Africa’s telecom giant, MTN Group, has been rocked by a cyberattack that exposed the personal information of customers in several markets, including Nigeria.
The breach, discovered in April, saw an unidentified third party infiltrate parts of MTN’s systems, sparking widespread concern among its 295-million subscribers across 17 African countries.
MTN swiftly activated its cybersecurity protocols, containing the breach with expert assistance.
The company insists that its core infrastructure network, billing systems, and mobile money platforms remain secure, with no evidence of compromised customer accounts or wallets.
Law enforcement, including law enforcement agents, has been informed, and forensic investigations are in progress.
Affected customers are being contacted as required by laws like South Africa’s Protection of Personal Information Act.
While MTN has not disclosed the full extent of the breach, including the number of affected customers or specific markets beyond Nigeria, the incident has raised alarms.
This comes after an attack by hacktivist group Anonymous Sudan in February 2024, which targeted MTN with politically driven DDoS attacks.
Expert warns of escalating risks
Though no connection has been confirmed, the recurrence underscores the growing cyber threats facing African telecoms.
Cybercrime expert Dr Naledi Mkhize, a Johannesburg-based cybersecurity consultant, warned of the escalating risks.
“Telecoms like MTN are goldmines for hackers due to the sensitive data they hold. This breach highlights the urgent need for robust defences against sophisticated attacks like phishing, malware, and insider threats,” she said.
“Customers must stay proactive to protect themselves.”
MTN Nigeria’s CEO, Karl Toriola, assured that operations in Nigeria remain unaffected.
Meanwhile, MTN is urging all customers to take immediate precautions: change passwords to strong, unique ones, enable two-factor authentication, avoid suspicious links, and never share PINs or OTPs.
The company also recommends placing fraud alerts on credit reports and keeping devices updated.
As Africa’s digital landscape expands, experts warn that cyber-attacks on telecoms will intensify.
