A recent survey has revealed that a significant number of Africans are worried about the potential financial losses they could suffer due to cybercrime. This concern is understandable given the increasing reliance on digital transactions and the growing sophistication of cybercriminals.
The survey, conducted by KnowBe4 AFRICA, which polled results from 800 adults aged between 30 to 60 across seven African countries (Morocco, South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana, Egypt, Kenya, and Botswana), found that 58% of respondents were very concerned about cybercrime, while 26% were concerned.
All of the respondents were employed in sectors ranging from financial services, government, and health care to real estate and telecommunications. When asked what concerns them about cybercrime, almost half of the respondents (49%) said they feared falling victim to online fraud and losing money, while 26% feared identity theft.
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18% were concerned for their children and family and 7% said they did not understand how to protect themselves. Comparing the 2024 and 2023 survey results, the most striking finding is that the number of respondents who are very concerned about cybercrime almost doubled from 29% to 58%. Fear of online fraud and losing money remain the top concern, with 49%.
The significant jump in high-level concern about cybercrime has both positive and negative implications such as;
Increased awareness: This dramatic increase suggests that awareness campaigns and possibly personal experiences have significantly raised consciousness about cyber threats. This heightened awareness can potentially lead to more cautious online behavior.
Potential for cybersecurity fatigue: However, such a high level of concern also risks leading to cybersecurity fatigue – a phenomenon where individuals become overwhelmed by constant security warnings and may ignore them.
Focus on financial impact: The persistent focus on financial fraud suggests that economic consequences remain the most tangible and concerning aspect of cybercrime for most individuals. Future awareness campaigns could leverage this to make cybersecurity more relatable and urgent.
Cybercrime Escalates Across Africa
Cybercrime is rapidly escalating across Africa, posing both challenges and opportunities. Threats such as ransomware, digital extortion, and online scams are becoming more prevalent. South Africa alone lost $3 billion to mobile app and digital banking fraud in 2023, according to the SA Banking Risk Information Centre.
Cybercriminals are leveraging advanced tactics, including Al-generated deepfakes to impersonate business leaders, making social engineering attacks more effective than ever.
How Security Conscious Are Africans
To gauge the security consciousness of Africans against falling victim to cybercriminals, the survey revealed that most respondents are hesitant to give away personal information, with 15% saying they tend not to share personal details such as their identity number.
47% say they would share this information only if there was a real need to do so and 24% parting with personal information if they can’t avoid it. Surprisingly, 14% revealed that they are comfortable sharing personal information, with 8% saying they are likely to do so if they can get something in return such as a discount. 6% say they share personal information all the time.
Among respondents very likely to give away their personal information are those living in Egypt (11%), Nigeria (10%) and Kenya (7%). South African respondents were more cautious, with only 4% very willing to give away their personal data, compared to the average of 5.5%.
However, there a positive trend was spotted, when compared to the previous survey. The percentage of respondents very unlikely to give away personal information almost halved from 29% to 14%.
Conclusion
The 2025 survey reveals a nuanced picture of cybersecurity awareness in Africa. Overall, there are positive trends in awareness and corporate training, as well as an increase in the adoption of mobile banking and payments. However, there are also concerning developments, particularly in personal information security and the practical application of cybersecurity knowledge.
While cybersecurity awareness is growing in Africa, there is still a significant need for more comprehensive and effective human risk management and training programs. The high use of mobile devices and applications, particularly for financial transactions, underscores the importance of mobile-centric security education.