There is a significant increase in cyber threats in Nigeria during the first half of 2025, as Kaspersky data reveals a 66% increase in password stealers and a 53% increase in blocked spyware compared to the same period in 2024.
These findings were released ahead of the GITEX Nigeria technology event, where Kaspersky plans to offer practical advice and workshops to help both businesses and individuals strengthen their defenses.
According to the data, in the first half of 2025, Kaspersky’s security tools blocked over 1.46 million online attack attempts in Nigeria, impacting nearly one in five users (19.9%).
The common threats included phishing, exploits, and botnets. On-device threats were also widespread, with 4.97 million incidents blocked. This means that 28.6% of Nigerian users encountered malware delivered via infected media, such as USB drives, which included ransomware, worms, and trojans.
While the number of phishing detections decreased by 52%, the threats became more targeted. Finance-related phishing, which includes scams targeting banks, e-shops, and payment systems, saw a 46% increase, with Kaspersky recording over 595,000 detections in the country.
Kaspersky’s data also highlights broader trends across Sub-Saharan Africa. The region saw 42.4 million web attacks and 95.6 million on-device attacks in the first half of 2025. This includes a more than double increase in spyware and a 64% rise in password stealer attacks.
Cyberthreats are not limited to individuals and businesses. Industrial Control Systems (ICS) are also at risk, with attacks blocked on 26.5% of ICS computers in Nigeria. This poses a significant threat to key sectors like construction, energy, and biometrics.
“As more people and businesses in Nigeria move their operations online, the challenge of cybersecurity grows,” says Chris Norton, General Manager for Sub-Saharan Africa at Kaspersky. “Cybercriminals are becoming more active, targeting not only large companies and government networks, but also ordinary people, small businesses, and the industrial infrastructure we rely on.”
To help combat these rising threats, Kaspersky is participating in GITEX Nigeria 2025. The company will deliver workshops on a range of topics, including:
- Using real-time intelligence to respond to active threats.
- Building a cyber-aware workforce through tailored training.
- Securing cloud environments.
- Participating in the Kaspersky Interactive Protection Simulation (KIPS) to help decision-makers understand common cybersecurity mistakes.
Norton also noted Kaspersky’s recent partnership with the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) to provide SMEs with the knowledge to protect themselves. “Our role at GITEX Nigeria builds on that,” he said. “For us, it is about supporting Nigeria and the broader region so that digital growth goes hand in hand with digital safety.”