The internet has continued to open up to people with malicious intentions. Even though its whole idea is to better our life experiences, there are many individuals who just join the internet to harm others. And if we were to consider statistics, cyberattacks per organization per week increased to 1,636 in Q2 2024, according to Secure Frame. And you can be sure that several organizations in Nigeria have experienced some of the consequences of this increasing trend.
But are there things you can do to ensure you are interacting safely online? Of course, yes. You may want to check website safety as part of your initial safety measures. Thankfully, you will now find numerous internet safety services that can help determine a website’s confidence level depending on user ratings and third-party malware, scam and spam blacklists. And if you want to learn more of these strategies, why don’t you stick around?
Crucial cyber stats for Nigerians
Do you know that Nigeria actually ranked fifth in global cyber activities, just after top countries like China and Russia? This came after a survey found that the number of ransomware attack attempts on both individual and corporate users had increased by 7% in 2023. As if that were not enough, about 71% of Nigerian companies experienced a ransomware hit about three years ago.
And if you thought that ransomware attacks were all there were in Nigeria, you might really need to reconsider. Can you imagine that even managed security service providers like RedLine and Lumba were also targeted by malware variants? The Cyber Security Experts of Nigeria (CSEAN) highlighted that these attacks could actually escalate for the entire of 2024.
The organization also noted that attackers are misusing AI tools to develop more sophisticated attacks in the form of personalized phishing attacks, social engineering attacks and so on. And you may be surprised to learn that, according to the Central Securities Clearing System (CSCS), Nigerian businesses see about 2,560 online attacks weekly. With the average cost of a data breach increasing by 15% in 2023, you definitely do not want to be a victim.
Strategies to help you out
The power of MFA
It is no surprise that about 20% of users believe that multi-factor authentication is one of the best ways to improve personal cybersecurity. Do you know that, according to Exploding Topics, 30% of users exposed themselves to data breaches just because of weak passwords? So, you should not be shocked when you see many Nigerians—both companies and individuals—turn to MFA for additional security.
Globally, more than 41% of developers prioritize this infrastructure over any other, with 33% wanting to strengthen password security. Implementing MFA can be a great way to strengthen your safety because it can block up to 99.9% of automated attacks. You can imagine what this means, especially now that Google prevents about 100 million phishing emails daily.
- For those wondering whether MFA has other benefits, here are a few:
- Proper security against password fatigue, as it is difficult for criminals to hack even simple passwords
- Streamlined sign-in process
- A convenient infrastructure for secure passwordless login
Beware of public networks
Sometimes, the advantages that come with public networks can be great – but you must exercise caution. A recent study revealed that about four in ten respondents claimed that their information was tampered with because of using public Wi-Fi. Well, avoiding public networks can sometimes be challenging, especially if you are in a place that doesn’t have a proper cell connection.
Assuming that happened and you needed to connect with some friends on WhatsApp, would you totally ignore the available networks? Even though public networks may not be entirely safe, several hacks can help you when you can’t do without them. For example, consider using a VPN. Other tricks can include:
- Avoiding sharing sensitive information like financial information
- Turning off file sharing
- Turning off auto-connect
- Enabling your firewall
Updating software and backing up data
While there are several reasons why you must update your software, security is the most important. In most cases, software might have vulnerabilities, which threat actors can use as open doors to plant malware. Malware can have very detrimental effects, from stealing information to encrypting files and other programs.
That explains the need for updates to help deal with these vulnerabilities. And you don’t want your laptop infected if you have not backed up your data. Because if that happens, you might have great trouble retrieving it.
On top of that, updates can help introduce new features and remove unnecessary ones. A good example is the recent Zoom update, which included new features to allow for polls, display chat notifications, etc.
Parting words
It is true that life has never been as interesting as it is today because of the widespread popularity of the internet. From video calls to online banking, the possibilities are just many. However, as the internet seeks to make life better, there are individuals who are taking advantage of online platforms to harm others.
It’s not just popular in Nigeria alone; it is actually happening globally. So, you want always to ensure you are as safe as possible when interacting with online platforms. And the good thing is that you don’t have to be stranded at all because we provide amazing suggestions in this article.