E-Business
In Absence of Rules, Cyber Terrorists Attack Nations
The systematic crash of the computer systems of banks and TV broadcasters in South Korea — reportedly the result of an attack that was widely speculated to have been launched by North Korea — raises questions about what international laws, if any, govern the new and unexplored area of cyberwarfare.
“The answer is there’s nothing and there’s everything,” said Michael Schmitt, professor and chairman of the international law department at the U.S. Naval War College.
Schmitt, who was asked by the NATO Co-operative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence to look into these issues, chaired a three-year project that brought together 20 academics and practitioners from around the world.
CBC, the leading Canadian media reported that the culmination of their efforts was the recently published Tallinn Manual on the International Law Applicable to Cyber Warfare.
“If you’re looking for cyber specific law, a law that says ‘a cyberattack that causes these consequences in an armed attack to which you can respond,’ you will find nothing,” he said. “But it was our unanimous consensus among the group of experts that the existing international law applies to cyberspace and to cyberweapons.”
This means that, as international law permits a country to defend itself and retaliate if attacked by conventional weapons, a country that is the victim of a cyberattack that causes damage or death, may also retaliate, either through cyberwarfare or conventional weapons.
“Hack into a control system of a dam and release waters downstream. Those waters are going to cause significant damage, physical damage, people will drown. In my mind that’s clearly an armed attack,” Schmitt said.
“And if someone did that to Canada, you could resort to force, not only cyber but armed force to defend yourself.”
Other examples of cyberwarfare that are grounds for retaliation by force could include hacking into a water treatment plant and causing chemicals to flow into the water, thereby poisoning the population, hacking into air traffic control systems and causing planes to crash, or hacking into a hospital and changing people’s blood type, causing harm to patients
But the attack on South Korea, if in fact North Korea was responsible, is different, Schmitt said.
The attack is certainly a violation of South Korea’s sovereignty and a violation of international law, he said, but not grounds for the use of force in response.
“We would call that a below the threshold operation that certainly would permit a response from South Korea but the response could not include armed force,” Schmitt said.
The retaliatory options for South Korea would include countermeasures. These are actions that can be taken by the aggrieved state that would normally be unlawful under international law but are considered acceptable because the aggressor state violated international law first.
“If state A attacks state B’s banking system, state B may then respond proportionally against state A’s banking system to compel state A to knock it off,” Schmitt said.
His group also looked at issues surrounding cyberattacks on civilians. Under international law and the principle of distinction, when on the battlefield, operations may only be directed against military objects and combatants and not civilians.
“We asked the question ‘when is a cyber operation a forbidden attack?’ There are all sorts of things you can do in cyberspace against civilians during an armed conflict that doesn’t physically harm them and doesn’t injure them,” he said. For example, erasing personal data or messing with their banking records.
“What we said is that this is a very hard question. Not unanimous, but the majority said that an attack, in the law of war, means you physically harm someone, you break something, you cause physical damage or you interfere in the functionality of an object such that it needs to be actually repaired.”
Ashley Deeks, an associate professor at the University of Virginia School of Law and an expert in international law, said many of the scenarios are case by case.
“Even in the kinetic world, there is no real definition of what an armed attack is,” she said, adding that states look to past practices.
For example, the Stuxnet computer virus, reportedly launched by the U.S. that attacked and destroyed hundreds of centrifuges at the Natanz uranium enrichment facility in Iran, raised these issues.
“I guess I would just characterize it as the closest thing we’ve seen to a cyber action that produces real world effects, not dissimilar from what a kinetic attack would do. But I’m not prepared to say it was an armed attack.”
That’s why a lot of people are starting to devote a lot of attention to cyberwarfare and trying to sort out where the lines are, Deeks said.
“There are a lot of question marks. If you took out a banking system, and it caused massive instability in the country … that could be construed as an armed attack by some states. But it’s really an open question,” she said.
“There would be other states that say, ‘No, unless people die, things blow up, not an armed attack. We want to set a high threshold.’ Others say, ‘That ‘s crazy. You want to start deterring these things. You want to call lower level things armed attacks.”
However, Schmitt said he believes all these thresholds will evolve over the next decade.
“I anticipate that we’ll see a lot of thresholds coming down that will allow states to respond more vibrantly to cyber attacks that might not be possible under the law as we found it.”
Computer Professionals (Registration Council of Nigeria), also known as CPN has begun a nationwide crackdown on quackery and unlicensed practices in a bid to strengthen professional standards in the country’s information technology sector.
CPN has also vowed tougher action against cybercrime in the country.
These were the major decisions taken at its 2026 Information Technology Professionals’ Assembly and Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Friday
Essien Eyo, president and chairman of Council of CPN, speaking at a virtual press conference, said the council would continue to enforce strict compliance with professional regulations to safeguard the integrity of Nigeria’s computing ecosystem.
He warned that the council would not tolerate unlicensed practice in the sector, stressing that regulatory enforcement would be strengthened in line with its statutory mandate.
“The Act makes it mandatory for all persons and organisations seeking to engage in computing and professional services to be registered and licensed by the council.
“It is illegal to engage in computing and professional practice without satisfying the requirement of registration and possession of a valid licence,” Eyo said.
He added that the council was determined to rid the sector of quackery and ensure that only qualified professionals are allowed to operate.
“CPN is committed to ensuring high professional ethics and standards, and we will continue to intensify efforts to eliminate quackery, arbitrary practice and lack of standards in the IT sector,” he stated.
Eyo disclosed that the 2026 IT Professionals’ Assembly, scheduled for May 13 and 14 at the NAF Conference Centre, Kado, Abuja, would serve as a key platform to advance regulatory compliance, professional development and industry collaboration.
The event, now in its 20th edition, has the theme, “Digital Resilience and Inclusion for Smart Economy,” and aligns with Nigeria’s broader digital economy and Renewed Hope Agenda.
He explained that the theme reflects the urgent need to build a secure, inclusive and resilient digital ecosystem capable of withstanding modern technological disruptions.
“In an era defined by rapid technological change, cybersecurity threats, economic disruptions and evolving digital demands, resilience ensures that digital infrastructure and institutions can withstand shocks and sustain growth,” Eyo said.
“At the same time, inclusion guarantees that no segment of society is left behind in accessing digital opportunities.”
He said the assembly would also focus on emerging digital risks, ethical technology deployment, inclusive policy frameworks and strengthening collaboration among government, industry, academia and civil society.
Eyo further noted that the event would feature the induction of new members into the computing profession and would be delivered in a hybrid format to ensure wider participation.
“The 2026 IT Professionals’ Assembly is not just an event but a strategic platform for shaping Nigeria’s digital destiny,” he said.
He confirmed that the keynote address would be delivered by Bosun Tijani, minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy.
Also speaking, Aliu Abdullahi, vice president of Council, said the establishment of CPN was a Federal Government response to the need for proper regulation of Nigeria’s growing IT sector.
He said the council’s mandate includes setting professional standards, accrediting academic programmes, conducting examinations, regulating practice, enforcing ethics and maintaining the national register of computing professionals.
Abdullahi reiterated that all individuals and organisations engaged in IT training, computing services and related activities must be duly registered and licensed by the council.
He urged media organisations to support public awareness of the council’s activities, especially the forthcoming assembly, which he described as critical to strengthening Nigeria’s digital governance and professional integrity.
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.
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