Introduction
Kenya’s digital landscape faces a rising threat, with a record 860 million cyber-attacks in the past year, making it one of the primary targets for cybercriminals in Africa.
Sudden Spike in Attacks
From 7.7 million cyber-attacks in 2017, Kenya witnessed a massive leap to 860 million in the last 12 months. The Communications Authority of Kenya points out the “frequency, sophistication, and scale” of threats against Kenya’s critical digital infrastructure has surged.
July’s Major Cyber Attack
Anonymous Sudan, a pro-Russian hacking group, executed a significant cyber attack in July. The fallout from the attack paralyzed over 5,000 online government services, ranging from visa and passport services to driving license renewals. Furthermore, online train booking systems and mobile money transactions were also disrupted.
Nature of Attacks
The Communications Authority breakdown:
- 79% of attacks were due to cybercriminals infiltrating organizational computer systems.
- 14% comprised malicious software.
- 6.5% saw cybercriminals overwhelming servers with excess traffic.
- The remainder targeted web applications.
Kenya’s Position in Africa
Kenya now ranks as the third most-targeted African nation by cybercriminals, trailing behind Nigeria and South Africa. The alarming increase in cyber-attacks emphasizes the need for bolstered digital security measures.