Smartphones have become the primary tool for accessing the internet and conducting financial transactions across Africa, according to a new survey from KnowBe4. They polled 800 adults in employment across seven countries: Morocco, South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana, Egypt, Kenya, and Botswana. These were a few of the key takeaways from their report.
Overwhelming Smartphone Usage for Work and Personal Life
The survey revealed that an overwhelming majority, 97%, of respondents use smartphones, dwarfing the usage of other devices like laptops (74%), smart TVs (47%), tablets (31%), and gaming consoles (17%). Feature phones were only used by 8% of those surveyed.
WhatsApp is the top application for work; it is used by 93% of respondents. This represents an increase of 4% since 2023. It is also the most-used app in private life; 97% of respondents use WhatsApp for communication with friends and family.
Mobile Financial Services on the Rise
The use of mobile phones for financial services is substantial and growing in Africa. Almost half of the survey respondents, 49%, utilize both mobile payments and mobile banking. An additional 36% use mobile banking exclusively, whilst 10% use mobile payments only. In total, 95% of respondents use some form of mobile financial service. This represents a significant increase from 2023, when only 63% used mobile financial services.
Kenya stands out, with 28% of respondents using apps for mobile payments. This is significantly higher app usage than the continental average of 10%. South Africa and Morocco also have above-average rates for adopting mobile banking.
However, an increased reliance on mobile financial transactions comes with heightened risks. In Kenya, for example, mobile application threats surged by 333% in the three months leading up to September 2024 compared to the same period the previous year. Cybercriminals are primarily targeting sensitive user data, including login credentials and financial details.
Increased Cyberattack Surface and Vulnerabilities
The dominance of mobile devices, particularly smartphones, in internet access and financial activities has expanded the attack surface for cybercriminals. Users are often less vigilant on smartphones and tablets compared to traditional computers, making them more susceptible to malicious attacks. The report also points out that the increasing number of financial transactions conducted on potentially unsecured and secondhand mobile devices further elevates the risk and impact of cybercrime.
One concerning trend involves handset theft. In South Africa, an average of 189 cellphones are stolen daily, disproportionately affecting women. Unlocked stolen devices provide criminals with direct access to sensitive information, including banking applications and personal data.
The KnowBe4 African Cybersecurity & Awareness Report is available from here.
