An expert in internet security, Mr Adamu Musa, on Thursday, October 9, said online scams have evolved into sophisticated threats, affecting everyone from ordinary users to seasoned IT professionals and even online security experts have encountered email threats.
Musa, who teaches Cyber security at an Abuja based science and tech hub, X Hub, revealed that most private and public businesses had been hit by ransomware Nigeria.
Musa believed that employee carelessness is a major risk, with scammers using advanced techniques like domain spoofing and even AI tools like ChatGPT to craft convincing deceptions.
“To protect yourself, a healthy dose of skepticism is essential, especially with unsolicited emails,’’ he said.
He urged internet users to be on the lookout for red flags such as suspicious email addresses, incorrect domain names, or unusual requests for personal information.
“Clicking on malicious links can lead to malware infections, so it’s best to scrutinise all communications carefully.
“Even high-profile individuals, public figures and politicians can fall victim to clever impersonation and fraud schemes, proving that no one is immune,’’ he said.
He noted that the most effective shield against these scams remained two-factor authentication (2FA) for every online account.
He said two-factor authentication is a critical security measure that requires a user to provide two different forms of identification before gaining access to an online account.
“This extra step is essential in combating cyber-crime, particularly in environments with high prevalence of phishing and data breaches.
“It adds a crucial second layer of defense beyond just a password, it verifies a user’s identity by using something a user both knows and has (like a password and a mobile phone or a physical token),’’ he said.
He urged internet users to secure their digital accounts against unauthorised access by enabling 2FA through the settings menu of their digital accounts.
“After activating this feature, any attempt to log in to your account from an unrecognised device or location will require, not only your password but also a verification code.
“This code is typically sent to your mobile phone via SMS or is generated by an authenticator app.
He said in the Nigerian context, where cybercrime and online scams are significant challenges, the adoption of 2FA is increasingly vital.
“Many Nigerian banks and financial service providers have already integrated forms of 2FA, often using a one-time password (OTP) sent via SMS to a customer’s registered phone number.
“This simple yet powerful security measure adds an extra layer of protection by requiring a verification code, typically sent to your mobile phone, in addition to your password.
“Enabling 2FA on all your accounts from email and social media to banking platforms makes it significantly more difficult for hackers to gain unauthorised access, even if they managed to steal your password,’’ he said.
