Morocco confronted 21 million cyberattack attempts during the first half of 2025,revealing critical vulnerabilities as the nation navigates emerging Web3 and artificial intelligence threats,according to converging reports from cybersecurity firms Kaspersky and Hacken.
Kaspersky’s findings,presented at the KNext Rabat 2025 conference,identified 15 million local network attacks exploiting internal systems,removable media,and shared folders – exposing persistent weaknesses in enterprise perimeter security. An additional six million internet-based threats targeted Moroccan systems through software vulnerabilities,phishing campaigns,and ransomware attacks increasingly demanding cryptocurrency payments,directly linking traditional cybercrime to Web3 mechanisms.
The threat landscape intensified with 390,000 credential theft attempts through specialized malware and 8,000 backdoor intrusions capable of compromising digital wallets and cryptocurrency assets. Banking,industrial,and telecommunications sectors bore the brunt of these sophisticated attacks,highlighting sectoral vulnerabilities requiring immediate attention.
Globally,Hacken’s semi-annual report documented $3.1 billion in Web3-related losses during early 2025,surpassing total 2024 figures. Access control failures accounted for 59 percent of losses,while social engineering scams extracted $600 million through increasingly sophisticated manipulation tactics. Though Morocco avoided mega-breaches like Bybit’s $1.46 billion loss,the nation’s growing adoption of digital financial services creates comparable exposure risks.
Artificial intelligence emerged as an amplifying factor,with AI-related exploits surging 1,025 percent since 2023. Attackers target unsecured APIs,misconfigured autonomous agents,and machine learning frameworks – concerning developments as Moroccan startups increasingly deploy generative AI solutions.
Morocco’s response includes developing comprehensive cryptocurrency regulations balancing innovation with anti-money laundering requirements. However,the convergence of traditional cyber threats with Web3 vulnerabilities demands accelerated investment in advanced defense systems,specialized training programs,and regulatory frameworks addressing the intersection of conventional and decentralized finance security challenges.
United News - unews.co.za