Africa Remains Top Global Target, Even as Attacks Decline

African organisations remained the top global targets of cyberattacks in September, suffering more than 3,000 attacks per week during the past two months, despite declines in cyberthreat detections. The downward trend continued into early October and may reflect policy measures and increased law enforcement, though there is no expectation that the slight reduction will be sustained.

Overall, Africa and the Global South see about twice as many weekly cyberattacks as North America and Europe, with the eastern and western regions accounting for about a third of all reported crimes. Check Point Research data shows attackers continued to target African organisations with nearly 3,000 weekly attacks in September, topping other regions, while many incidents are driven by cybercriminal groups exploiting less mature legal frameworks and Dark Web marketplaces.

African nations, meanwhile, face a shortage of cybersecurity professionals and frequent cyber-espionage from state-sponsored groups, contributing to Africa becoming a hub of global cybercriminal activity.