Nigeria Grapples with 23 Million Email Account Breaches Since 2004: Report Highlights Cybersecurity Vulnerabilities
A recent report highlights the significant cybersecurity challenges facing Nigeria, revealing that the nation has experienced a staggering 23 million email account breaches since 2004. This data, compiled by Surfshark, a European VPN service, places Nigeria in 55th position globally in terms of email account breaches. The report, released in July 2025, paints a concerning picture of the vulnerability of digital infrastructure and the prevalence of cyberattacks targeting email accounts over the past three decades, specifically impacting the African technology space.
Understanding the Scope of the Breaches in Nigeria
The Surfshark report indicates that the 23 million email account breaches represent 0.1% of the 23 billion global breaches recorded during the same period. Furthermore, the report indicates that aside from email breaches, approximately 73 million other personal records of Nigerians were also compromised between 2004 and the second quarter of 2025. Some of the major breaches affecting Nigerian users involved the Addka data leak, impacting over 2.5 million accounts, the Wattpad e-book platform affecting more than 1.5 million accounts, and the 1win betting platform, which compromised the data of nearly 620,000 accounts. The report underscores the urgency for improved cybersecurity measures in Nigeria, a nation increasingly reliant on digital technologies.
In conclusion, the data underscores the urgent need for increased awareness and improved security protocols among individuals and organizations in Nigeria. The continued rise in cyberattacks, especially in the burgeoning African tech ecosystem, highlights the importance of proactive measures to protect digital identities and sensitive information.
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