Understanding the DDoS Attack Landscape in Southern Africa: Insights from the NETSCOUT Threat Intelligence Report
The recently released NETSCOUT Threat Intelligence Report for July to December 2024 paints a vivid picture of the evolving distributed denial of service (DDoS) attack landscape across southern Africa. This report highlights the complexities and contrasts in attack patterns, revealing that while South Africa, Mauritius, and Angola faced the brunt of these cyber threats, countries like Zambia, Eswatini, and Zimbabwe experienced lower attack volumes but increasingly sophisticated threats.
South Africa: The Epicenter of DDoS Attacks
South Africa continues to be the most targeted nation in southern Africa, recording a staggering 130,931 DDoS attacks in the latter half of 2024. Although this figure represents a significant decline from over 230,000 incidents in the first half of the year, the scale of the attacks remains alarming. The largest attack peaked at an impressive 210.65 Gbps and 20.38 Mpps, employing a maximum of 23 attack vectors in a single incident. The most common vectors included TCP ACK, DNS Amplification, and TCP SYN/ACK amplification.
The sectors most affected by these attacks reflect South Africa’s digital maturity and its pivotal role in Africa’s online ecosystem. Industries such as computer-related services, insurance, and computing infrastructure were among the top targets. Notably, telecommunications providers and commercial banking organizations also ranked high on the list of attacked sectors, underscoring the critical need for robust cybersecurity measures.
Mauritius: A Rising Target
Mauritius has emerged as a significant hotspot for DDoS attacks, with incidents jumping by 37% to over 41,800 attacks in the latter half of 2024, compared to 30,446 in the first half. The wireless telecommunications sector was particularly hard-hit, accounting for nearly 40,000 of these incidents. The peak throughput reached 35 Mpps, with bandwidth hitting 224 Gbps, highlighting the vulnerabilities associated with the nation’s expanding digital infrastructure.
Namibia: A Mixed Bag of Attacks
Despite its smaller population, Namibia reported 45,283 DDoS attacks, placing it among the top five countries in the region. However, this figure marks a notable decrease from the 76,337 attacks recorded in the first half of 2024. The most prevalent attack vector was DNS amplification, followed by TCP ACK and TCP SYN/ACK amplification. Interestingly, the restaurant sector emerged as the most targeted industry, alongside computer services and telecommunications.
Angola: Facing Growing Challenges
Angola experienced a significant increase in DDoS attacks, with 19,046 incidents reported in the latter half of 2024, up from 14,281 in the first half. The attacks were characterized by a diverse range of vectors, with DNS amplification being the most common. The largest recorded attack reached 85.94 Gbps, lasting an average of 76.13 minutes, primarily affecting wired telecommunications and computing infrastructure providers.
Botswana and Eswatini: Targeted Attacks
Botswana recorded 981 attacks, predominantly affecting wireless telecommunications organizations. The maximum bandwidth reached 2.49 Gbps, with TCP SYN/ACK amplification being the dominant vector. In contrast, Eswatini saw a significant increase in attacks, rising from 209 to 619 incidents, with a focus on the real estate sector. The average attack duration was notably shorter than in other countries, averaging just 7.3 minutes.
Zimbabwe and Mozambique: High-Impact Incidents
Zimbabwe experienced 476 DDoS attacks, with the largest attack reaching a bandwidth of 1.07 Gbps. Telecommunications were the primary target, followed by supermarkets and grocery retailers. Mozambique, on the other hand, reported a total of 425 attacks, primarily of the TCP ACK and TCP SYN/ACK amplification variety, marking a significant decrease from the 3,145 incidents in the first half of the year.
Zambia: A Decline in Incidents
Zambia recorded the lowest number of DDoS events in the region, with only 153 attacks, down from 428 in the first half of 2024. Although the volume was low, the attacks were technically diverse, employing up to eight vectors in a single incident, primarily targeting the computer services sector.
Shared Vectors and Regional Trends
The NETSCOUT report underscores a rapidly evolving DDoS threat landscape across southern Africa. Bryan Hamman, regional director for Africa at NETSCOUT, notes that TCP ACK, DNS amplification, TCP SYN/ACK amplification, and ICMP remain the most commonly used attack vectors. The trend toward multivector attacks indicates a shift toward more sophisticated methods designed to bypass standard mitigation measures.
As digital ecosystems across southern Africa expand, so too does the attack surface. Organizations must remain vigilant, investing in proactive threat intelligence and robust, multi-layered cybersecurity strategies to stay ahead of the threat actors targeting the region. The findings of this report serve as a crucial reminder of the importance of cybersecurity in an increasingly interconnected world.