Nigeria recorded 82,000 data breaches in the first quarter of 2023 (January to March). This is according to a report by cybersecurity company Surfshark. This latest numbers represent a 64% increase from the fourth quarter of 2022, in which the most populous African country recorded 50,000 data breaches.
With that development, Nigeria ranks 32nd on a list of countries with the most data breaches in Q1’2023), This is worse than the 41st which it ranked in the last quarter of 2022.
On the global scene, Russia ranks first on that list, accounting for a sixth of all breaches from January through March. A total of 41.6 million accounts were breached worldwide in Q1’2023. The United States ranks second on the list, while Taiwan appears in third place after extreme quarter-over-quarter growth. They are closely followed by France and Spain. Compared to Q4’2022, the world witnessed a 49% decrease in data breaches.
For clarity, a data breach is an incident in which sensitive, protected or confidential data is copied, transmitted, viewed, stolen, altered or used by an individual that isn’t authorised to do so.
Other terms are unintentional information disclosure, data leak, information leakage and data spill. Incidents range from concerted attacks by individuals who hack for personal gain or malice (black hats), organised crime, political activists or national governments, to poorly configured system security or careless disposal of used computer equipment or data storage media.
Some of the most common types of data breaches include:
- Hacking: This is when an unauthorised individual gains access to a computer system or network and steals data.
- Malware: This is a type of software that is designed to damage or disable computer systems. Malware can also be used to steal data.
- Phishing: This is a type of social engineering attack in which an attacker sends fraudulent emails or messages that appear to be from a legitimate source. The goal of phishing is to trick the recipient into clicking on a malicious link or providing personal information.
- Human error: This is the most common cause of data breaches. Human error can include things like leaving sensitive data on a public computer, clicking on a malicious link, or providing personal information to a stranger.
Surfshark’s analysis of data breaches in Q1’2023 shows Nigeria recorded 82,000 leaked accounts, which is 46% higher in 2023’Q1 than it was in 2022’Q4.
Nigeria ranked 41st with around 50,000 in Q4’2022.
Data from Surfshark’s data breach statistics update (Q1’2023) records 41.6 million leaked accounts, with Russia being 1st in the world (6.6 million), followed by the U.S. (5 million), Taiwan (3.9 million), France (3.2 million), and Spain (3.2 million).
Taiwan saw the highest quarter-over-quarter increase (21x), placing its total of 4 million leaked accounts 3rd in Q1’2023. The country had only placed 26th in Q4’2022’ with 191K breached users.
Globally, data breaches declined, dropping to one user account leaked every second in Q1’2023.
According to Surfshark’s study, data breaches declined globally in the first quarter of 2023 if we compare it to the previous one. However, the fact that over 40 million accounts were breached in just a few months is still a cause for concern. Those whose data was compromised are at an increased risk of being targeted by cybercriminals as their personal information can be utilised for phishing attacks, fraud, identity theft, and other serious cybercrimes.
Agneska Sablovskaja, Lead Researcher at Surfshark
Europe was the most affected region by breaches in Q1’2023, followed by Asia and North America.
In Q1’2023, Europe was also the only region with a significant quarter-over-quarter increase in its statistics on data breaches. The number nearly doubled, growing from 9.9 million in Q4’2022 to 17.5 million in Q1’2023.
In other words, two out of five accounts breached in Q1’2023 were of European origin, with 38% of these being Russian. Within the region, the biggest quarter-over-quarter spikes in data breaches were recorded in Czechia (almost 9x), Armenia (around 6x), and Switzerland (6x).
Asia was the second-most vulnerable region, accounting for around a fourth of the quarter’s breaches (10.6 million). The three countries that saw the highest quarter-over-quarter increase overall were all Asian — Taiwan and Saudi Arabia both had around 20 times more leaked accounts in Q1’2023 than in Q4’2022, while South Korea saw its number increase 12 times.
An additional 13% of the accounts were North American (5.3 million). All other regions comprised less than 5% of the quarter’s total.
Out of all regions, Africa saw the greatest quarter-over-quarter decrease — recording a 33 time increase, bringing its total of 18.6 million leaked accounts in Q4’2022 down to 557.6K in Q1’2023.
The ten most breached countries of Q1’2023, in descending order, are Russia, the U.S., Taiwan, France, Spain, India, Czechia, South Korea, and Italy.
The highest growth in user victims was spotted in Taiwan (21x), Saudi Arabia (19x), South Korea (12x), Czechia (9x), and Armenia (7x).
An increase in Nigeria, a cause for concern?
Data breaches are a growing problem in Nigeria, and they can have a significant impact on individuals and businesses. It is important for organisations to take steps to protect their data from unauthorised access.
Babatunde Bamigboye, Head, Legal Enforcement and Regulations of NDPB
An increase in data breaches in Nigeria is a cause for concern, because it means that more and more people’s personal information is being exposed to potential hackers and identity thieves. This can have a devastating impact on individuals, businesses, and the economy as a whole.
There are a number of factors that may have contributed to the increase in data breaches in Nigeria. One factor is the growing use of technology. As more and more people use computers, smartphones, and other devices to store and share their personal information, it becomes more vulnerable to attack.
Another factor is the increasing sophistication of hackers. Hackers are constantly developing new techniques to exploit vulnerabilities in computer systems and networks. This makes it more difficult for businesses and organisations to protect their data from attack.
The increase in data breaches is also a result of the growing number of cybercrime gangs operating in Nigeria. These gangs are motivated by financial gain and are constantly looking for new ways to steal personal information and money.
The impact of data breaches can be devastating for individuals. When personal information is exposed, it can be used to commit identity theft, fraud, and other crimes. This can lead to financial losses, damage to credit ratings, and even ruined lives.
Data breaches can also have a negative impact on businesses. When a business’s data is breached, it can lead to lost customers, damaged reputation, and financial losses. In some cases, data breaches can even force businesses to close down.
Here are some tips for protecting your personal information from data breaches:
- Use strong passwords and change them regularly.
- Be careful about what information you share online.
- Only download apps from trusted sources.
- Keep your software up to date.
- Be aware of the latest scams and phishing attacks.
- Report any suspicious activity to the authorities.
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