Meeting in Abidjan on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, Kaspersky experts presented an alarming assessment of digital security on the continent. Between the rise of malicious AI and structural vulnerabilities, Africa is facing an unprecedented wave of cyberattacks.

An explosion of threats in numbers

According to data revealed at the KNext 2026 summit, the threat landscape has radically changed in just one year:

1. +40% increase for spyware between 2024 and 2025.
2. +32% increase for information theft (infostealers).

AI: The new engine of automated attacks

Georgy Kucherin, a security expert at Kaspersky, highlighted a major technological shift. Artificial intelligence is no longer simply a tool for writing phishing emails; it is becoming the brains of autonomous attacks.

"AI will soon be able to conduct end-to-end cyberattacks, almost without human intervention," he warns.

The weak link: low-cost smartphones

West Africa is particularly vulnerable, especially through its mobile fleet. The expert highlights two critical problems:

1. The lack of security monitoring on entry-level models.
2. Pre-installed malware : some phones are infected straight from the factory, making any attempt at "cleaning" useless without replacing the hardware.

How to retaliate? Kaspersky's recommendations

Hervé Iro Mondouho, a business expert, urges organizations to stop being passive and to adopt a proactive approach:

1. Systematic updates of systems and software.
2. Reducing the attack surface (limiting the exposure of sensitive services on the web).
3. Adoption of advanced security solutions .
4. Ongoing employee training , the first line of defense against intrusion.

A matter of sovereignty for the continent

Beyond technical solutions, Kaspersky calls for national and regional synergy . For Africa to transform its digital challenges into opportunities, cybersecurity must become a strategic pillar for both governments and private companies.

About Kaspersky: Founded in 1997, the company now protects more than one billion devices worldwide, from critical infrastructure to individual users.