3 billion cyberattacks reported in Kenya in 3 months: Report

The report that was presented to the Ministry of Interior on Wednesday pointed to a growing trend of offences linked to digital payments, unauthorized access, identity theft and interference with computer systems.

According to the NC4 report, different sector vulnerabilities, cloud services and government institutions have been primary targets for these cyber-attacks.

Nairobi takes the lead in the number of digital crimes, with Nyanza, Eastern Rift Valley, Central, Coast and Western regions also mentioned by the NC4.

The intentional withholding of electronic payments delivered erroneously and cyber harassment are some of the cyber offences reported to be dominant in the Nairobi region.

Also, computer fraud, identity theft and impersonation have been listed as results of these attacks, making Nairobi a national hot spot for cybercrime. 

In the report, Nyanza region has recorded cases of child pornography, fraudulent use of electronic data, as well as possession of illegal services and access codes.

The NC4 has noted that cases of computer fraud in the Rift Valley have decreased significantly compared to the previous year. However, the leaking of intimate images without consent has spiralled in the region.

The Committee has resolved to engage the different critical sector players, including banking, mobile network operators, aviation, energy, among others, to improve their proactive defenses and cybersecurity capabilities. 

Further, they have planned to develop a Rapid Reference Guide to standardize and streamline the investigation and prosecution of cybercrimes in Kenya.

While receiving the report, the Principal Secretary for Internal Security and National Administration, Raymond Omollo, acknowledged the importance of the report, saying that it comes at a pivotal moment following the approval to establish a National Cybersecurity Agency by Parliament.