Sharp rise in identity, AI-driven cyberattacks in Africa, as AI shifts attacker tactics - Check Point
2025-11-19
Engineering News
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Check Point Software Technologies' 2025 report reveals a sharp rise in AI-driven cyber attacks across Africa, with threat actors using AI to automate phishing, identity theft, and ransomware. Organizations in countries like Nigeria, Ethiopia, and South Africa face thousands of weekly attacks, causing widespread disruption and harm.[AI generated]
Why's our monitor labelling this an incident or hazard?
The event involves AI systems explicitly used by threat actors to automate and scale cyberattacks, leading to direct harm including operational disruption, identity theft, and increased costs for organizations and individuals. The harms fall under disruption of critical infrastructure management and harm to communities through data breaches and fraud. Since the harms are occurring and AI is a pivotal factor in the attacks, this qualifies as an AI Incident rather than a hazard or complementary information. The article does not merely warn of potential harm but documents ongoing AI-driven malicious activities causing real damage.[AI generated]