Transitioning from the use of feature phones — commonly known in Kenya as “Kabambe” or “Murika Mwizi” — Smartphones are often a big challenge for low-end users, mainly in rural areas, especially when navigating the complexity of new user interfaces.
Cost, limited internet connectivity, and digital literacy issues are also common constraints to this transition.
However, security concerns that are often overlooked in the face of increased digitization are proving to be a major new concern in this rapid shift.
spot check by Eastleigh voice It turns out that the majority of households in the city have completely stopped using feature phones.
4 out of 5 respondents said Eastleigh voice For example, residents of the Kasarani-Mwiki region have smartphones in every household, and some say the last time they used a feature phone was more than three years ago.
“I can’t remember the last time someone was in the house or the last time I used this product. “Murika Mwizi”. That’s in the past,” said one respondent, who identified herself as Jane.
The story of Jane and the other three respondents may also reflect that of many other households across the country, especially in remote counties that are the primary targets of the digitalization movement.
This is reflected in the latest quarterly sector statistics report by the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA), as evidenced by the country’s growth in mobile and internet penetration in the three months to June this year. In addition, digital services are becoming more popular. .
However, I agree that this outlook creates an increased incidence in the national cybersecurity landscape.
This report shows that as of June 30, 2024, total fixed data/internet subscriptions increased due to increased penetration and reliance on digital platforms in work, education, healthcare, and entertainment. .
In addition to this, it also includes attractive pricing plans and special offers from service providers.
The sector statistics report for the fourth quarter states: “The total number of fixed internet subscribers increased by 7.4% to reach 1.5 million. The number of satellite subscribers recorded a strong growth of 73.1% in the fourth quarter. , recorded a growth of 1,955.3% in the financial year 2023/24.” .
satellite subscription
The increase in satellite contracts was due to the licensing and subsequent launch of Starlink internet services in Kenya earlier in the financial year.
Meanwhile, the report notes that the total number of mobile phone handsets connected to mobile networks during the period covered was 66.1 million, with a penetration rate of 128.3 percent.
In particular, the number of smartphones increased by 14.3% from 30.8 million units in the same period last year to 35.2 million units as of June 2024.
As a result, the number of feature phones declined by 4% from 32.1 million units in June last year to 30.9 million units in the period, giving us a glimpse of the trend.
The penetration rates of smartphones and feature phones were 68.3% and 59.9%, respectively.
As a result, the incidence of domestic cyberattacks is increasing in proportion to the progress of digitalization, the CA said.
“The total number of cyber threats detected in the quarter increased by 16.5% to 1.1 billion from 971.4 million reported in the previous quarter,” the report said.
This is because gangs are reportedly getting smarter and taking less than a week to carry out cyber-attacks targeting the ever-growing digital market.
According to a study conducted earlier this year by the international lobbying group World Economic Forum (WEF), it now takes cybercriminals four days on average to carry out a single attack, up from around 60 days in 2019. It has become clear that it has become.
artificial intelligence
Robbie believes this development is due to rapidly growing artificial intelligence (AI), which could increase the number and frequency of attacks.
“Threat actors are already writing code using AI-powered language models like ChatGPT. Generative AI allows less-sophisticated threat actors to create new types and variants of existing ransomware. “It also helps increase the number of attacks that can be carried out,” Roby said.
“Therefore, the use of AI by malicious actors is expected to increase in the future, necessitating stronger cybersecurity measures.”
Robbie also reiterated concerns about the growing number of people owning smartphones, tablets and laptops, saying these are an attractive combination for cybercriminals.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, many organizations have enabled new ways to access corporate networks via private devices without requiring multi-factor authentication, and lobbying groups say the move has led to some cyber The attack was said to have been successful.
“Criminals are now targeting mobile devices loaded with specific malware to gain remote access, steal login credentials, and deploy ransomware,” WEF said. .
It also adds that personal devices tend to have lax security measures, and using such devices on public Wi-Fi can increase vulnerabilities, including exposing them to phishing attacks via social media. Masu.
Phishing is a type of cybercrime that tricks people into divulging sensitive information or installing malware.
The WEF further notes that the rollout of 5G technology is an area of potential concern if not properly managed, as it will power even more connected devices, including advanced applications, from self-driving cars to smart cities. It also warns that.
