Telecom
Kaspersky Detects over 100m Attacks on Smart Devices
Kaspersky honeypots – networks of virtual copies of various internet connected devices and applications – have detected 105 million attacks on IoT devices coming from 276,000 unique IP addresses in the first six months of the year.
This figure is around nine times more than the number found in H1 2018, when only around 12 million attacks were spotted originating from 69,000 IP addresses. Capitalising on weak security of IoT products, cybercriminals are intensifying their attempts to create and monetise IoT botnets. This and other findings are a part of the ‘IoT: a malware story’ report on honeypot activity in H1 2019.
Cyberattacks on IoT devices are booming, as even though more and more people and organisations are purchasing ‘smart’ (network-connected and interactive) devices, such as routers or DVR security cameras, not everybody considers them worth protecting.
Cybercriminals, however, are seeing more and more financial opportunities in exploiting such gadgets. They use networks of infected smart devices to conduct DDoS attacks or as a proxy for other types of malicious actions. To learn more about how such attacks work and how to prevent them, Kaspersky experts set up honeypots – decoy devices used to attract the attention of cybercriminals and analyse their activities.
Based on data analysis collected from honeypots, attacks on IoT devices are usually not sophisticated, but stealth-like, as users might not even notice their devices are being exploited. The malware family behind 39% of attacks – Mirai – is capable of using exploits, meaning that these botnets can slip through old, unpatched vulnerabilities to the device and control it.
Another technique is password brute-forcing, which is the chosen method of the second most widespread malware family in the list – Nyadrop. Nyadrop was seen in 38.57% of attacks and often serves as a Mirai downloader.
This family has been trending as one of the most active threats for a couple of years now. The third most common botnet threatening smart devices – Gafgyt with 2.12% – also uses brute-forcing.
In addition, the researchers were able to locate the regions that became sources of infection most often in H1 2019. These are China, with 30% of all attacks taking place in this country, Brazil saw 19% and this is followed by Egypt (12%). A year ago, in H1 2018 the situation was different, with Brazil leading with 28%, China being second with 14% and Japan following with 11%.
“As people become more and more surrounded by smart devices, we are witnessing how IoT attacks are intensifying. Judging by the enlarged number of attacks and criminals’ persistency, we can say that IoT is a fruitful area for attackers that use even the most primitive methods, like guessing password and login combinations.
This is much easier than most people think: the most common combinations by far are usually “support/support”, followed by “admin/admin”, “default/default”. It’s quite easy to change the default password, so we urge everyone to take this simple step towards securing your smart devices” – said Dan Demeter, security researcher at Kaspersky.
To keep your devices safe, Kaspersky recommends users:
– Install updates for the firmware you use as soon as possible. Once a vulnerability is found, it can be fixed through patches within updates.
– Always change preinstalled passwords. Use complicated passwords that include both capital and lower-case letters, numbers and symbols if it’s possible.
– Reboot a device as soon as you think it’s acting strangely. It might help get rid of existing malware, but this doesn’t reduce the risk of getting another infection.
– Keep access to IoT devices restricted by a local VPN, allowing you to access them from your “home” network, instead of publicly exposing them on the internet.
Kaspersky recommends companies to take the following measures:
– Use threat data feeds (www.Kaspersky.co.za) to block network connections originating from malicious network addresses detected by security researchers.
– Make sure all devices software is up to date. Unpatched devices should be kept in a separate network inaccessible by unauthorised users.
Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has thrown its weight behind the upcoming Telecom Sector Sustainability Forum (TSSF 7.0), confirming its role as the headline keynote speaker for the Lagos event.
Over the years, the Telecoms Sector Sustainability Forum (TSSF) has evolved into a landmark industry convergence platform and an actionable catalyst for policy alignment, driving critical dialogue around the regulatory, economic, and infrastructural frameworks required to sustain Nigeria’s digital economy.
Taking place on 16th September, 2026, at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos State, the seventh edition of the Telecoms Sector Sustainability Forum (TSSF 7.0), organised under the aegis of Business Remarks, will bring together key stakeholders driving the next phase of Nigeria’s telecommunications and digital growth.
Themed “Rethinking Nigeria’s Digital Infrastructure Strategy to Attract Investment and Drive Innovation”, TSSF 7.0 will address some of the sector’s most pressing priorities, such as policies, digital infrastructure expansion, digital inclusion, good connectivity, partnerships and investments needed to accelerate Nigeria’s next wave of innovations, digital transformation and economic growth.
Organised by Business Remarks, the forum has consistently brought together policymakers, mobile network operators (MNOs), infrastructure providers, data centre operators, policy advocates and financial technology stakeholders to dissect the pressing challenges facing the telecommunications ecosystem and chart a sustainable path forward.
Past editions have successfully addressed pivotal industry shifts, ranging from broadband penetration strategies, human capital flight, mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) sustainability and infrastructure deficit funding to the operational integration of emerging technologies. By providing a neutral, high-level platform where regulators like the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) can interface directly with private sector players, the forum plays a vital role in ensuring that regulatory frameworks evolve in tandem with market realities.
Speaking about the event, the Convener, Bukola Olanrewaju, said the Nigerian telecoms sector investment has grown to $75.6 billion as of 2025, with a planned investment of over $1.38 billion in network capacity upgrades in 2026 targeted to enhance infrastructure resilience, boost coverage and improve quality of service for subscribers nationwide.
“As the industry faces a new frontier defined by deepening 5G and 4G penetration, expanding fibre optic networks, and complex macroeconomic pressures, the need to meet the growing demands for digital services while remaining profitable has become the defining challenge of the modern telecommunications landscape.”
At a time when investment in connectivity, subsea cables, fibre networks, data centres, cloud infrastructure and cybersecurity is reshaping the country’s digital landscape, TSSF remains a vanguard of thought leadership and industry engagement, fostering the public-private collaborations necessary to safeguard the backbone of Nigeria’s digital transformation.
MTN Nigeria is accelerating investments in network expansion and modernization to address rising demand for mobile and data services across the country.
The operator is deploying additional base stations, upgrading existing infrastructure, and expanding fiber connectivity to improve network capacity, coverage, and service quality.
The investments are designed to support increasing smartphone adoption, higher data consumption, and the growing use of digital services by consumers and businesses.
MTN said the expansion aligns with its long-term strategy to enhance customer experience while strengthening Nigeria’s digital infrastructure.
The company expects the ongoing upgrades to improve connectivity, support economic growth, and enable broader access to reliable telecommunications services as demand for high-speed broadband continues to increase.
Airtel Africa’s CEO, Sunil Taldar, has announced the telco’s commitment to connecting 5,000 schools across its operating countries in Africa to the internet by 2027 through its philanthropic arm, Airtel Africa Foundation, in partnership with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
So far, the $57m partnership, which was launched in 2021, has cumulatively connected 3,296 schools and provided access to over 2 million learners and about 40,000 teachers. 64 digital learning platforms have been zero-rated thereby enabling more than 11m users to access educational content at no cost.
Speaking during a visit to St. Monica’s Girls School in Lusaka, which is one of the 300 schools already connected to the internet in Zambia, the Airtel Africa CEO stated that the initiative is having a profound impact on the quality of education by expanding access to digital learning resources for African children, in collaboration with governments.
Mr Taldar added: “Students are accessing best-in-class education from the curriculum developed by UNICEF in partnership with various Ministries of Education and provided through Airtel’s connectivity.
“We are also training teachers, so that they deliver digital education effectively. We aim to continue deepening meaningful connectivity in schools by providing free internet access, zero‑rated platforms and training teachers across the continent”.
Expressing her appreciation, the Headmistress of St. Monica’s Girls’ School, Sr Matilda Soloko said: “Being among the first schools connected in the initial stage, our learners have been able to study using the learning portal and their studies have been intensified. We remain grateful to Airtel and UNICEF.”
UNICEF’s Country Representative for Zambia, Dr Saja Farooq Abdullah said: “What this partnership has brought is really bridging the equality gap and the digital divide. It is making sure that every child learns wherever they are. It was exciting and interesting to see and hear from the girls how they can learn at their own pace, how they can review the materials, and how they do their homework with comfort.
The Director of Secondary Education in Zambia’s Ministry of Education, Yvonne Mwemba Chuulu lauded UNICEF and Airtel for the partnership saying: “At the Ministry of Education, we cannot do it alone, and we are grateful for the partnership that we have today.
“Our children are able to learn in a blended fashion, where we have a teacher who is also employing digital devices. We have also heard from the learners that they are able to access the portal when they are at home, which is a good thing because our learners continue to learn in the comfort of their homes”.
The School Connection programme is expanding digital learning to learners in 13 countries: Chad, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia. By equipping these schools with internet connectivity and training teachers on using the digital tools, it is providing children, particularly in underserved and remote regions, with the digital tools and skills they need to thrive.
Airtel Africa Foundation is advancing inclusive development across four strategic pillars, Financial Inclusion, Education, Environmental Sustainability and Digital Inclusion.
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