The ever-evolving landscape of cyber threats has brought forth a concerning trend, placing African nations in the crosshairs of hackers. Nigeria is the third most vulnerable to cyber-attacks.
The recent findings from Check Point Software Technologies shed light on the top 10 African countries most vulnerable to cyber threats, particularly those utilizing Remote Access Trojans (RATs).
Market Impact
The ramifications of this trend are palpable in various markets, with Ukraine witnessing a decline in food exports to Africa and Asia due to disruptions in the Black Sea ports. Concurrently, Nigeria’s official market experienced a historic low, with the naira plummeting to N1,105 per dollar.
Environmental sustainability rankings
Amidst these challenges, South Africa emerges as a beacon of environmental sustainability, outpacing Nigeria and Kenya in rankings.
Check Point software technologies report
Recent insights from Check Point Software Technologies underscore the severity of cyber threats in Africa. Countries like Mauritius, Nigeria, Morocco, and Kenya are in the crosshairs of targeted attacks.
Rise of remote access trojans (RATs)
The primary weapon of choice for these cyber threats is the use of Remote Access Trojans, malicious tools enabling hackers to gain remote control over compromised systems.
AgentTesla and Mal-Spam campaign
AgentTesla, a sophisticated RAT, takes centre stage, propelled by a new mal-spam campaign that cleverly uses corrupted email attachments. This campaign particularly targets the vulnerable education sector.
Education sector vulnerability
The report highlights the ongoing vulnerability of the education sector to cyberattacks, making it a prime target for malicious actors.
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Uptick in cyber threats (October 2023)
October 2023 witnesses a significant uptick in cyber threats across government agencies and organizations in the Middle East and Africa.
Weapon of choice: RATs
Remote Access Trojans, or RATs, emerge as the primary weapon in the arsenal of hackers seeking remote control over compromised systems.
AgentTesla and NJRat threats
Among the highlighted threats, AgentTesla and NJRat take center stage, both propelled by a complex mal-spam campaign using corrupted email attachments.
AgentTesla’s deceptive tactics
AgentTesla employs cunning tactics, disguising itself within archive files with a malicious Microsoft Compiled HTML Help (.CHM) extension. These files often masquerade as routine order and shipment documents, finding their way into victims’ systems through seemingly innocent email attachments.
NJRat’s diverse capabilities
NJRat, another prominent player in the cyber threat landscape, boasts a range of capabilities, including keystroke capture, unauthorized camera access, credential theft from browsers, file uploads and downloads, process and file manipulations, and desktop surveillance.
Geographical impact of NJRat
The impact of NJRat is particularly notable in South Africa, where its prevalence hovers just above 2%, while Morocco experiences a higher incidence at 8%. There is a notable focus on governmental organizations in the Middle East.
Top 10 vulnerable African countries
Country Index Global Rank
Ethiopia 4th
Mauritius 6th
Nigeria 11th
Morocco 15th
Uganda 22nd
Kenya 25th
Angola 27th
Zambia 28th
Ghana 30th
South Africa 55th
