00:00Every October, the World Marks Cybersecurity Awareness Month, a global initiative that teaches individuals, families and businesses how to stay safe online.
00:12This year's theme, Stay Safe Online, emphasizes that small actions can make a big difference in protecting people and organizations from cyber threats.
00:23In Nigeria, the conversation around cybersecurity has become more urgent as digital activities expand rapidly across banking, e-commerce, education and government services.
00:38According to Checkpoint Research, Nigerian organizations face an average of 3,759 cyber attacks every week, almost double the global average of 1,876.
00:53Another report by Kapersky revealed that between January and June 2025, incident of password-stealing malware in Nigeria rose by 66%, whilst malware attacks increased by 53%.
01:09Nigeria currently ranks 19th globally among the countries most exposed to cyber threats.
01:16Despite progress in digital inclusion, the International Telecommunication Union, ITU, still places Nigeria in Tier 3 on the Global Cybersecurity Index, meaning that while the country has made strides, there are still significant gaps in cybersecurity capacity and awareness.
01:37For individuals, these numbers highlight the increasing risks of data breaches, phishing scums and identity theft.
01:47Families are also at risk as children and young adults spend more time online, often unaware of threats like malicious links and social engineering.
02:00For businesses, especially small and medium-sized enterprises, a single successful cyber attack can lead to major financial losses, operational shutdowns, or data leaks.
02:15This year's Cybersecurity Awareness Month urges Nigerians to take practical steps to strengthen their digital safety.
02:23Experts recommend using strong, unique passwords, enabling multi-factor authentication, keeping software and devices updated, and learning how to identify phishing messages.
02:39Businesses are now also encouraged to invest in staff training, data protection tools, and regular security audits.
02:49In essence, Nigerians' growing digital economy needs equally strong digital protection.
02:57The key message for this October is clear.
03:00Cybersecurity starts with you.
03:03By taking small, consistent steps, Nigerians can protect themselves, their families, and their businesses.
03:11Because in today's world, online safety is everyone's responsibility.
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