According to a report published by “Hespress” magazine, citing company data, Morocco ranked second among targeted countries in Africa with over 75,000 DDoS attacks in just six months, while South Africa took the first place with more than 213,000 attacks. Meanwhile, Kenya recorded over 46,000 incidents during the same period. The wireless and wired communications sectors, along with research and development, were among the most targeted sectors in Morocco.
The same source noted that “major political events stimulated the massive increase in attacks, with Switzerland experiencing more than 1,400 attacks during the World Economic Forum, and Italy facing continuous targeting during political discussions. Hacker groups targeted Indian government and financial sectors amid the India-Pakistan conflict, while the conflict between Tehran and Tel Aviv generated over 15,000 attacks against Iran, compared to 279 attacks against Israel.”
Brian Hamman, Regional Director for Africa at Netscout Systems, said, “The report’s findings confirm that Africa has become a target for cybercriminals globally, with South Africa still facing a massive amount of DDoS attacks, increasing threats to its vital industries. Meanwhile, Morocco, Kenya, and other countries are facing increasingly complex attacks, as shown by the large number of trends.”
Hamman added, “The long-lasting and record-sized attacks confirm the attackers’ determination to cripple essential services, making intelligence-based defenses against DDoS, with the expansion of Africa’s digital economy, vital for businesses and not just a strategic protective option.”
Nassir explained that “Morocco’s readiness to host the 2030 World Cup, with the Africa Cup of Nations as an interim event, puts the country under the spotlight, with actors lurking for every opportunity to launch cyberattacks, whether on individuals or entities.” He added, “There will be highly active opportunistic actors, and we will have to confront them with a more aware and knowledgeable society about what is happening in the world.”
