A KnowBe4 AFRICA survey revealed a sharp rise in cybersecurity in Africa concerns, with 58% of respondents “very concerned” nearly double the 29% recorded in 2023.
Cyber fraud and financial loss are the greatest threats, with cybercriminals using AI-based scams and social engineering day in and day out to rob individuals and businesses.
The state of cybersecurity in Africa is still evolving at a remarkable pace, with ransomware, cyber extortion, and deepfakes emerging daily. The cybersecurity hub in south Africa alone, cybercrime reached $3 billion in 2023, with the scammers using advanced means like impersonation scams and malware attacks to make away with money.
KnowBe4’s annual survey, conducted in seven African countries—Morocco, South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana, Egypt, Kenya, and Botswana—attempted to quantify people’s understanding of dangers regarding the cybersecurity hub in south Africa and their practices for online protection.
“The goal of the survey was to assess respondents’ cybersecurity awareness, digital habits and online security practices. Many challenges remain the same, but some are new, such as the alarming rise of deepfake technology.” said Anna Collard, SVP Content Strategy and Evangelist at KnowBe4 AFRICA.
Mobile Banking Growth Increases Cybercrime Risks
The growth in mobile banking adoption is expected to increase cybercrime activity. Research by the Africa cybersecurity consortium highlights an increase in electronic payment systems and smartphone access, increasing from 71% in 2023 to 75% in 2025, whilst the utilization of mobile banking services increased from 63% to 85% during the same period.
“The rise in mobile banking and payments indicates greater financial inclusion through digital means, which is positive for economic growth in Africa,” said Collard, adding that “it also expands the attack surface for cybercriminals, highlighting the urgent need for mobile-focused security education.”
Another trend that is quite notable is the rise in the use of WhatsApp for official communication, and this has risen from 89% in 2023 to 93% in 2025. This integration of business and private communication means more risks of cybersecurity in Africa, since personal phones are not as secure as company networks.
As national cybersecurity policy framework in south Africagrew, the survey also recorded waning privacy awareness, with fewer and fewer people being careful not to disclose private information on the internet. In 2023, 29% of participants did not want to give individual information; in 2025, it dipped to a mere 14%.
Collard emphasized the need for more comprehensive trainingof cybersecurity in Africa to close such gaps.
“Despite increased concern about cybercrime, there are still significant knowledge and practice gaps that need to be addressed to improve Africa’s cybersecurity posture,” Collard stated.
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