• Benin report: Cyberattacks target finance, public sectors most
• 75% of breaches tied to poor security, outdated systems
• Despite risks, Benin scores high in global cybersecurity index

A report from Benin's Information Systems and Digital Agency (ASIN) shows that cybersecurity incidents in the country primarily target the public and financial services sectors. The "Rapport de vulnérabilités et d’incidents (Vulnerabilities and Incidents Report)," released at the recent Cyber Africa Forum (June 24-25, 2025), highlights these trends.

Between 2021 and 2024, more than 75% of incidents involving password leaks and data breaches affected these two sectors, with 406 cases in finance and 226 in public services. These sectors were also the most frequently hit by malware infections.

According to the ASIN, these infections "underscore the absence of a policy for filtering and controlling devices, centralized antivirus updates, and network isolation to limit propagation." Public and financial services also topped the list for website hacking incidents, which involve taking partial or total control of institutional sites, often for defacement or injecting malicious scripts.

The underlying causes of these cyber incidents include configuration flaws, lack of security patches, poor access management, and insufficient staff awareness. The ASIN added that "the majority of serious incidents like data leaks, website hacking, and malware infections originate from largely avoidable technical and organizational failures."

Despite these challenges, Benin is considered a leader in cybersecurity in Africa. The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) gave the country a score of 91.54 out of 100 on its 2024 Global Cybersecurity Index, placing it in Tier 2. The ITU notes that countries in this category have demonstrated a strong commitment to cybersecurity through coordinated, government-led actions.

Initially written in French by Adoni Conrad Quenum

Adapted in English by Mouka Mezonlin