Nigeria and Mali became the main targets of distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks in West Africa during the second half of 2024, according to NETSCOUT’s latest Threat Intelligence Report. The report, which covers July to December 2024, shows that cyber threats in the region are becoming more frequent and more advanced.
Nigeria Hit by Sophisticated DDoS Attacks
Nigeria, known as West Africa’s biggest economy, recorded 1,716 DDoS attacks in the second half of 2024. Although this was a drop from 2,721 attacks in the first half of the year, the country still faced some of the most complex attacks in the region.
One major campaign used 22 different methods to overwhelm systems. These included TCP attacks, DNS amplification, and ICMP flood attacks, also known as Ping floods. These attacks aim to flood and crash websites or online services, making them hard to stop.
The telecom industry suffered the most in Nigeria. Both resellers and wired carriers were heavily targeted. Computing infrastructure providers also faced many attacks. Surprisingly, cybercriminals also went after beauty salons, commercial banks, used goods shops, tyre sellers, and electronics wholesalers.
Bryan Hamman, NETSCOUT’s regional director for Africa, said this mix of targets shows that attackers focus on sectors that matter most to each country’s economy.
The largest DDoS attack in Nigeria reached a speed of 148.77 Gbps, which could seriously disrupt key services. The increasing complexity of these attacks shows why Nigeria needs stronger cybersecurity systems to protect its digital services.
Mali Sees Huge Increase in DDoS Attacks
Mali experienced a major jump in DDoS attacks, rising from just 115 in the first half of 2024 to 1,637 in the second half. That’s more than a tenfold increase.
Web search platforms and online information services suffered the most, with attacks lasting an average of 1,197 minutes—almost 20 hours. Wired telecom providers, one of the most attacked industries worldwide, were also hit hard in Mali.
Experts believe the rise in Mali’s digital growth and internet use may have attracted more hackers. The long-lasting nature of the attacks shows that many organizations in Mali struggle to stop these threats quickly. To keep up, they’ll need to invest in stronger cybersecurity systems.
Other West African Countries Also Targeted
Liberia ranked third in West Africa, recording 1,189 attacks—a slight drop from 1,515 in the first half of the year. Most attacks focused on computer systems design services. The most common methods used were DNS and STUN amplification attacks.
Ghana saw a steep decline in attacks, falling from 4,753 in early 2024 to 917 in the second half. Most attacks targeted tech-related services, such as web search platforms (317), wired telecom providers (43), and computing infrastructure firms (4). Interestingly, even shoe manufacturers were targeted, facing 14 attacks, showing that attackers adjust their focus based on local businesses.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) made it into the rankings for the first time, reporting 879 attacks. The biggest attack there used 15 different methods but reached only 0.74 Gbps in speed. One attack on a satellite telecom company lasted 689 minutes, disrupting services for over 11 hours.
Cameroon faced 811 DDoS attacks, but one of them reached 200.43 Gbps—the highest bandwidth attack in West Africa, even higher than Nigeria’s largest. This shows that even countries with fewer attacks can still face serious threats.
Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, and the Republic of the Congo reported lower attack numbers—495, 341, and 329, respectively. Côte d’Ivoire saw the biggest attack among them at 8.66 Gbps, mainly targeting wired telecom providers. In Guinea, attackers focused on wireless telecom firms, while in the Republic of the Congo, resellers took the biggest hit.
These patterns show that the ICT industry remains a top target across the region because of its importance to both the economy and daily life.
Cybercriminals Adjust to Local Economies
Hamman noted that this data proves DDoS attacks are growing, not just in number, but in how advanced they are. He said hackers are adapting their strategies based on each country’s economy. For example, they targeted beauty salons in Nigeria and shoe makers in Ghana.
Globally, NETSCOUT reported over 2.1 million DDoS attacks on wired telecom carriers in 2024. West Africa reflects this global trend, as more internet access creates both opportunities and risks. Countries like Mali and the DRC, with growing digital systems, are now facing more cyber threats.
As West Africa becomes more digital, DDoS attacks pose a serious threat to the region’s economy and vital services. Hamman urged businesses and governments to invest in better cybersecurity tools, carry out regular risk checks, and work together across borders to tackle this growing problem.
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