E-Business
New Research from Trend Micro Shows Cyberattacks Relied on Substance Over Size in 2023
Trend Micro Incorporated, a global cybersecurity leader, has revealed that it blocked around 18 million email threats, almost two million malicious URLs and over four million malicious mobile apps targeted at Nigerian businesses and consumers between January and December 2023. This as threat actors deviate from big-batch attacks to focus on a narrower range of more lucrative targets.
These new patterns in the cybercrime landscape are highlighted in the Trend Micro 2023 Annual Cybersecurity Report, which presents highlights from the company’s telemetry covering the broadest attack surface view across millions of commercial and consumer clients.
“Our latest data shows that threat actors are fine-tuning their operations, shifting away from large-scale attacks, and instead focusing on a smaller range of targets but with higher victim profiles for maximum gain with minimum effort. As they continue to double down on tried and tested techniques, they are also delegating and streamlining operations — resulting in bolder, more effective strikes,” says Gareth Redelinghuys, Country Managing Director, African Cluster at Trend Micro.
Attacks focused on substance over quantity are more difficult to block
Though thousands of ransomware attacks were blocked by Trend Micro in Nigeria in 2023, year-on-year research shows that ransomware groups are working smarter instead of harder, prioritising high-value targets over volume.
There has been a general downward trend in ransomware detections, with worldwide detections from 2021 to 2023 averaging less than half of the recorded detections in 2020; however, this should not be misconstrued as a cue for security operations centres and decision-makers to lower their guards. Historically, ransomware attacks were launched in “bulk,” such as spam campaigns with malicious links, but attacks that focus on quantity can more easily be blocked.
What’s more, a continued increase in Trojan FRS threat detections globally could suggest that attackers are using more effective ways to evade preliminary detection by focusing on arrival and defense evasion techniques. Examples of this include Living-Off-The-Land Binaries and Scripts. Because these computer files are non-malicious in nature and local to the operating system, they can be used by threat actors to camouflage their attacks.
Last year, several ransomware families across the world were also observed maximising remote and intermittent encryption, as well as abusing unmonitored virtual machines to bypass Endpoint Detection and Response. Because there is less content used during intermittent encryption, for example, there is less chance of triggering detection.
Gangs are also launching bolder attacks: Prolific groups were some of the most active in 2023: Clop exploited major vulnerabilities, and BlackCat launched a new variant, while also making its extortion public by leveraging the U.S. Security and Exchange Commission’s four-day disclosure requirement to incentivise its victim to communicate more quickly with them.
Email threats – attackers are using more sophisticated ways to avoid detection
This trend towards threat actors opting for quality over quantity is equally present in the patterns observed around email threats. Though email threat detections in Nigeria decreased from more than 45 million in 2021 to 18 million in 2023, the increase in malware detection count over the same period suggests a shift in the threat landscape that finds attackers making use of more sophisticated ways to avoid detection.
Trend Micro’s data also shows a slight decrease in malicious URL detection in Nigeria from 2021 to 2023, indicating that instead of focusing on malicious links to randomly victimise users, criminals are using more targeted operations, such as BEC schemes, where emails are less likely to undergo scrutiny because of how legitimate they look.
Instead of launching attacks on a wider range of users and relying on victims clicking on malicious links in websites and emails, more sophisticated attacks are launched using specificity to trick a narrower field of high-profile victims. This also allows them to bypass early detection layers like network and email filters.
AI-powered phishing attempts are more convincing than ever
Over the course of 2023, AI showed great promise in social engineering attempts globally: its automation proved most useful in mining datasets for actionable information, while generative AI have made phishing on mass scale virtually effortless with error-free and convincing messages. The use of generative AI in phishing attempts is already branching beyond emails and texts to include persuasive audio and video ‘deepfakes’ for an even more business-affecting threat.
Imagine a company that requires live voice authorisation for purchases above a million dollars, for example. An attacker could send a real-seeming email request with a rigged phone number embedded and answer the confirmation call with a deepfaked voice to validate the transaction. These new tactics introduce the possibility of everything from stock market manipulations to democratic or wartime disinformation campaigns, or smear attacks on public figures.
The barriers to entry for techniques like these have fallen away radically with the rise of readily available app-style interfaces like HeyGen. Cybercriminals with no coding knowledge or special computing resources can produce customised high-resolution outputs that are humanly undetectable.
“Looking at the overall trend in decreasing ransomware threats, it might be tempting for local organisations to develop a false sense of security and lower their defenses. However, our research shows that these increasingly sophisticated attacks are going to become more and more difficult for businesses to detect and that they will be increasingly costly when they succeed. IT leaders must refine their processes and protocols to enable their defenses to combat persistence with efficiency,” concludes Zaheer Ebrahim, Solutions Architect, Middle East and Africa at Trend Micro.
As the global community commemorates World Consumer Rights Day, Jumia Nigeria joined industry leaders, regulators, and consumer advocates at the Lagos Marriott Hotel, Ikeja, for a high-level panel session hosted by the Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency (LASCOPA) on Tuesday, March 17, 2026.
Speaking during the session, Peters Afebuame, Group Head of Content and Production at Jumia, highlighted Jumia’s comprehensive approach to protecting consumers from counterfeit or adulterated products on its marketplace, noting that the company has implemented structured checks and technology-driven systems across the entire product lifecycle, from seller onboarding to post-listing monitoring, to safeguard product authenticity.
“Ensuring product authenticity on our platform requires a combination of technology, policy enforcement, and continuous seller engagement,” he stated.
“At Jumia Nigeria, we have implemented a multi-layered process that begins with rigorous seller onboarding and policy agreements, followed by catalogue configuration controls, AI-driven product attribute verification, and the use of global product identification standards. These systems are reinforced by ongoing quality moderation, brand protection mechanisms, and strict enforcement actions, including product and seller delisting, ensuring that customers can shop on our platform with confidence.”
Central to Jumia’s consumer protection framework is a rigorous seller verification process designed to ensure marketplace integrity. Vendors are required to provide proof of legal and regulatory compliance before gaining access to the platform. This vetting process is reinforced by a strict quality control system that monitors products listed on the platform, backed by a zero-tolerance policy toward counterfeit or substandard goods. Non-compliant sellers face penalties and permanent delisting from the marketplace.
Transparency also remains a core priority in helping customers make informed purchasing decisions. Product listings across the platform feature clear specifications, verified descriptions, and detailed images, enabling shoppers to understand exactly what they are purchasing before completing a transaction.
Recognising that digital literacy plays a critical role in online safety, Jumia continues to invest in consumer education initiatives through instructional “how-to” videos, platform guides, and social media campaigns that equip Nigerian shoppers with practical knowledge to navigate online shopping securely and confidently.
To further strengthen transaction security, Jumia leverages its proprietary payment solution, JumiaPay, which provides a secure and encrypted payment infrastructure designed to protect customer financial data. The company also adheres to internationally recognised data protection standards such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and local regulatory frameworks established by the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), ensuring responsible handling and protection of user information.
Beyond the point of purchase, Jumia reinforces consumer protection through a customer-centric return and refund policy designed to ensure seamless resolution when issues arise. A dedicated customer service team also provides support through multiple channels, including phone and social media, enabling swift response to consumer inquiries and complaints.
As e-commerce continues to expand across Nigeria, Jumia reaffirmed its commitment to building a marketplace that prioritises fairness, transparency, and consumer safety. Through continuous investment in technology, strong policy enforcement, and ongoing consumer engagement, the company aims to strengthen trust and confidence in Nigeria’s growing digital commerce ecosystem.
Federal government is determined to protect Nigerians’ rights and privacy in the digital space, according to Dr Ayodele Bakare, assistant director, Cybersecurity Department, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA),
To achieve that, Bakare, said that the government has developed several policy and regulatory frameworks to strengthen cybersecurity.
Bakare, stated all these during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Monday.
He said that cybersecurity governance in Nigeria was implemented through a collaborative approach involving multiple government institutions with different responsibilities.
According to him, the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) provides overall coordination of national cybersecurity efforts through the National Cybersecurity Coordination Centre, which serves as its operational arm.
“At the national level, cybersecurity implementation is done collectively, and different government organisations are responsible for implementing different aspects of the national cybersecurity framework.
“At the top, however, the Office of the National Security Adviser coordinates these efforts through the National Cybersecurity Coordination Centre,” he said.
Bakare said that one of the key policy instruments guiding the country’s cybersecurity efforts was the National Cybersecurity Policy and Strategy Framework.
He also highlighted the legal framework provided by the Cybercrimes Prohibition and Prevention Act 2015, which was recently amended in 2024 to strengthen Nigeria’s response to cyber threats and digital crimes.
According to him, NITDA has also introduced sector-specific regulations to enhance cybersecurity in the country.
“One such regulation is the National Public Key Infrastructure Regulation, which is one of the core infrastructures required to ensure trust and security in digital communications and transactions,” he said.
Bakare said that NITDA played a pioneering role in Nigeria’s data protection landscape through the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation 2019, which laid the foundation for the current data protection framework.
He said the regulation had since evolved into a full legal framework implemented by the Nigeria Data Protection Commission.
Bakare disclosed that the agency was also finalising an Information Security Regulation that would soon be made available to the public.
He further explained that the regulation would provide organisations and individuals with clear guidelines on their responsibilities in safeguarding information and digital assets.
“Nigeria has continued to strengthen its legal and policy environment for cybersecurity, a development reflected in the country’s performance in the Global Cybersecurity Index.
“One of the pillars of the index focuses on legal measures and assesses the availability of national cybersecurity laws and regulations.
“Nigeria recorded a strong performance under the legal measures pillar, reflecting the country’s efforts to establish the necessary frameworks to support cybersecurity governance,” he told NAN.
He said that sustained collaboration among government agencies and stakeholders remained essential to effectively implement the existing policies and strengthen Nigeria’s digital security architecture.
According to Kaspersky telemetry, in 2025, spyware and password stealers attacks showed the biggest year-over-year growth in Nigeria among different analysed malware types.
Spyware, which is a type of malicious software installed on users’ devices to collect their data, grew in the number of attacks by 28% compared with the previous year. Password stealers, designed to gather users’ account information, increased in the number of attacks by 22%.
Exploits decreased slightly in the number of attacks in Nigeria, however they remain an acute threat that should not be underestimated. These are programs designed by cyber attackers to take advantage of vulnerabilities in an application or operating system to gain unauthorised access to it and to cause unintended behaviour to occur on software.
Ransomware, though very targeted in distribution, remains a high-risk threat for organisations, who should also guard themselves from supply chain and trusted relationship attacks.
Overall, Kaspersky security tools blocked more than 4 million online attack attempts on users in Nigeria in 2025. Online threats typically include different types of malware attacks, such as for example, password stealers, exploits, spyware, etc. Another 9 million on-device threats were blocked in the country, including malware delivered via infected USB drives.
“Operations coordinated by INTERPOL, such as Serengeti to which Kaspersky has contributed, demonstrate how international cooperation and threat intelligence sharing can strengthen the fight against cybercrime across Africa. At the same time, both organisations and individual users in the region play an important role in improving cybersecurity by staying informed about evolving threats and practicing good cyber hygiene.
“Dedicated security solutions, including Kaspersky Next for organisations and Kaspersky Premium for individuals, can further help reduce exposure to cyber risks,” said Moses Munguti, Technical Expert & Team Lead in Africa at Kaspersky.
Malware often reaches a device through phishing messages and websites employing social engineering techniques. If an operating system, browser, or application is outdated, attackers may exploit security flaws to install malware. To significantly reduce the risk of infections with malware, Kaspersky experts advise individuals and organisations to follow these best practices:
- Be cautious with links and attachments received, verify the sender before opening files or clicking links.
- Download software only from official sources.
- Install updates for systems and applications as soon as they become available.
- Use strong, unique passwords and enable multi-factor authentication wherever possible.
- Install reputable security software that can detect malware before it compromises the system.
- Regularly back up important data.
- Staying informed about current cyber threats and maintaining good digital hygiene helps keep devices and data safe.
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