According to a study by Surfshark Antivirus, the rate of cyber threats in Kenya in mid-December 2022 increased seven times.
The report detailed that the spike was a result of the increased online shopping spree during the Christmas holiday.
"The holiday shopping season leading up to Christmas was not only beneficial for the retailers but cybercriminals too," read the report in part.
Other countries that experienced the same spike in cyber threats include Italy, Indonesia, and Romania with UAE recording the highest spike followed by Kenya.
According to the report released in late December 2022, the holiday season attracted sophisticated and well-equipped cybercriminals who target innocent online shoppers.
Additionally, some of the most common types of cyber threats during the holiday season were malware and riskware. Malware is used to steal, corrupt or delete files, steal money and personal data as well as copy passwords.
While riskware is a program without any malicious intent but has the potential to become a malware.
In the report, online users were given several tips to protect themselves while browsing. They were advised not to visit unfamiliar sites which may be a trap set by cybercriminals.
While online, users were urged to look for the lock icon on the address bar. A secure website has an (s) at the end of HTTP.
Furthermore, users were encouraged to steer clear of suspicious links and also ensure they have strong and safe passwords for their personal accounts.
Online users were also warned against the use of public Wi-Fi because cybercriminals use these platforms to steal personal data. While browsing, look out for excess typos, strange phrases and inconsistent grammar.
"With the right information at your disposal, key avoidance tactics in place, and a trusted antivirus toolkit, you will easily outsmart the smartest scammers," read part of the report.
