Kaspersky Lab cautions Kenyan businesses against cybercrime

y, October 11, 2013

A global technology company has warned businesses to protect their critical and sensitive data as it continues to see an increase of cybercrime.  NATION MEDIA GROUP

By LILLIAN ONYANGO
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A global technology company has warned businesses to protect their critical and sensitive data as it continues to see an increase of cybercrime.

Kaspersky Lab said countries with developing broadband infrastructure, like Kenya, are more and more being targeted by cybercriminals.

Channel Sales Manager for East Africa at Kaspersky Lab Bethwel Opil said cybercriminals are no longer targeting only the consumer, but rather are starting to place an emphasis on business sectors around the world, and countries, such as Kenya, are no different.

“While these crimes may have occurred through cybercriminals targeting the consumer, these figures reflect the impact such activity also has on the business market, which is also suffering,” he said during media briefing on Friday.

According to data collected from the Kaspersky Security Network, in the first quarter of the year, Kenya ranked 80th in the list of countries where hosting services are used by cybercriminals, and 115th in the list of countries subject to web-based threats – not far behind South Africa who is ranked 102 and well ahead of other African countries including Uganda and Zambia to name a few.

“While some businesses may view such rankings with little concern, they should in fact be taking these realities seriously - as these statistics will only get worse if the growing threat of cybercrime is not understood and managed effectively,” Mr Opil said.

Earlier in the year in an effort to curb the rise of cyber security concerns, Kenya launched the National Cybersecurity Strategy and Master Plan as it was expected that the risk of exposure to danger would go higher as the number of internet users increased.

In the 2012/13 financial year, Kenyan banks were greatly affected by cybercrimes as the Banking Fraud Investigations Department reported it lost about Sh1.5 billion.

The Ministry of Information, Communication and Technology through the Communications Commission of Kenya in May identified cybercrime as one of its biggest challenges.

In its response to the vice, the government organised the support of various stakeholders in the ICT sector to find secure, reliable, efficient and effective ways to combat the crime that affects the usage of online services.

The team, the CCK said, is expected to tackle issues such as pornography and child online abuse as well as those hitting local banks through electronic fraud as well as computer virus attackers and spam mailers who compromise online interactions will similarly be on the team’s cross-hairs.

Kaspersky Lab, with a focus on businesses asked them to pay attention to the IT security threats that exist, to educate themselves on the realities of cybercrime and to then take precautionary steps to protect themselves from cybercriminal activity.

“We certainly feel that there is a need to close existing ‘gaps’ in security postures - especially considering the fact that most businesses operating here are small businesses, who cannot afford to become the next cybercrime victim and the financial impact it can have,” Mr Opil said.