Nigeria’s cyber defence agency is once again warning Android users, and this time the scale of the threat is significant.
The Nigeria Computer Emergency Response Team (ngCERT) has issued an alert on multiple Android malware families currently affecting devices in Nigeria, with millions of users potentially exposed.
The advisory highlights several malware strains, including banking trojans and backdoor variants, capable of stealing sensitive data, enabling financial fraud, and turning infected devices into part of larger botnets.
According to ngCERT, these malware types exploit vulnerabilities in Android systems and often spread through fake apps or compromised downloads disguised as legitimate software.
Once installed, they can trigger a range of activities from stealing login credentials and SMS data to causing device instability and unauthorized access to financial accounts.
The warning is not new in isolation. Android users in Nigeria have repeatedly been targeted by similar campaigns in recent years, especially those involving banking trojans and phishing-based app distribution.
What makes this latest alert more concerning is the scale and diversity of malware involved, suggesting a more coordinated and persistent attack pattern rather than isolated incidents.
ngCERT is urging users to regularly update their devices, avoid downloading apps from unofficial sources, and apply security patches as soon as they are released.
The broader issue remains the same: Android’s popularity in Nigeria makes it a prime target, and attackers are constantly evolving their methods to match user behaviour.
