Connect with us

E-Business

Report Says 65 Per Cent of Businesses Faced Cyberattacks in Last 12 Months

Published

on

Kindly share this post

Most cybersecurity landscape data is focused on outsider attacks; however, recent findings reveal that insider threats are becoming more common.

Report Says 65 Per Cent of Businesses Faced Cyberattacks in Last 12 Months

Attacks originating from within the company are much more elusive since standard security practices do not work.

According to data analyzed by Atlas VPN, 65% of organizations suffered from one or more insider attacks in the last 12 months.

Insider threats come from employees or other internal users, such as contractors, that have access to the company’s internal databases.

There are two types of malicious insiders — those with harmful intent and those who are simply negligent.

An online survey of 457 cybersecurity professionals, conducted in June of 2020 by Darktrace, found that 41% of businesses experienced between 1 and 5 insider attacks in the last 12 months.

Moreover, 12% of respondents stated that they saw between 6-10 insider attacks in the last year — another 5% of surveyed professionals encountered from 11 to 20 attacks.

Finally, over 7% of company representatives stated that they experienced more than 20 attacks in the last 12 months.

Compared to last year, businesses dealt with insider attacks more often.

As many as 72% of cybersecurity professionals believe that employee security violations became more frequent in 2020.

Insider attacks are costly

Incidents caused by insider threats are becoming more common, so let’s look at the monetary damages caused by these events.

As a side-note, if the incident does go public, companies’ public image gets hurt, which, in the long-run, can cause even more losses than the immediate incident remediation costs.

Nearly half (49%) of surveyed leaders stated that the remediations after an insider attack cost less than $100 thousand.

Another 30% of respondents expressed that monetary damages caused by a single incident are anywhere between $100 thousand and $500 thousand.

A smaller part of the surveyed experts – 12%, stated that the average cost of remediation after an attack is somewhere between $500 thousand to $1 million.

Finally, 5% of companies reveal that the cost of an attack is around $1 million to $2 million, and 2% state that remediation costs exceed $2 million per successful attack.

One of the most recent and well-known hacking incidents caused by a malicious insider is the Twitter bitcoin scam that happened on July 15th, 2020.

Here, cybercriminals took over multiple high-profile Twitter accounts to promote a Bitcoin scam.

After the incident, Twitter reported that an employee cooperated with cybercriminals to carry out the hack.

This scam appeared in front of 37% of Twitter’s userbase. Luckily, damages only slightly exceeded $110 thousand in Bitcoin, as Twitter deleted those tweets quickly.

Protection from insider threats

Unfortunately, most security practices deployed to protect the company from external attacks fall completely flat when it comes to defending from insider threats.

Outside hackers have to find ways to break through firewalls and other security measures to get into the company’s databases.

On the other hand, many internal users already have access to those databases, so the same safety steps are not applicable.

Here are the steps to reduce security risks from insider threats:

Make sure that employees only have access to data and tools they need to do their jobs. The fewer people have access to a database, the less is the risk that either malicious or negligent employees can expose the data.

Employee training. While this might not help against disgruntled employees, it is the best tool for the company to make sure negligent insiders are educated and security risks are minimized.


Kindly share this post

Nigeria CommunicationsWeek believes that technology makes life more exciting and helps improve the lives of people around Nigeria and indeed the world. So since 2007, we have devoted our energy to independent reportage of technology and how they affect lives.

E-Business

Study Reveals Majority of IT Professionals Show Openness to Cyber Immunity

Published

on

Kindly share this post

The cybersecurity landscape is evolving rapidly, with organisations seeking more robust ways to protect their digital assets. A recent global study conducted by Kaspersky reveals a growing shift toward proactive security strategies, particularly the adoption of Secure by Design development and Cyber Immunity – an innovative approach that embeds resilience directly into system architecture.

The study highlights that 90% of cybersecurity professionals surveyed in the Middle East, Turkiye and Africa (META) region are familiar with Secure by Design development. This methodology integrates security into the very fabric of a system from its inception, rather than treating it as an afterthought.

Such an approach is already employed in high-stakes industries like aerospace, where security cannot be bolted on later – it must be intrinsic. Despite its advantages, however, adoption has been slow due to challenges related to standardisation and cost.

Cyber Immunity is the next frontier in cybersecurity

Building on Secure by Design principles, Cyber Immunity takes cybersecurity a step further by creating systems that inherently resist attacks without the need for constant patching or additional security layers. The study reveals that most experts are familiar with Cyber Immunity but interpret it differently.

When asked what they associate with the term, 64% of respondents in the META region linked it to Secure by Design systems that remain resilient under attack, while 56% viewed it as a combination of technology and policy measures that block cybercriminal access. Another 48% connected it to highly skilled cybersecurity teams, indicating that while awareness is high, a unified understanding is still developing.

The growing demand for proactive security

One of the most striking findings is the optimism surrounding inherently secure systems. Over half of respondents in the META region (63%) believe it is already possible or definitely achievable to design systems capable of withstanding cyberattacks without relying on additional security solutions.

Another 32% think it might be possible, reflecting openness to this idea despite some uncertainty. This shift in mindset aligns with a broader industry trend: traditional reactive security measures are no longer sufficient.

With AI-powered threats and increasingly sophisticated attacks, organisations need solutions that do more than just detect breaches—they must prevent them by design.

Integrating Cyber Immunity into security strategies

The study emphasises that resilience, expertise, and flexibility will define the next generation of cybersecurity. While Secure by Design provides the methodology, Cyber Immunity represents the ultimate goal—systems so robust that they minimise reliance on external defences.

“For companies looking ahead, Cyber Immunity offers more than just protection — it brings clear business benefits. When systems are built to be secure from the ground up, there’s less need for constant updates, patches, and extra security tools. That means fewer costs, less strain on IT teams, and stronger, more reliable protection over time,” said Dmitry Lukiyan, Head of KasperskyOS Business Unit.

Most importantly in today’s threat landscape, Cyber Immunity offers robust protection against next-generation challenges — including AI-driven attacks capable of outmaneuvering traditional security measures.

When security becomes an intrinsic property of system architecture rather than an external addition, businesses gain more than just protection—they secure a competitive market advantage.

This proactive approach future-proofs critical infrastructure, enabling organisations to operate confidently even as threats evolve. It transforms cybersecurity from a defensive necessity into a strategic differentiator that accelerates digital transformation while mitigating risk.

As the cybersecurity environment becomes more complex, Cyber Immunity is emerging as a vital strategy. Organisations that adopt it now will not only enhance their protection but also position themselves ahead of the curve in an increasingly volatile digital world.

 


Kindly share this post
Continue Reading

E-Business

Konga launches Jara sales with 25% discount on Starlink kits, free delivery

Published

on

Kindly share this post

Konga, Nigeria’s leading composite e-commerce platform, has launched its inaugural 2026 shopping campaign, Konga Jara, offering 25 per cent discount on Starlink internet kits alongside free nationwide delivery.

Konga launches Jara sales with 25% discount on Starlink kits, free delivery

Konga

The campaign, drawing from the Nigerian concept of “jara” — the extra value traders add to purchases — aims to deliver exceptional deals across categories, helping shoppers turn new year aspirations into reality through affordable technology and value-driven shopping.

To qualify for the Starlink discount, customers must purchase kits on Konga.com, activate them at starlink.com/activate, and email activation details to [email protected] for verification against Starlink’s records. Discounts are subject to terms and conditions.

Konga said spotlighting Starlink underscores reliable internet’s role in Nigeria’s digital economy, supporting work, learning, entrepreneurship and communication for households and businesses.

Mr Onochie Melvin, Head of Commercial Planning at Konga, said: “We listened carefully to what Nigerians said they needed to truly kickstart 2026 on the right footing. Reliable internet connectivity emerged as the foundation upon which other aspirations depend.”

He added: “Students need it for online learning, entrepreneurs need it to scale digital businesses, and professionals rely on it for remote work. This Starlink offer is not just about selling products; it is about removing barriers that prevent Nigerians from fully participating in the digital economy.”

Beyond connectivity, Konga Jara provides genuine products from original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) with transparent pricing, warranties and authenticity guarantees.

As a composite e-commerce ecosystem, Konga integrates shopping, payments and logistics for seamless nationwide access, with exclusive deals shared via its social media channels throughout the campaign.

Shoppers can explore offers at www.konga.com and follow Konga’s official pages for updates across the Konga Group.


Kindly share this post
Continue Reading

E-Business

Firm Identifies Global Scam Activity Linked to the Release of Avatar 3

Published

on

Kindly share this post

The premiere of Avatar 3 has taken place in several countries and has been accompanied by a noticeable increase in online interest. Amid the heightened attention surrounding the release, Kaspersky experts identified an increase in cyber-scam campaigns that exploit the movie’s launch and users’ desire to watch it online. The fraudulent websites target users across multiple regions, indicating attempts by attackers to reach a global audience.

The scam operates as follows: cybercriminals create suspicious websites that offer online access to the Avatar 3 movie. Attackers place particular emphasis on localisation, publishing the sites in multiple languages to attract users from different countries. However, the translations are often poorly executed and contain grammatical errors and inconsistencies, which may serve as indicators of fraudulent activity.

When users attempt to start the video, they are presented with a fake media player and prompted to register in order to obtain “full” or “unlimited” access to the film. As part of the registration process, users are asked to provide personal information, including an email address and mobile phone number.

At later stages, scammers may request additional data, including payment details, under the guise of activating a “free trial.” This creates risks of credential compromise, particularly if users reuse passwords across multiple services, and may also lead to financial losses.

“Cybercriminals consistently exploit major movie premieres to capture users’ attention and increase the effectiveness of their schemes. We advise accessing films only through official platforms and exercising caution when encountering websites that request personal or payment information. It is also important to use reliable security solutions to protect all devices, including mobiles,” comments Olga Altukhova, Senior web content analyst at Kaspersky.

 


Kindly share this post
Continue Reading

Trending