Cyber-security experts have raised concerns over the growing vulnerability of broadcasters and content creators to cyber criminals, urging stronger digital protection measures across media platforms.
Speaking at the 2025 Africast held in Lagos, Southwest Nigeria, one of the experts, Olumide Awotifa, explained that many media houses and content creators rely heavily on technological devices to produce and disseminate content, making them prime targets for cyberattacks such as ransomware.
“If a system is attacked with ransomware, all the data and intellectual property stored on the device become inaccessible,” Awotifa said.
Ransomware is a form of malicious software that encrypts a victim’s files, preventing access until a ransom, often paid in cryptocurrency—is made to the attacker in exchange for a decryption key.
Awotifa further identified ‘account takeover’ as another major cyber threat facing media practitioners.
According to him, “online platforms used for streaming and other media engagements are frequently compromised, resulting in loss of revenue, data, and credibility.”
“We’ve seen several cases of account takeovers where not just emails but entire media accounts are hijacked. Many organizations are vulnerable because, in their pursuit of monetization, they expose their data to potential breaches,” he added.
Another cyber-security specialist, Collins Oluwa, noted that many individuals and organisations still underestimate the importance of cyber protection, often considering it as an afterthought—sometimes when it is already too late.
Oluwa advised content creators and media establishments to strengthen their passwords and adopt multi-layered security systems.
“Your password should be at least 10 characters long and include uppercase, lowercase letters, and numbers. A password shorter than ten characters can be hacked in minutes, while one that meets this criterion could take up to 34,000 weeks to crack,” he explained.
Oluwa, however, cautioned that no password is entirely immune to hacking. Therefore, he urged all users to enable two-factor authentication (2FA) for added protection.
“Two-step verification remains one of the most effective ways to safeguard online accounts and prevent unauthorized access,” Oluwa stressed.
