A new report by NETSCOUT’s 1H2024 DDoS Threat Intelligence has revealed that Nigeria’s digital infrastructure is under increasing strain from cyber threats. Ranking third among West African nations in cyberattack frequency, Nigeria saw 2,721 incidents in the first half of 2024, highlighting the nation’s growing vulnerability to digital threats.
DDoS is a Distributed Denial of Service that involves multiple compromised systems, often distributed across different locations, flooding a target system (such as a website, network, or server) with a high volume of traffic. This overloads the target’s resources, making it inaccessible to legitimate users and potentially causing significant downtime or disruption.
The report shows that Nigeria’s computer services sector faced the highest volume of attacks.
However, the scope of cyber threats extended to less traditional targets, including local beauty salons, which experienced 206 incidents, ranking them second in attack frequency.
Data processing and hosting companies followed closely, with 116 attacks, underscoring the pervasive risk across Nigeria’s essential and emerging industries.
As Africa’s leading digital economy, Nigeria’s appeal to cybercriminals has surged, with attackers not only focusing on high-profile targets but also exploring new avenues in industries not typically associated with cyber threats.
NETSCOUT’s Regional Director for Africa, Bryan Hamman, said: “The growing sophistication of cyber threats worldwide is reflected in Nigeria, where attackers are using increasingly complex methods. Nigeria has seen as many as 23 different attack vectors in a single event, ranging from TCP and CLDAP (Connection-less Lightweight Directory Access Protocol) to DNS amplification, underscoring the need for a robust cybersecurity framework.”
Nigeria’s experience is part of a wider West African trend. The telecom sector, particularly wireless telecommunications, has become a frequent target across the region, with countries like Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire facing a high volume of attacks on critical infrastructure. Ghana, for instance, experienced unprecedented DDoS attack volumes, with peak bandwidths reaching 314.25 Mbps, showcasing the extent of potential disruption from these attacks.
Hamman emphasized the need for Nigeria to adopt proactive and localized cybersecurity strategies, “The statistics from NETSCOUT’s report underscore the urgency of developing country-specific defenses to protect Nigeria’s foundational industries. A coordinated cybersecurity approach is crucial to ensure resilience and stability in the nation’s digital ecosystem.
Nigeria’s largest recorded DDoS attack in 2024 reached a peak of 134.86 Gbps, highlighting the need for robust network resilience measures. Even smaller attacks, although they often evade detection thresholds, can have serious impacts on enterprises. These incidents stress the importance of scalable security and advanced monitoring solutions to address a wide range of potential threats.
NETSCOUT’s Threat Intelligence Report urges Nigerian organizations to leverage its insights and enhance cybersecurity strategies to protect critical digital assets. By adopting these recommendations, Nigerian businesses and institutions can strengthen their defenses, safeguard the economy’s digital backbone, and ensure resilience in the face of evolving cyber threats.
Source: The Vanguard
