Nigeria on the alert as cyber-attack hits 99 countries

Nigerian authorities are studying a Ransomware cyber-infection that has affected computer devices of organisations in about 99 countries.

Ransomware is a computer virus that installs discreetly on a victim’s device, holding his data hostage until ransom, which is usually in crypto-currency, is paid. It is cyber-kidnapping.

According to the BBC, a massive cyber-attack using tools believed to have been stolen from the US National Security Agency (NSA) struck organisations around the world this week.

The broadcaster reported that cyber-security firm Avast said it had seen 75,000 cases of the ransomware – known as WannaCry and variants of that name – around the world.

There are reports of infections in 99 countries, including Russia and China.

Among the worst hit was the National Health Service (NHS) in England and Scotland.

A source in the government told TheCable on Saturday that the situation was being studied.

“I am talking to the honourable minister of communication, and he is working on it. I read it yesterday and I quickly alerted the minister,” he said.

“And when I get a position I will let you know. He (minister of communication) is conferring with the agencies under him on it, so if I get an update, I will let you know.”

Nigeria is vulnerable to cyber-attacks.

At a cyber-security, technology optimisation and development conference in Abuja in November 2016, Adebayo Shittu, minister of communication, disclosed that the country lost over $450m to cyber-attacks in 2015.

He said Nigeria witnessed 3, 500 of such attacks in that year alone.