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Articles

Why Cybersecurity in the Global South Can No Longer Be Ignored

July 15, 2025
A vishing attack on Qantas highlighted the growing threat of social engineering, even in digitally mature nations. This article examines why developing countries face even greater risks amid rapid digital transformation and how human-centric cybersecurity strategies are crucial to establishing digital trust in the Global South.

What happens when a single phone call disrupts an entire airline's customer trust? The recent Qantas breach wasn’t some exotic zero-day exploit. It was a human failing, a voice phishing (vishing) attack that unraveled layers of tech protection with nothing more than carefully chosen words.

If a digitally mature country like Australia can fall prey to such tactics, what does this mean for developing nations rushing headlong into digital transformation? Welcome to the cybersecurity paradox of the Global South, where digital innovation races ahead while human-centric security lags dangerously behind.

This isn’t just a tech problem. It’s a human challenge. One that requires new strategies, local resilience, and collective awareness. And the time to act? Now.

The Digital Transformation Tipping Point

Digital Progress, Real-World Impact

Across Africa, Southeast Asia, and Latin America, digital technologies are accelerating socio-economic transformation:

  • Mobile banking continues to reach unbanked populations. In Sub-Saharan Africa alone, mobile broadband connections surpassed 500 million by 2023, enabling rapid financial inclusion.
  • E‑governance is streamlining bureaucracy and boosting transparency. In early 2025, Sri Lanka launched GovPay, a national digital payment system for public services, with plans to scale it across dozens of government agencies.
  • Smart agriculture powered by IoT and AI is helping farmers monitor soil, weather, and yields more effectively—particularly in Asia and parts of Africa.

These systems are no longer just convenient, they’ve become critical infrastructure.

But with progress comes risk. According to a June 2025 INTERPOL report, two-thirds of African countries now rank cybercrime, including phishing, ransomware, BEC fraud, and sextortion, as one of their top three criminal threats. Attacks on public infrastructure have increased, with incidents like the breach of Nigeria’s public service database and cyberattacks targeting government platforms in Kenya.

Growth Breeds Vulnerability

Every new digital touchpoint becomes a potential entry point for cyber threats. And unlike physical infrastructure, cybersecurity isn’t immediately visible until it fails.

Analogy: Building a smart city without cybersecurity is like constructing skyscrapers without elevators that lock: accessible, efficient… and wide open to theft.

The Triple Bind: Why the Global South Faces Unique Cyber Challenges

1. Insufficient Cybersecurity Infrastructure

Many small businesses and public agencies continue to rely on outdated systems:

  • Unsupported operating systems
  • Free (and often inadequate) antivirus tools
  • Basic or shared password policies

Real-world result (2024): A detailed study published in January 2025 found Nigeria lost nearly $500 million due to ransomware linked to weak cybersecurity, poor password policies, and organizational gaps, highlighting vulnerabilities in both businesses and public agencies.

2. Public Unawareness of Digital Threats

What’s the harm in clicking that SMS link? In many cases, the public isn’t taught to question digital interactions:

  • Identity theft via Facebook messages
  • Fake loan apps stealing banking credentials
  • WhatsApp scams posing as relatives in distress

3. Underfunded Regulatory Ecosystems

Even when laws exist, enforcement is often weak:

  • Cybercrime units lack tools and training
  • International cooperation is limited
  • Data protection laws are vague or outdated

Calculation: According to the World Economic Forum, cybercrime is now the world’s third-largest 'economy', causing roughly $9 trillion in annual damages in 2024—and projected to hit $10.5 trillion by the end of 2025.

The Psychology of Social Engineering: The Breach That Bypasses Code

How a Phone Call Outsmarts Firewalls

The Qantas breach relied on vishing: a fake internal call that tricked an employee into revealing credentials. No malware. No hacking tools. Just trust manipulation.

This is why social engineering remains so effective:

  • Fear: "Your account has been compromised. Act now!"
  • Urgency: "We need this data in the next 5 minutes."
  • Authority: "I'm from the IT department."

Why the Global South Is at Higher Risk

Digital newcomers often:

  • Trust official-looking messages
  • Share devices among family members
  • Lack awareness of threat patterns

Example: In rural Indonesia, a government-issued health app was mimicked by a phishing campaign, compromising patient data across multiple provinces.

Reframing Cybersecurity as a Development Issue

It's Not a Luxury. It's a Foundation.

Cybersecurity is often seen as a "nice to have" rather than a development essential. But here's what’s at stake:

  • Digital identity fraud halts access to services
  • Financial scams bankrupt small businesses
  • Infrastructure breaches compromise public trust

Rhetorical question: Can we truly call a nation "digitally developed" if it can’t defend its own data?

Four Human-Centric Strategies for Resilience

1. Human-Centered Security Education

It’s not about teaching people to use software. It’s about teaching them to question it.

A. Recognizing Phishing Attempts

  • Watch for poor grammar, strange URLs, urgency cues
  • Always verify requests for personal information

B. Understanding Privacy Basics

  • What data apps collect and why it matters
  • How to enable 2FA and manage account permissions

C. Knowing When to Report

  • Create simple, well-publicized reporting pathways
  • Incentivize communities to share suspicious activities

Real-world analogy: Just as communities learn to spot fake bills, they can learn to detect digital scams.

2. Public-Private Cyber Partnerships

Government and business must join forces. Why?

  • Telcos can block known phishing domains
  • Fintechs can implement stronger identity verification
  • Startups can innovate local security tools

3. Regionally-Relevant Cyber Policies

Global copy-paste laws don’t work.

What’s Needed:

  • Data protection tailored to informal economies
  • Language-accessible rights documentation
  • Legal frameworks for reporting and remediation

Provocative point: In many rural communities, WhatsApp isn’t just a chat app, it’s the primary marketplace. For example, a 2024 Meta‑GWI survey found that 55% of small-town consumers in India used WhatsApp during their purchase journey, with over 95% of them being active users, demonstrating how vital messaging apps have become for commerce. A generic GDPR-style policy means little in places where "a village's economy lives in WhatsApp groups." These platforms often lack formal oversight and consumer protection mechanisms, creating friction between legal frameworks and everyday reality.

4. Investing in Cyber Talent Locally

Bootcamps, Scholarships, and Mentorships

  • Train ethical hackers and analysts within the community
  • Reduce brain drain by creating local opportunities

Programs powered by AI-driven orchestration platforms like Brahma Fusion by Peris.ai can reduce response times and streamline triage workflows—even for lean security teams.

Cybersecurity and Sustainable Development: A Link Too Vital to Miss

Trust Fuels Digital Progress

If users don’t trust a platform, they won’t use it. No users means no adoption, which means development stalls.

Breaches Affect More Than Data

A single breach in a mobile agriculture app can:

  • Wipe out crop forecasts
  • Disrupt entire supply chains
  • Leave smallholder farmers in crisis

Cybersecurity is no longer optional, it’s humanitarian.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What Is a Human Firewall?

A human firewall refers to the education, awareness, and behavior of individuals that serve as the first line of defense against cyber threats like phishing, social engineering, and scams.

Why Is the Global South More Vulnerable?

Due to rapid digitization, limited infrastructure, low digital literacy, and lack of funding for cybersecurity initiatives, countries in the Global South face disproportionate risks.

Can Local Governments Afford Cybersecurity?

Yes, especially with scalable and cost-efficient platforms like Brahma Fusion by Peris.ai, which uses automation and AI to reduce costs while increasing incident response capabilities.

How Can Individuals Protect Themselves?

  • Learn to identify suspicious links and messages
  • Use strong, unique passwords with 2FA
  • Report cyber incidents to official channels

What Role Do Private Companies Play?

Private firms have both a responsibility and opportunity to:

  • Secure their platforms
  • Partner with governments on awareness campaigns
  • Innovate solutions tailored for local contexts

Conclusion: Toward a Digitally Safe Future for All

The Global South isn’t waiting for transformation, it’s already here. From digital payments to smart farming, the region is poised to leapfrog traditional development paths. But that leap must land on secure ground.

Cybersecurity is not just a technical discipline. It’s a societal one. It’s a developmental one. And most importantly, it’s a human one.

Let us treat it that way.

Learn how platforms like Brahma Fusion by Peris.ai empower lean security teams in emerging markets to automate triage, scale incident response, and build trust where it matters most.

Want more insights? Visit Peris.ai for real-world cybersecurity solutions built for today’s digital frontline.

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