Surfshark, a Netherlands-based cybersecurity firm, has reported that Nigeria recorded about 24.1 million compromised user accounts since 2004, making it the third most affected country in Sub-Saharan Africa.

The report, which analysed global data breach trends for the first quarter of 2026, showed that Nigeria recorded 281,500 leaked accounts between January and March 2026, ranking the country as the 34th most breached nation globally during the period.

Globally, the report revealed that 210.3 million accounts were breached in the first quarter of 2026, representing a sharp increase compared to previous periods.

The United States accounted for 29 per cent of all reported breaches worldwide, followed by France, India, Brazil and the United Kingdom.

According to the report, cyber threats targeting Nigerian users have continued to intensify over the years, exposing millions of individuals to risks such as identity theft, account hijacking, extortion and financial fraud.

Surfshark disclosed that about 7.5 million unique email addresses linked to Nigerian users have been exposed since 2004, while approximately 13 million passwords were leaked alongside compromised accounts.

The report noted that more than half of breached Nigerian users remain vulnerable to cyber-related crimes.

“Statistically, 10 out of 100 Nigerian people have been affected by data breaches,” the report stated.

Further analysis showed that leaked data linked to Nigerian users included highly sensitive information such as Social Security-related records, payment card details, residential addresses, and personal contact information.

According to the report, about 3,900 Social Security-related records and 1,600 payment card details were exposed, alongside 1.9 million phone numbers and more than 925,000 residential addresses.

The cybersecurity firm warned that the growing scale of data exposure reflects increasing vulnerabilities in the global digital ecosystem as businesses accelerate the adoption of artificial intelligence technologies.

Commenting on the trend, Tomas Stamulis, chief security officer, Surfshark, said the rapid integration of AI systems by companies has significantly expanded the volume of user data being collected and stored.

According to him, businesses are increasingly relying on AI-driven tools for automation, analytics and operational efficiency, leading to the accumulation of larger datasets that could become attractive targets for cybercriminals.

The report cited industry statistics indicating that 20.2 per cent of companies used AI technologies in 2025, up from 8.7 per cent in 2023.

“These AI-driven systems collect and log more detailed user information for automation, analytics, and model improvement,” Stamulis said.

He added that while artificial intelligence improves productivity and operational efficiency, it also increases the number of systems organisations must secure, thereby creating additional opportunities for cyberattacks and data leaks.

Stamulis further warned that compromised personal information often retains value for cybercriminals long after passwords or email credentials have been changed.

According to him, hackers frequently combine old and newly leaked information into so-called “combo lists,” which are repeatedly traded or deployed for fraudulent activities and identity theft schemes.

He advised internet users to minimise the amount of sensitive personal information shared online, use alternative email identities or masking services where possible, and provide confidential information only when necessary.

The report also showed that global breached accounts in the first quarter of 2026 tripled compared to the corresponding period of 2025 and rose by 22 per cent relative to the fourth quarter of 2025, underscoring the growing sophistication and frequency of cyberattacks worldwide.

National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), has raised alarm over a new artificial intelligence-powered malware known as “DeepLoad,” warning that the cyber threat is actively targeting Nigerian government agencies, financial institutions, businesses and individuals.

The agency disclosed this in a critical advisory issued through its Computer Emergency Readiness and Response Team (CERRT.NG) and shared via its official X account.

The warning comes amid a growing wave of cyber-attacks targeting Nigerian organisations, including private institutions such as banks and government agencies like the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).

According to NITDA, DeepLoad is an AI-enhanced malware strain designed to infiltrate systems, steal sensitive information and evade conventional antivirus detection systems.

“The malware is distributed through a social engineering technique involving fake website error,” the advisory stated.

NITDA explained that the malware spreads through deceptive website prompts that trick users into executing malicious commands on their computers.

“Once executed, DeepLoad silently installs itself, harvests stored credentials and sensitive data from major browsers, and leverages artificial intelligence to evade antivirus detection,” the agency said.

The agency further warned that one of the most dangerous features of the malware is its ability to remain active even after attempted removal.

“Critically, the malware incorporates a hidden WMI-based persistence mechanism capable of reactivating the infection up to three days after apparent removal,” it stated.

NITDA stressed that the severity of the threat requires immediate action from both organisations and individuals across the country.

“Given its severity and confirmed active targeting of Nigerian entities, all organizations and individuals must implement the protective measures outlined in this advisory immediately,” the agency added.

The agency warned that individuals, government institutions, businesses, large organisations and small enterprises are all vulnerable to the rapidly evolving cyber threat posed by DeepLoad.

According to NITDA, a successful DeepLoad infection could grant cybercriminals unauthorised access to bank accounts, mobile money services and payment cards, while also enabling the theft of passwords, documents and sensitive personal information stored on web browsers.

The agency warned that the stolen information could be exploited for identity fraud, allowing criminals to impersonate victims for financial gain.

For organisations, NITDA said infections could trigger operational disruptions requiring complete system isolation and remediation procedures. It added that attacks on government systems could compromise classified networks and pose broader national security risks.

To prevent infections, NITDA advised Nigerians never to paste commands from websites into their computers, noting that legitimate software providers do not request such actions.

The agency also cautioned users against opening suspicious files such as “Chrome Setup” or “Firefox Installer” from USB drives and advised that all external storage devices be scanned with antivirus software before use.

NITDA further recommended enabling two-factor authentication on important accounts and avoiding the storage of banking passwords directly on web browsers.

For organisations, the agency urged companies to immediately sensitise staff about the DeepLoad threat, enable PowerShell Script Block Logging across Windows systems and review browser extensions for unauthorised installations.

The advisory also recommended blocking malicious domains, including holiday-updateservice[.]com, forest-entity[.]cc and hell1-kitty[.]cc, at firewall and DNS levels.

Additionally, organisations were advised to check for hidden WMI Event Subscriptions that could allow the malware to survive standard cleanup procedures.

NITDA said institutions that suspect infections should immediately disconnect affected systems from the internet, change all passwords from clean devices, isolate compromised systems, activate incident response teams and report incidents to the agency within 72 hours as required by law.

The latest warning has added to growing concerns over cyber attacks targeting Nigeria’s financial and digital infrastructure in recent months.

In April, the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) warned about coordinated cyber threats targeting Nigeria’s financial systems and critical digital infrastructure, urging organisations to strengthen their data protection architecture.

The warning also followed the commission’s announcement of an investigation into an alleged data breach involving Remita Payment Services, Sterling Bank and other entities.

Similarly, the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) temporarily shut down its website between April 17 and April 20, 2026, following reports that about 25 million documents may have been exfiltrated during a suspected cyber attack.

National Social Safety Nets Coordinating Office (NASSCO,) has disclosed that more than 12.3 million Nigerians have so far been linked to the National Social Register through their National Identification Numbers (NINs) as part of efforts to strengthen transparency and credibility in the delivery of social interventions.

Dr. Funmi Olotu, national coordinator of NASSCO, disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja during a high-level stakeholder engagement with local government chairmen themed, “Strengthening Local Government Leadership for Inclusive Development and Social Protection Delivery.”

Olotu said the integration of the National Identification Number into the National Social Register was aimed at improving data integrity, eliminating duplication and ensuring that government interventions reached the right beneficiaries.

According to her, the Federal Government was intensifying efforts to build a more credible and accountable social protection system in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

She said, “To strengthen this foundation, we are integrating the National Identification Number into the Register. This reform enhances data integrity, eliminates duplication, and ensures that interventions reach the right people with precision and credibility.”

The NASSCO boss disclosed that the National Social Register currently covers over 20 million households and more than 77 million individuals across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

“At the centre of this effort is the National Social Register, a national platform designed to identify and support poor and vulnerable households across the country,” she said.

Providing an update on the exercise, Olotu said significant progress had already been recorded across the federation.

“Across 37 states and 774 Local Government Areas, covering 8,756 wards and 217,777 communities, over 9.7 million household records have been updated, with 12.3 million NINs captured and 11.5 million successfully validated,” she stated.

She stressed that effective social protection could not be driven solely from Abuja, noting that local governments remained critical to successful implementation because of their closeness to communities.

“Local Governments are not merely administrative structures, but institutions of service delivery, closest to the people and essential to translating policy into real outcomes in citizens’ lives,” Olotu said.

She urged local government chairmen to take ownership of the NIN integration process and ensure effective grassroots coordination.

“You are not just stakeholders in this process. You are the drivers of execution. You are closest to the communities, you understand the realities on the ground, and you are uniquely positioned to ensure effective implementation of the NIN integration process,” she added.

Also speaking at the event, Olubunmi Olusanya, permanent secretary, Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, described the National Social Register as a critical pillar in Nigeria’s poverty reduction and humanitarian response framework.

Olusanya said the ministry was advancing a “One Humanitarian–One Poverty Response System” to harmonise interventions and strengthen coordination across government institutions.

He said, “The National Social Register remains a central pillar of this architecture. It provides a credible and verifiable basis for identifying poor and vulnerable households.”

According to him, the integration of NIN into the register would significantly reduce duplication and improve the reliability of data used for planning and programme delivery.

He warned that millions of vulnerable Nigerians could risk exclusion from government interventions without full NIN integration.

“Without full NIN integration, many of them risk being excluded or unable to benefit from government interventions,” he said.

Olusanya also emphasised the importance of local government authorities in ensuring the credibility and effectiveness of the programme.

“Local Governments are not peripheral to this process, they are central to its success. Indeed, they represent the first line of credibility, verification, and last-mile delivery,” he stated.

The stakeholder engagement brought together local government chairmen, officials of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, development partners, civil society organisations and other stakeholders involved in social protection delivery across the country.

The Federal Government has in recent years intensified reforms aimed at strengthening the National Social Register amid concerns over transparency, targeting and accountability in social intervention programmes.

The integration of NIN into the database is expected to improve the accuracy of beneficiary records and enhance the efficiency of poverty alleviation initiatives nationwide.