GRBusiness
Seven key reasons you should be serious about cyberattacks
BY: Sandra Ani
According to a global security report released in January this year, a new breed of cyberattacks, seemingly fuelled by geopolitical tension between western democracies and countries including China, Russia and North Korea, is emerging – this against a background in which cryptomining, fileless attacks, ransomware and commodity malware are still causing havoc.
An effective endpoint security system is necessary to protect devices connected to the corporate network, including smartphones, PCs, IoT devices and laptops, from malicious threats.
The Global Threat Report, entitled ‘The Year of the Next-Gen Cyberattack’, was released by Carbon Black, a leader in cloud-delivered, next-generation endpoint security.
The report is based on analysis and insight from the Carbon Black Threat Analysis Unit, which researched cyberattacks across the company’s customer base and in conjunction with its incident response (IR) partners.
On average, according to Carbon Black, the company’s IR partners conduct more than one incident response engagement per day using Carbon Black technology.
The report says: “Modern cyberattacks appear to increasingly be fuelled by geopolitical tension and reveal how clever attackers have become in evolving to remain undetected – using techniques such as lateral movement, island hopping and counter incident response to stay invisible. According to Carbon Black’s threat research, we believe 2019 promises to be a year where endpoint visibility becomes more paramount than ever as attackers continue to evolve and global tensions increase.”
From a geopolitical perspective, the report notes that, as 2018 came to a close, nearly half of all global attacks had originated from China and Russia, according to data provided by Carbon Black’s IR partners. In the third quarter alone, 47 out of 113 incident responses had emanated from these countries.
Toward the end of 2018, the data also revealed several cyberattacks targeting global governments that had included indicators of compromise attributable to North Korea. Further, Iran and Brazil were mentioned in the report as countries of origin for recent attacks.
The CEO of value-added distributor Networks Unlimited Africa, Anton Jacobsz; a vendor partner with Carbon Black in sub-Saharan Africa, said, “The new role of cyberattacks as a weapon between nations has created new battle fronts in the global landscape. For example, between 2011 and 2013, American banks were targeted by DDoS attacks from Iran, and these cyberattacks virtually stopped when negotiations began to lift economic sanctions on Iran in exchange for an end to its nuclear weapons programme.
“Many believe that with the Iran nuclear deal of 2015 now under threat by current United States policy, we could see a return of this kind of activity.
Other key facts released by the ‘Global Threat Report: The Year of the Next-Gen Cyberattack’ include the following:
· The average endpoint protected by Carbon Black was targeted by two cyberattacks per month throughout 2018. At this rate, an organisation with 10,000 endpoints is estimated to see more than 660 attempted cyberattacks per day. Across the Carbon Black customer footprint (totalling approximately 15 million global endpoints) this means there are, on average, one million attempted cyberattacks per day.
· The top industries targeted by ransomware in 2018 were manufacturing, business services, retail, government and computers/electronics.
· Approximately $1.8 billion of cryptocurrency-related thefts occurred in 2018.
· Half of incident response engagements now involve instances of counter incident response, when the attackers fight back against the defence measures taken.
This, says Carbon Black, is “another concerning sign that attackers have become increasingly sophisticated and are initiating longer-term campaigns – as well as a clear signal that incident response must get stealthier.”
· The report also found that more than half of attackers now use their victim primarily for a practice known as ‘island hopping’, when attackers target organisations with the intention of accessing an affiliate’s network.
· Nearly 60 percent of attacks now involve lateral movement, which means that attackers aren’t just going after one component of an organisation: “They’re getting in, moving around and seeking more targets as they go.”
· As nation-state cyberattackers become more sophisticated and powerful, their attacks are also becoming increasingly destructive. Carbon Black’s respondents had said victims outlined in the report had experienced such attacks 32 percent of the time, to the extent that machines suspected by cyberattackers of being forensically analysed had been effectively wiped.
“We can plainly see the rise of new frontiers of opportunity in a world of geopolitical tension that is able to transcend physical borders through cyber means. As attackers continue to evolve and global tensions threaten to increase, the need for endpoint visibility and protection is going to become even more important than ever during this year and moving forward,” concludes Jacobsz.
You can read the Carbon Black ‘Global Threat Report: The Year of the Next-Gen Cyberattack’ here.
Transport
Enugu Air, CNG Buses, Transport Terminals Take off in May
… Govt set to develop tourist sites, reports SANDRA ANI
… Work starts on Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Awgu Games Village in earnest
The Enugu Air, CNG Mass Transit Programme, and the ultramodern transport terminals all built from scratch by the Governor Peter Administration are to be launched for operation before the second anniversary of the government.
The government has also approved the development of the state’s tourism industry, while total transformation of the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium and Awgu Games Village will start in June to get them ready for the National Sports Festival to be hosted by the state in 2026.
These were made known by the Commissioner for Transportation, Dr. Obi Ozor; Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Dame Ugochi Madueke; Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Engr. Gerald Otiji; and Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Barr. Lloyd Ekweremadu after the State Executive Council meeting at the Government House, Enugu, at the weekend.
Briefing Government House Correspondents, Ozor said, “We are starting off with the initial three aircraft and two of the aircraft are already on ground. The third one will be on ground by the end of this month. We are hoping to start the commercial operations before the second year anniversary of this administration.
“You have also seen buses for the mass transit programme across the state. 50 of them are already parked at Okpara Square, and an additional 50 will be joining that fleet in the next few weeks. The 100 of them will be going into commercial operations before the end of this month, which is the second year anniversary.
“Also, the bus terminals, two at Holy Ghost, one each at Gariki, Abakpa and Nsukka, will also be commissioned and go into commercial operations before the 29th of May, this year.”
He added that the government planned to bring in the electric and CNG automotive manufacturing plant into Enugu as well as launch in the next 150 days the Enugu Smart Transport Programme, which would see to the injection of over 2,000 electric vehicles.
Also briefing newsmen, Dame Madueke said funds would be invested in the tourism industry in phases.
“We are going to have it in phases. For the first phase, we are having Awhum Waterfall, Nsude Pyramid where we are going to have the first canopy walkway in the South East. It measures about 600 metres, which will actually be the longest in Nigeria.
“We also have Ngwo Pine Forest where we are having the first zipline in Nigeria. The zipline will measure about 300 metres. In the same Ngwo, we will have a big rotunda and a smaller rotunda. We have the Cross of Hope to be located at Okpatu. The Cross of Hope will be sitting 580 metres above sea level and the cross itself will measure about 50 metres, making it a total of about 630 metres above sea level. The cross will have about 15 floors with a lift.
“At Awhum Waterfalls, we are going to have another canopy walkway and a boardwalk to preserve the ecosystem.
“We equally have the Akwuke/Atakkwu Waterpark and Ovu Lake Golf and Resort at Akpawfu,” she stated.
She explained that all the tourist sites would have experience centres, food courts and renewable energy, adding that tour buses would soon arrive to ensure ease of movement of tourists.
Ahead of the 23rd edition of the National Sports Festival, Enugu 2026, Barr. Ekweremadu said the State Executive Council had equally directed the commencement of work both at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium and Awgu Games Village not later than June.
“We also briefed the council on the progress made in establishing a Lab for Animation for young people in Enugu State, which His Excellency will be commissioning soon. The lab is ready.
“We are similarly working towards empowering over 2,100 young people across the state, who were trained around December last year. This empowerment will be coming up on the 12th of August, being the International Youth Day’” Ekweremadu concluded.
Energy
NNPC, Dangote Strengthen Strategic Partnership
Bot partners reaffirmed commitment to Healthy Competition Towards National Prosperity, reports SANDRA ANI
As part of ongoing efforts to promote mutually beneficial partnerships and foster healthy competition, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) and Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals (DPRP) have pledged to deepen collaboration aimed at ensuring Nigeria’s energy security and advancing shared prosperity for Nigerians.
This commitment was made during a courtesy visit by the President/Chief Executive of Dangote Group, Mr. Aliko Dangote, and his delegation to the Group CEO of NNPC Ltd., Mr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari, and members of the company’s Senior Management Team at the NNPC Towers, on Thursday.
During the visit, Dangote pledged to collaborate with the new NNPC Management to ensure energy security for Nigeria.
“There is no competition between us, we are not here to compete with NNPC Ltd. NNPC is part and parcel of our business and we are also part of NNPC. This is an era of co-operation between the two organizations.” Dangote added.
While congratulating the GCEO and the Senior Management Team on their “well-deserved appointments,” Dangote acknowledged the enormity of the responsibility ahead, noting that the GCEO is shouldering a monumental task, which he expressed confidence that, with the capable hands at his disposal in NNPC, the task is surmountable.
In his remarks, the GCEO, Mr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari assured Dangote of a mutually beneficial partnership anchored on healthy competition and productive collaboration.
Ojulari highlighted the exceptional caliber of talent he met in NNPC Ltd., describing the workforce as a dedicated, highly skilled and hardworking professionals who are consistently keen on delivering value for Nigeria.
Expressing the company’s readiness to build a legacy of national prosperity through innovation and shared purpose, Ojulari said NNPC will sustain its collaboration with the Dangote Group especially where there is commercial advantage for Nigeria.
Both executives also committed to being the relationship managers for their respective organisations through sustained productive collaboration and healthy competition, thereby envisioning limitless opportunities for both organizations.
Improved efforts at collaboration among financial service providers, telecommunication operators, and tech Startups, with conscious effort geared at consumer awareness, have been proffered as key remedies to the challenge of financial inclusion in the country.
This is the viewpoint of stakeholders that gathered for the second edition of Payment Forum Nigeria (PAFON 2.0) held recently in Lagos.
Delivering a keynote address on the theme, “Bridging the Customer Experience Gap for Financial Inclusion Using AI”, Ebehijie Momoh (Mrs.), the managing director and chief executive officer of AfriGoPay Financial Services Limited, said that with 64% of Nigerian adults being financial included the country has made immense progress in that regards.
She said that between 2012 till date, the country has recorded robust regulatory reforms, especially the launch of the Bank Verification Number (BVN) in 2014 making it easier to identify and track customers across different banks.
“This initiative enhanced the credibility of the financial sector and increased confidence in formal banking systems.
The growth in adoption of smartphones has also helped the financial sector to leapfrog financial inclusion. Nigeria has 142.16 mobile internet subscriptions with an average consumption of ~7.04GB / month as of January 2025. If you juxtapose it to the 15.9% decline in shipments of feature phones to 18.8 million units in Africa as at Q1 2024, you will understand that the uptake in smartphones has helped us a great deal.
Mrs. Momoh who spoke through Mr. Munachi Duru, the head of Innovation and Strategic Partnership at AfriGoPay, said the adoption of artificial intelligence banking gave birth to solutions like smile identity, a leading KYC verification provider launches facial recognition capabilities in Nigeria as neobanks and commercial banks are deploying AI-based KYC verification tools, enabling cheaper and efficient customer acquisition and servicing.
In her goodwill message, Mrs. Uche Uzoebo, MD/CEO, Shared Agent Network Expansion Facilities Limited (SANEF) Limited said that with progress made in accelerating financial inclusion to unbanked and underbanked communities in Nigeria, SANEF has leveraged Artificial Intelligence (AI) as the next step to advancement in financial services in the country.
She noted that as technology evolves rapidly within the financial ecosystem, Financial Inclusion must continue to be at the center of the nation’s progress.
According to her, agent banking has been a game-changer in expanding financial inclusion across Nigeria. “By deploying agents in underserved areas, we have brought financial services and banking products such as account opening, cash in, cash out, bill payment, transfers and other services closer to the unbanked and underserved.”
Speaking during a panel session, Mr. Ibirogba Oluwagunwa, chairman, Lagos State Chapter of the Association of Mobile Money & Bank Agents in Nigeria (AMMBAN), spoke of lack of collaboration and slow institutional drive towards AI as key barriers hindering digital inclusion.
He harped on the need for information sharing among fintech operators, and improved free flow of information to consumers. “The human barrier angle needs to be addressed. Fintechs need to be pushed to move forward, AI cannot operate itself.”
In his contribution, Mr. Chika Nwosu, managing director of PalmPay, reiterated the need to reach the consumers with simple format communication and education style.
He said operators should create awareness and design consumer-centric approach in developing any products. This will not only draw the consumers towards the product, but also generate trust and ease the use of such products.
Focusing on the use of AI to ensure reach, inclusion and security, Azure Application and AI Specialist at Microsoft UK, Olusoji Solomon Adeyemo, spoke on the need for AI and Blockchain in the bid to extend services to rural communities and the unbanked.
According to him, “AI, Blockchain and CBDs are shaping the future of payment, and there is a serious need for education. We need to align with global trends in new tech adoption.”
While noting that AI can ensure reach, Adeyomo said blockchain will also create digital identity that is exclusive and will promote digital financial inclusion.
In her position, Oluwabunmi Ogunyemi, the customer support lead at Moniepoint MFB, proffered physical and digital meet with customers, even in rural areas, as a viable means of inclusivity.
Also speaking, Olusegun Afolabi, the co-founder of Face Technologies UK Ltd., called for improved collaborations among stakeholders in the financial sector.
According to him, the fintech companies must also embrace effective identification solutions, focusing on biometrics and card technologies to ensure topnotch security for users.
Earlier in his opening remarks, Mr. Peter Oluka, co-Convener of the Forum, noted that the financial inclusion journey in the country has come to a crucial juncture where over 30 million adults are still financially excluded, many of whom reside in rural areas or belong to vulnerable demographics.
He noted that despite 12% growth in access to formal financial services between 2020 and 2023, as recorded by the EFInA Access to Financial Services Survey 2023, challenges still exist that hinders the unlocking of the potentials of digital payments to drive inclusive growth in Nigeria.
He further posited: “As digital infrastructure grows and fintech innovation accelerates, we must channel these advancements toward building a more inclusive, secure, and trusted financial ecosystem. This is not just about transactions — it’s about empowerment, opportunity, and economic participation for all.
Nodding in agreement, Mr. Chike Onwuegbuchi, co-Convener, PAFON, reiterated the need for all stakeholders in the financial payment industry, including regulators, to participate in forums as PAFON, to map out, growth strategies with consumers and other strata of the ecosystem.
He promised to invite security stakeholders, such as the EFCC and others in subsequent editions of the event. This will help give insight into security concerns in deployment of products and services in rural and unbanked communities.
Payments Forum Nigeria (PAFON) is a platform dedicated to shaping the future of digital payments and financial services in our country.
Glo Foundation holds “Rest and Relaxation Day” for Sanitation Workers
Enugu Air, CNG Buses, Transport Terminals Take off in May
You’re a priceless gift: Gov Mbah Celebrates Jim Nwobodo at 85
LASG Acquires New Outboard Engines For Optimum Boat Performance
Elon Musk builds Hotel in Mars, Sets to launch soon at $5million per night – Photos
We Do Not Accept Refugee Application Directly From People – Canadian Govt.
-
Energy4 days agoNNPC, Dangote Strengthen Strategic Partnership
-
Transport2 days ago
Enugu Air, CNG Buses, Transport Terminals Take off in May
-
GRPolitics2 days ago
2nd anniversary: Nsukka leaders score Gov Mbah’s administration high
-
Entertainment2 days ago
You’re a priceless gift: Gov Mbah Celebrates Jim Nwobodo at 85
-
Spotlight3 hours ago
Glo Foundation holds “Rest and Relaxation Day” for Sanitation Workers
