As Africa becomes increasingly interconnected and digitally reliant, it finds itself at the forefront of battling cyber threats. Cybercrime has escalated to one of the fastest-growing concerns across the region, pushing businesses, governments, and individuals to seek more sophisticated ways to protect their digital assets.
This brings Artificial Intelligence (AI) into the spotlight as a potential game-changer in the fight against cybercrime. But can AI be Africa’s ally in securing its digital landscape, or does it introduce new challenges?
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Cybercrime: A growing threat in Africa’s digital landscape
The attack surface is greatly enlarged as more Africans get online and economies grow network-centric. Over the years, the threat of cybercrime has risen to become a phenomenon that is experiencing exponential growth within the African continent and thus requires that methods of combating it are also evolved, especially within the finance industry.
The INTERPOL Africa Cyberthreat Assessment Report for 2021 has revealed that regular Computer Incidents affected the African financial sector by more than $ 4 billion, advocating for better cybersecurity laws.
While African countries and businesses have adopted some measures, new measures still need to be implemented to provide more effective digital economy security. Low cyber preparedness and low literacy make people vulnerable to cyber incidents, attacks, and crimes.
The global ICS threat level overview shown by Kaspersky ICS CERT for the Q3 2023 report indicated that ICS computers in Africa were attacked at a systems 32% rate and at country level 22% in South Africa, 28% in Kenya and 25% in Nigeria. These numbers reveal evidence that the critical systems that control the processes of industries, such as manufacturing and energy, are also under attack.
AI in Cybersecurity: A double-edged sword
AI is celebrated as a revolutionary cybersecurity tool, offering capabilities beyond human limits. It can automate the detection of cyber threats, identify unusual network patterns, and provide real-time responses to mitigate risks. Its ability to analyse vast datasets and detect anomalies positions AI as a formidable ally against cybercrime.
For instance, African financial institutions integrate AI to detect fraud, streamline processes, and ensure regulatory compliance. However, integrating AI into cybersecurity is challenging. As AI is employed to safeguard systems, cybercriminals are also leveraging AI to devise more complex attacks. This raises the question: Can AI truly be trusted to safeguard Africa’s digital space, or is it a double-edged sword that could cut both ways?
AI in action: Addressing Africa’s Cybersecurity gaps
AI in cybersecurity is increasingly gaining adoption across African countries, especially within the financial industry, which remains a primary target for cybercriminals. AI can recognise fraudulent activities and improve compliance with financial institutions. Compliance Planet, led by Prince Efue, uses AI, Natural Language Processing (NLP), and Machine Learning (ML) to prevent fraud and secure financial transactions.
Efue highlighted the critical need to address poor digital awareness and overall low cyber readiness and hasised that long-term solutions must involve education, updated laws, increased technology acquisition, and continental cooperation for an effective security solution. At a cybersecurity conference in Abuja, he stated that overcoming Nigeria and Africa’s cybersecurity challenges requires a holistic approach through education, regulation, technology, and collaboration.
Real-world applications and benefits of AI in Cybersecurity
AI can be a game-changer for the continent’s cybersecurity. AI-based applications can analyse millions of events within an organisation to detect patterns and threats that would go unnoticed. For instance, a network traffic pattern can be analysed using AI to diagnose occurrences in real-time and prevent phishing, malware attacks, or breaches of vital data.
In critical situations, AI can react by banning hostile IP addresses or isolating compromised systems, thus cutting losses and enabling quick recovery. For financial institutions, this may prevent large-scale losses and downtime. Amit Mehta, Vice President and Cybersecurity Consulting Practice Lead at Mastercard, highlighted that AI can enhance consumer trust in digital banking. “AI is a must-have innovation for digital banking, given its disruptive potential,” Mehta said. However, he noted that there is a need for assessment before deployment.
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Challenges and limitations of using AI in Cybersecurity
The biggest challenge of applying AI in Africa’s cybersecurity sector is the shortage of specialists who understand AI and cybersecurity. AI systems also demand significant computing resources that many African countries lack. Additionally, hackers are constantly improving their skills and may eventually find ways to exploit AI models, creating new security threats. For instance, techniques like Generative Adversarial Networks (GAN) can generate fake data to mislead AI systems.
AI as Africa’s CybersecurityAllyy
AI offers a promising solution to Africa’s cybersecurity challenges. It can detect and prevent cyber threats, safeguard financial institutions, and protect citizens when used correctly. However, its effectiveness hinges on a holistic approach that addresses gaps in digital literacy, regulatory frameworks, and infrastructure development.
As Africa continues its digital transformation journey, the role of AI in cybersecurity will undoubtedly grow. The key is ensuring that AI is leveraged responsibly and effectively to enhance—rather than undermine—Africa’s cybersecurity resilience.