The Nigeria Computer Emergency Response Team (ngCERT) has raised alarm over a surge in ransomware attacks targeting critical institutions in the country. In a recent statement, ngCERT highlighted that Phobos ransomware attackers are frequently gaining entry into vulnerable networks.
According to ngCERT, the entities most at risk include providers of information technology and telecommunication services, such as managed cloud services. These providers have clients that encompass critical government agencies, financial institutions, telecommunications, education, healthcare, service providers, and non-governmental organizations in Nigeria.
Although ngCERT did not specify which organizations or entities have been affected, it assured that it is actively collaborating with vulnerable and affected organizations to swiftly resolve these incidents and prevent further escalation.
“It’s essential for organizations to proactively implement the mitigation strategies outlined in this document to help prevent the spread of the malware,” ngCERT stated.
It is worth recalling that the Nigerian Communications Commission previously reported that Nigeria lost $500 million to cybercrime.
