Experts are sounding the alarm, claiming that Africa and the West need a unified cyber defense.
Performanta identified a trend of shifting malicious digital attacks from government actors to developing countries. According to the company's analysis, organizations in developing countries are becoming prime targets for ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS) attacks, such as Medusa.
Guy Golan, CEO of Performanta, emphasizes that the BRICS countries, especially the African continent, have become a testing ground for government cyberattack tactics. "To achieve a more secure cyber environment for all world-class organizations, it is necessary to increase awareness of the growing threat," he says.
Performanta's research also shows exactly how attackers are exploiting Africa, putting the region at serious risk. So, experts revealed that in South Africa, the main perpetrators of cyber attacks are now professionally trained hackers, and the most frequently attacked industries are finance, manufacturing and energy.
The company's report also notes a significant increase in attacks on financial and banking Trojans, with an increase of 59% in Kenya and 32% in Nigeria over the last quarter.
Golan also added: "The attackers probably believe that an attack on Africa is associated with less risk for them than attacks directly on the West. Africa can serve as an entry point for attackers seeking to indirectly destabilize Western assets. Regardless of their motives, the West and Africa need to implement long-term joint measures to create a reliable defense against this threat."
Performanta identified a trend of shifting malicious digital attacks from government actors to developing countries. According to the company's analysis, organizations in developing countries are becoming prime targets for ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS) attacks, such as Medusa.
Guy Golan, CEO of Performanta, emphasizes that the BRICS countries, especially the African continent, have become a testing ground for government cyberattack tactics. "To achieve a more secure cyber environment for all world-class organizations, it is necessary to increase awareness of the growing threat," he says.
Performanta's research also shows exactly how attackers are exploiting Africa, putting the region at serious risk. So, experts revealed that in South Africa, the main perpetrators of cyber attacks are now professionally trained hackers, and the most frequently attacked industries are finance, manufacturing and energy.
The company's report also notes a significant increase in attacks on financial and banking Trojans, with an increase of 59% in Kenya and 32% in Nigeria over the last quarter.
Golan also added: "The attackers probably believe that an attack on Africa is associated with less risk for them than attacks directly on the West. Africa can serve as an entry point for attackers seeking to indirectly destabilize Western assets. Regardless of their motives, the West and Africa need to implement long-term joint measures to create a reliable defense against this threat."
