Cybercrime: The World’s New Social Problem
$2,000,000,000. That’s the estimated cost of cybercrime in Africa as at 2016.
11,029,013. The number of data breaches recorded worldwide in the year 2016.
600,000. The number of Facebook accounts compromised per day.
689,000,000. The number of cybercrime victims across 21 countries in 2016.
All these numbers lead to a chilling conclusion- cybercrime is the world’s latest social problem and it is massive. Governments, corporations, and individuals continue to loose chunks of money and valuable information daily from digital attacks like phishing, social media hacks, ransomware and data theft.
But it’s not only big money corporations that are being attacked. Civil society groups, journalists and NGOs are the new targets of massive digital attacks. Several techniques are now used to infiltrate these groups, from government surveillance, online bullying, data theft and fake news.
Citizen Lab recently released a report titled, Tainted Leaks, showing how civil society groups and journalists critical of the Russian government, were cyber-attacked using techniques like phishing, to steal or alter information they work with. Another report, Reckless Exploit, reveals how up to 10 Mexican journalists and human rights defenders were attacked with advanced spying software, for working on a range of issues that included corruption allegations against the Mexican President, and human rights abuses by the government.
But cybercrime may be thriving because of our failure to increase awareness among individuals so they can protect themselves and avoid being victims. Most people just don’t know what to do or how to do it.
Make no mistake. Digital attacks will keep rising in Africa. More money will be lost and more data will be breached as internet adoption rises. More governments will try to stifle social media and free speech through laws, online bullying, digital surveillance and spying. Massive awareness is a key solution.
To tackle this new social problem, Co-Creation Hub, Nigeria’s foremost social innovation centre, has developed a digital security guide for journalists, civil society groups and active citizens, which provides step by step instructions on how to protect your digital identity and stay safe online.
Visit www.safeonline.ng to learn more.
** Article originally posted on my Linkedin page.
