The Rise of Cybercrime in Africa: A Growing Threat
Cybercrime is on the rise in Africa, with a recent Interpol report revealing that it now accounts for more than 30% of all reported crime in West and East Africa. The continent is experiencing a sharp increase in cybercrime rates, with South Africa also being impacted.
The payoff for a successful cyber breach can be enormous for threat actors, making it a lucrative venture for criminals. Online scams, especially through phishing, are the most commonly reported cybercrimes in Africa, with ransomware, business email compromise (BEC), and digital sextortion also being prevalent.
As the threat landscape evolves rapidly, cyber attackers are constantly searching for vulnerabilities to exploit. Recent studies have shown a growing trend of attacks on PCs, with file-less malware targeting memory on the PC comprising 75% of attacks.
In South Africa, the country was ranked number one in Africa for ransomware and info-stealer attacks in the second half of 2024. This highlights the urgent need for enhanced cybersecurity measures to combat the growing threat of cybercrime.
The Importance of Proactive Defence
Tony Bartlett, Director of Data Centre Compute at Dell Technologies South Africa, emphasizes the importance of a proactive defence strategy against cyber threats. While no organization can block every cyberattack, they can blend proactive defence measures with the ability to adapt quickly in the event of a breach.
AI PCs are designed with advanced security features that assume attacks are inevitable, offering device-level security and integrations with security software ecosystems. Research from the MITRE Centre for Informed Defence underscores the critical role of PC hardware in enabling effective security measures.
Enhancing Cyber Resilience
As the cost of IT and security continues to rise, partnering with experts can help improve long-term cyber resilience and maximize the value of technology investments. Upgrading to future-proofed PCs that are equipped to handle the AI revolution can re-architect endpoint security and mitigate vulnerabilities.
The threat of cybercrime is pervasive and evolving, making it essential for organizations to prioritize cybersecurity measures to protect against potential breaches. By staying vigilant and investing in robust security solutions, businesses can mitigate the risks posed by cyber threats in an increasingly digital world.
