In Kenya Cyber-attacks and E-threats Surged Sharply, says TESPOK

Standardmedia.co.ke published a report on 12th August 2013 quoting a report of Industry Computer Security by Telecommunications service Provider of Kenya (TESPOK) mentioning that cyberattacks and security e-threats to business enterprises have surged sharply recently causing massive financial losses to Kenyan firms.

The data was collected for three months till June 2013 by deploying censors in business organizations in Kenya.

The team catalogued the top cyber threats of the same period facing Kenyan businesses.

Services which allow users to make phone calls over the Internet, also known as Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) services, were identified as vulnerable.

The report said that by getting control on VOIP server and phones, cyber crooks launch VOIP-based phishing atatcks, eavesdropping, denial-of-service attacks or toll fraud.

Further, the data identifies the top malware used in devices by Kenyan Internet users.

Hackers get remote access with The Slammer Worm which is the top concern in Kenya even after ten years of its release on Internet. Mariposa, a Trojan horse (malicious software that pretends to provide legitimate services), was the second most common malware for computers in Kenya and the software gives access to computers by remote control.

According to the report, top sources of malware in Kenya are China, US and Korea. These are most active in attacking and targeting local Internet users.

Portugal, Canada and China were leading countries with the highest number of attackers and Brazil, along with India and South Africa have also been prominent for dispensing malware or (malicious software) to computers in Kenya.

The report noted that most Kenyan businesses were anguished from repeated disturbances with others unable to meet compulsory regulatory compliance because of insecure business-networks.

Humanipo.com published news on 12th August, 2013 quoting TESPOK Chairman Tom Omariba's speech at the launch of the above report as saying that most business losses being incurred as a result of low level of knowledge in cyber security.

Omariba also said Cyber security amongst general public is pretty low and we would sensitize the users with what precautions to take while going online so as to avert the chances of being victimized.

» SPAMfighter News - 8/21/2013