In a compelling call to action, cybersecurity governance specialist Egonna Bristol has urged the Nigerian public to fundamentally change its attitude towards online safety, stating that the persistent belief that cybersecurity is someone else's responsibility is a primary cause of ongoing breaches.
The Human Factor: The Weakest Link in Cybersecurity
Bristol, in a recent commentary, argued that the most vulnerable point in the digital security chain is often not a flaw in software, but the individual using the device. She described a common, yet dangerous, cycle in public reaction to cyber incidents: a brief moment of shock, followed by a quick password change, and then a swift return to normal online habits.
"Cybersecurity has become background noise," she stated, emphasizing that this complacent mindset fails to recognize that almost anyone with data, money, or some level of influence is a potential target for cybercriminals.
Convenience Over Caution: A Dangerous Trade-off
Recalling a training session with small business owners in Lagos, Bristol noted that many still operate under the false assumption that they are too insignificant to attract the attention of attackers. She firmly argued that the cybersecurity problem is as much behavioural as it is technical.
"People prize convenience," she explained. They click 'accept all cookies,' store card details on shopping apps, and overshare personal milestones on social media. Each of these digital shortcuts feels harmless in isolation, but together they create a significant vulnerability.
Bristol pointed out that in the relentless pursuit of speed and convenience, many people have effectively outsourced their personal safety to complex systems they barely understand. She stressed that even the most advanced and expensive firewall cannot protect an individual who treats every urgent email as genuine.
A Global Challenge with Local Implications
While using Nigeria as a context, Bristol clarified that this challenge is not unique to the country but is a global issue. She identified tactics like fake investment applications, phishing text messages, and social media impersonation as threats that easily cross international borders.
According to her analysis, the common thread linking these diverse cyber threats is not the sophistication of the code used by attackers, but the psychology of the potential victims. Understanding and addressing this human element is now more critical than ever for national and personal cybersecurity.
