Africa is experiencing a sharp rise in attacks and a major shift in attacker tactics driven by artificial intelligence (AI). This is according to Check Point’s African Perspectives on Cyber Security Report 2025.
African organisations now face an average of 3 153 attacks per week.
Of the key countries analysed, Nigeria recorded the highest number of weekly attacks at 4 200, while Ethiopia ranked as the most attacked nation overall.
Threat actors are increasingly using AI to automate phishing, impersonation and cloud exploitation.
They also target exposed identities and misconfigured systems to gain access.
Across finance, energy, telecoms, and government, Check Point’s research observed a surge in identity-led intrusions, AI-generated phishing, and multi-vector ransomware.
“AI has become part of the attack surface,” said Lorna Hardie, regional director for Africa at Check Point.
“Attackers are using it to automate phishing and identity theft at scale. The only effective response is prevention-first security that combines visibility, governance and AI protection.”
The African Perspectives on Cybersecurity Report 2025 urges a collective rethink of resilience as digital transformation accelerates across the continent.
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