
In the digital era, the number of internet users across this
part of the world, Nigeria inclusive is growing at a very fast pace. In
finances, as well as other sectors including the purchase of goods and services
on the internet, more people in Nigeria are going online. However, as more
people become connected to the Internet, the probability of one’s systems being
penetrated increases with malware being amongst the biggest issues. Malware is
a loosely defined term that encompasses viruses, trojans, worms, spyware ads
other types of nefarious code that can take control of computers, corrupt
information, and cause financial damage to individuals, organizations, and
governments alike.
It is essential to know the most prevalent malware in
Nigeria to protect your identity on the internet. Specifically, in this
article, we will look at the following key areas: From this perspective, the
types of malware targeting Nigerians, the major mistakes that common Internet
users make in interacting with malware, and what an individual should do to
avoid falling victim to cyber criminals or their wares.
Overview of Malware Threats in Nigeria
While more people in Nigeria engage in digital technology,
they equally come under the risk of virtual fraudsters. These include phishing
scams ransomware attacks and other malicious attacks that are going around in
Nigeria are very alarming to both the man on the street and organizations. But
at the same time, there has been a marked increase in malware distribution
through such financial innovations as online banking as well as the
popularization of mobile payments.
However, the increasing threat posed by malware continues to
go unnoticed by many Nigerians, who still commit fatal mistakes that expose
them to the attacks. From downloading files from risky sites or not frequently
updating their software it is easier for the attackers to gain access to the
systems using such loopholes.
Therefore, the following are the types of malware popular
among Nigerians, and ways that you can avoid being among the many victims
engaged by these hackers.
Types of Common Malware Threats in Nigeria
1. Ransomware
Ransomware is malware that either denies the user access to their system or simply encrypts their data, in exchange for a ransom. Over the years, we have seen that Nigerian businesses and individuals are becoming soft targets for ransomware attackers, and losses are notable. Each of these attacks begins with an email that contains a simple message with a link to download a file or email attachment, after downloading the file, it ends up locking the user’s necessary files and data, and in any way requires payment for the unlock code.
2. Trojans
Many Trojans act as a genuine program in the infected
computer, and as soon as it is launched, it conducts wrongdoings. They are
among the most frequently encountered threats in Nigeria because they are
usually employed to steal such data as login details or about banking
activities. If on the other hand, an attacker has managed to install a rootkit
in your system, he can have complete control over the system with all the
ramifications of identity theft or financial fraud that ensue.
Protection Tips: Users should install software from the
official websites and never click on a link or an advertisement on the same
page. With the help of the special program Farbar malware protection software,
one can detect and delete Trojans to prevent their destruction.
3. Phishing Attacks
While phishing belongs to the category of social engineering
attacks, it frequently uses malware regularly. In online malware attacks in
Nigeria, the criminal will relay a genuine email or message to the
targeted person and as a result download a damaging software program or release
personal information. On the same note, phishing attacks masquerade as existing
organizations, for instance, banks or government departments and the victim
develops a probing healthy curiosity and clicks on the links.
Protection Tips: Do not open any links from the emails or
messages as they may look like they were from a friend or an official account.
Never act on an alert received via email without first confirming the message’s
source.
4. Adware
As adware is a subcategory of malware, they are not as
dangerous as viruses and can be extremely invasive. How it works is it installs
bogus ads on your device, uses a lot of system resources, and leaves your
computer open to more detrimental viruses. Adware invades systems through
downloads from unfamiliar websites since they come disguised as ‘free
downloads’.
Protection Tips: Stay away from downloading freeware from
the internet or any other unofficial source and install ad-blocking software.
Having the PC scanned for malware at least weekly can assist in deleting that
adware before it becomes a large problem.
5. Spyware
Spyware is one of the most dangerous types of malware that
collects your information without your knowledge. It can ensure the kind of
typing most frequently used, monitor the favorite websites, and even take
screenshots of the distributed passwords and credit card numbers. Spyware while
most of the time is concealed in freeware or shareware downloads, may also be
included as additional components of other genuine applications.
Protection Tips: When downloading files and content, always
be selective and before you agree to download, always read the user agreements
carefully. Employ Nigeria’s cybersecurity tools designated for spying device
identification and eradication on your devices.
6. Worms
Worms are a form of virus-like malware that propagates
itself in other devices automatically. When they penetrate one network they can
easily spread to different devices and are highly destructive to systems and
information. One common trick of worms is that they strike unpatched bugs in
outdated software or operating systems.
Protection Tips: It is also important that all your software
is updated and encase the network with strong passwords. The worms can be
detected and prevented by the help of firewalls and Intrusion detection
systems.
7. Keyloggers
Keyloggers are a subset of spyware that logs all keys typed
on a machine, allowing bad guys to grab passwords, PINs, and other sensitive
numbers. This type of malware is very malicious to users of online banking in
Nigeria because it can result in unauthorized control of one’s bank account.
Protection Tips: Utilize anti-malware ware and anti-virus to
the one that have the capability of diagnosing keyloggers. Remember, keyloggers
are usually planted on infected sites or as email attachments.
7 Common Malware Mistakes Nigerians Make
Still today, many people in Nigeria make avoidable errors
that endanger them in malware attacks. Here are seven common malware mistakes
that Nigerians make:
1. Clicking on Suspicious Links: Most individuals have
fallen victim to phishing links or ads that lead them to get infected by a
virus. Be careful with the emails or links you receive and only click on the
source that is trusted.
2. Downloading Free Software from Untrusted Sites: Freeware,
on average, tends to contain some form of intrusive software. Purchase software
only from authorized websites or download from the published websites only.
3. Using Outdated Software: Likely, when updating your
software frequently you stay shielded against a calamity occurring to you.
Always check that all your applications and the various systems you use are
updated.
4. Weak Passwords: It is more uncomplicated to break a
simple password: All of these require a strong, unique password, so make sure
to use this for all your accounts, or better yet, have a password manager.
5. Ignoring Security Warnings: Most people pay little
attention to their antivirus and this puts them at the mercy of enemies. Read
those notices act accordingly and contact the administration of the web page or
e-mail sender after blocking their page or e-mail addresses.
6. No Backup Plan: Due to the negligence of many persons in
Nigeria, most of them do not back up their valuable data, therefore; they
become the new targets of ransomware attacks. One of the best practices you may
carry out is saving copies of your files in a secure location.
7. Lack of Awareness: The problem is many people have no
idea just how dangerous malware can be. Be updated about the existing practices in cybersecurity.
Conclusion
Now that online malware has increased in Nigeria, it is
pertinent that individuals are more conscious about cyber security than ever
before. This ranges from ransomware to keyloggers, and other malware threats,
including worms and Trojan horses that look for openings and take advantage of
the user error. Knowing these threats and measures will go a long way in
safeguarding your identity and money from internet fraudsters.
This way, the likelihood of falling prey to malware used by
Nigerians who make the following mistakes, among others: clicking on suspicious
links and ignoring security warnings, will be much lower. This simply means
that it is important to update your accounts frequently provide them with
hard-to-guess passwords and use good malware identification and prevention
programs.
In Nigeria, cybersecurity is an emerging threat, therefore
assiduousness and compliance with cyber security measures will assist you to
combat the malicious actors. Always protect your devices, be careful with what
you do online and remember to be safe digitally. Lastly, your online safety is up to you so
act now to protect your tomorrow.