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Arbor Networks’ ATLAS Report Underscores Need for Edge-to-Edge Security in South Africa

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Bryan Hamman, Arbor Networks territory manager for Sub-Saharan Africa
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As part of its 13th Annual Worldwide Infrastructure Security Report (WISR), Arbor Networks, the security division of NETSCOUT, has released its ATLAS (Active Threat Level Analysis System) special report, which collates data from NETSCOUT Arbor SP deployments from across the globe.

 

ATLAS effectively delivers insight into approximately one-third of global internet traffic, drawing information and statistics from over 400 networks.

 

This data is gathered and analysed to determine key trends in DDoS (Distributed denial-of-service) attack activity and results in several interesting insights.

 

“DDoS attacks are measured in different ways,” said Bryan Hamman, Arbor Network’s territory manager for Sub-Saharan Africa. “Volumetric attacks (75.7 percent of all attacks over the period) are often the most destructive as they send a high amount of traffic, or request packets, to a targeted network in an effort to overwhelm its bandwidth capabilities.

 

“These attacks work to flood the target in the hopes of slowing or stopping their services and, while typically request sizes are in the 100s of Gbps, recent attacks have scaled to over 1Tbps.”

 

This year’s report revealed a decline in peak DDoS size however, from 800Gbps in 2016 to 600Gbps in 2017, but that doesn’t mean attackers weren’t busy, added Hamman.

 

Although the number of attacks over 100 Gbps in 2017 is down from last year, the overall mix of attack sizes is still shifting up. This year, the percentage of attacks over 1Gbps has increased to 22 percent, growing three years in a row, although the vast majority of attacks, 87 percent, are still smaller than 2Gbps.

 

“Furthermore, peak attack size might have decreased but ATLAS observed an increase in the number of attacks, reporting 7.5 million attacks in 2017 as opposed to the 6.8 million in 2016.”

 

Arbor believes this is an indication of attacker innovation as they develop new attack vectors and use new tools, like the Mirai botnet’s ability to launch application-layer as well as volumetric attacks.

 

Hamman says that this year, it was decided to extend analysis to include different geographical regions, including South Africa.

 

“Looking at the top 10 countries attacked in 2017, it was interesting to note that the first four spots are exactly the same as last year, with similar percentages – these being United States (24 percent), South Korea (10.3 percent), China (8.7 percent) and France (4.6 percent). South Africa features in the top 10 targeted countries in eighth position with 2.7 percent of all reported attacks being targeted here,” he explained.

 

“For attacks greater than 10Gbps by percentage, South Africa was positioned third for having been hit by 8.8 percent of all attacks in this size range following Hong Kong (10.2 percent) and the US (32.5 percent).”

 

These statistics are a stark and repeated warning to South African businesses, Hamman stated.

 

“Complexity was a big focus for attackers this year, as opposed to mass attack volumes, with IoT devices being weaponised. This change in approach has been effective too,” he continues. “Enterprises experiencing revenue loss due to DDoS almost doubled this year, bringing the significance of the DDoS threat into sharp relief and highlighting the very real need for an integrated multi-layer defence from the data centre to the cloud.”

 

 

 

 

 


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Study Reveals Majority of IT Professionals Show Openness to Cyber Immunity

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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.

 


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

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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.


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

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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.

 


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