Cyberthreat Landscape Worsens Across Middle East, Africa and Turkey

Kaspersky’s latest research reveals a significant increase in cyberattacks targeting users across the META region during the first half of 2026. The cybersecurity firm detected millions of attacks from various online sources, highlighting the growing sophistication and diversity of threats.

The surge is attributed to several factors including:

  • Rapid adoption of AI by threat actors
  • Ongoing geopolitical instability
  • Expanding digital economies across the region

Regional Impact

Kaspersky’s detection systems blocked:

  • 5.7 million attacks in South Africa
  • 4.5 million attacks in Kenya
  • 1.6 million attacks in Nigeria

The highest percentage of users affected by web-based threats were in:

  • Turkey (22.8%)
  • Kenya (21.2%)
  • Qatar (19.3%)
  • Nigeria (18.4%)
  • South Africa (17.2%)