Date: May 10, 2025
By: ASTRO TV Digital Team
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In a concerning yet revealing cybersecurity update, Nigeria recorded 119,000 data breaches in the first quarter of 2025, ranking 34th globally, according to a report released by cybersecurity firm Surfshark.
Although this number appears high, it actually represents a significant 85% drop from the 786,000 breaches recorded in the last quarter of 2024. Experts view this reduction as a step forward in strengthening the country’s digital security infrastructure.
Cumulative Cyber Exposure
Despite the quarterly improvement, Nigeria’s long-term vulnerability remains troubling. Since 2004, the country has suffered a total of 23.2 million compromised accounts, involving over 7.3 million unique email addresses and 13 million leaked passwords.
Surfshark warned that 56% of affected users are at high risk of identity theft, unauthorized account access, and cyber fraud, highlighting the urgent need for proactive cybersecurity policies.
Global Data Breach Landscape
On the global scale, the United States topped the chart with 16.9 million breaches in Q1 2025, followed by Russia (4.4 million), India (4.2 million), Germany (3.9 million), and Spain (2.4 million). Nigeria’s ranking at 34th shows it remains vulnerable but not among the most targeted nations.
Expert Insights and Recommendations
Surfshark’s Research Lead, Luís Costa, stressed that despite the global dip in breaches, the risk is far from over:
> “Cyberthreats continue to evolve. While Q1 saw fewer breaches worldwide, people should not let their guard down. Strong, proactive security practices remain essential.”
Cybersecurity experts are urging Nigerians to strengthen their digital safety through regular password changes, two-factor authentication, and avoiding the reuse of login credentials across multiple platforms.
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ASTRO TV encourages businesses, institutions, and individuals to take these warnings seriously and invest in secure technologies and awareness campaigns to curb data breaches and digital theft.
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