the strategic use of AI in cyber security defences.
Read Also: Three Kenyan startups win Cyber Security Hackathon.
Reflecting on a year marked by significant cyber turmoil, the report highlights a 90 per cent increase in publicly extorted victims of ransomware attacks. Such ransomware attacks now account for 10 per cent of all malware detected by Check Point’s sensors.
The Check Point Incident Response Team (CPIRT) observed that nearly half of their cases involved ransomware, with the number of publicly shamed victims soaring to approximately 5,000, doubling from the previous year.
The report, similar to Kaspersky, also reveals that Attackers have refined their strategies, leveraging zero-day vulnerabilities and enhancing Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS) with new extortion tactics. High-value targets are increasingly in the crosshairs, demonstrating the need for robust defence mechanisms.
It identifies a growing trend in attacks on edge devices, highlighting the critical need for comprehensive security measures encompassing all network elements. State-supported hacktivism has also escalated, with notable increases in cyber activities tied to geopolitical conflicts. The use of destructive wipers for maximum impact underscores the evolving nature of cyber warfare.
