Understanding Cybersecurity: Why You Should Care
Temitope Akinsipe
Cybersecurity is an important topic that everyone should understand. It’s almost impossible to avoid in today’s connected world; whether you’re at home, at school, at work, or even just out and about. Unfortunately, many people don’t realize this and dismiss it as something that only affects other people. Let’s not let ignorance get in the way of our communication security, though. Cybersecurity is a real issue with very real repercussions for those who don’t take it seriously — because it’s not just the government or corporations that are affected by online threats.
It’s easy to think of Cyber Security as something that only the government, large corporations, and banks have to deal with. If you use the internet or online service, then you are a user. As long as your computers have been protected by your installed anti-virus software and you have avoided opening unsolicited emails and attachments, then you haven’t given cyber security a second thought. But actually, it is something much more global and relevant to everybody. Because the Internet is everywhere, there are hundreds of millions of spam emails sent every day and many businesses have to put up with hacking attempts every day. There is even talk about how the next war will be fought with digital weapons.
Using its intangibles, cyber warfare can stop production lines, shut down critical services like water and electricity supplies, disassemble industrial systems and incapacitate communication networks invisibly. Where earlier military clashes were characterized by bloodshed and force, cyber warfare instead utilizes software to cripple institutions and organizations at a global level. Hence, messy physical damage is replaced with secret attacks that are hard to detect or pin down.
The Nigerian Experience
As of July 2021, there are over 108 million internet users in Nigeria. In 2017, Nigeria ranked third in the world for cybercrime according to the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC), the West-African nation only surpassed by the U.S. and the U.K. In 2015, Nigeria recorded 2,175 cyber-attacks. In the same year, 14% of the over 90 million Nigerian internet users suffered a form of cyber-attack. According to a report, cyber-attack cost the Nigerian economy about $500 million per annum. According to the FBI’s Internet Crimes Report in 2016, Nigeria ranked 19th among top countries by cyber-crimes victims.
According to Delloite’s 2018 Nigeria Cybersecurity Outlook, it is projected the country will witness increased ransomware, attackers will turn to cryptocurrency, increased attacks on cloud facilities, and Internet of things (IoT) compromise. In a 2016 report, Serianu reported that Nigerian E-Commerce platforms were hit with more online scams, there was Automated Teller Machine (ATM) Skimming and Identity theft, and customized malware targeting critical mobile and Internet banking infrastructure.
This is largely aided by a lack of practical regulatory guidance from industry regulators and government, ill preparation of organizations to deal with information security threats, and insufficient training of employees among other reasons.
In Nigeria, we have heard cases where social media accounts are hacked into and used to cause damage to the individual. This, I must say, is one of the most basic cybercrimes. There are much larger issues like hacking into bank accounts and E-wallets. I remember an episode last year where Bolt software was hacked into and people who had their card details imputed in their system got debit alerts left right and center.
Although cybersecurity is still a complex and evolving field, it is an area that ultimately affects everyone. So, it’s worth learning about the history, the current state of the art, and the issues to look out for, to better protect yourself and your devices. Ultimately, cybersecurity is important not just because it has the potential to affect your life and career, but because everyone deserves to be safe from harm and threats.
Written by Temitope Akinsipe
Temitope is a young storyteller who thinks all stories are worth telling. She loves to inspire people to do what they love and follow their passions, tell their stories, and live in the present moment. Connect with Temitope on Instagram, and Twitter.
Edited by Naimah Akinoso
Naimah is an editor and product designer with a passion for interior design. She loves cooking, finding new recipes online, and trying them. She also loves reading and watching horror movies. Connect with Naimah on Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Behance
Published by Yetunde Onafuye
Yetunde is a storyteller, podcaster, and a graduate student with interest in the social and political history of post-independence Africa. She’s also the co-lead editor at Sisterly HQ. In her free time, she reads and reviews books, engages in social volunteering, and watches tons of dramas and TV shows. Connect with Yetunde on LinkedIn and Instagram.
