S2W Collaborates with INTERPOL on Africa Cyber Threat Assessment Report
In a significant move toward enhancing cyber safety in Africa, S2W, a South Korean company specializing in dark web big data analytics, has joined forces with INTERPOL to contribute to the 'African Cyberthreat Assessment Report 2026.' This report, published by the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) with support from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO), assesses the evolving landscape of cybercrime across the African continent. S2W's role involved providing crucial data and intelligence necessary for analyzing cyber crime trends in Africa, shining a light on an increasingly urgent issue.
The collaboration leverages data from law enforcement agencies of 36 African nations that are members of INTERPOL, combined with telemetry and threat intelligence data from global entities such as Mastercard, Fortinet, Shadowserver Foundation, and TrendAI. This multi-source analysis reveals a staggering increase in cybercrime reports in Africa, with damages surging from $192 million in 2024 to $484 million in 2025. Furthermore, the number of identified victims has escalated from 35,000 to 87,000 in the same period, indicating that the cyber threat is gaining ground rapidly.
A standout finding of the report indicates that 55% of the reported cyber crimes in Africa in 2025 involved some form of AI. Cybercriminals are increasingly utilizing AI to automate phishing campaigns, create synthetic identities for financial fraud, and employ deepfake technology for impersonation. These advancements not only amplify the scale and complexity of attacks but also significantly boost the efficiency of cybercrime operations.
S2W, as the sole Korean partner in INTERPOL's 'Gateway Initiative,' utilized AI-based big data collection and analysis technologies to identify and categorize Africa-originated content on various dark web forums. Their findings were alarming, showing a 62% year-on-year increase in such content, which included sensitive materials like identification documents, PINs for SIM cards, bank authentication details, and information on mobile financial accounts. Many of these leaks stemmed from past incidents of data breaches, phishing schemes, or compromised mobile applications.
The implications of cyber threats in Africa extend beyond the continent, with criminal networks operating transnationally. The report positions West Africa as a pivotal connector within both African and global crime ecosystems. Furthermore, the South Korean National Intelligence Service reported instances of Nigerian-based international drug organizations using romance scams to recruit South Koreans as drug couriers, illustrating the dangerous intersections of cybercrime and other illicit activities.
This troubling context emphasizes the urgent need for enhanced cooperation between nations. As online scams increasingly intermingle with drug trafficking and other crimes, the importance of sharing information across borders, as well as leveraging private sector data and technologies, becomes even more critical in identifying and dismantling criminal infrastructures.
Neal Jetton, head of INTERPOL's Cybercrime Division, stressed the severity of the emerging threat: "Cybercrime has emerged as one of the most significant criminal threats in this region. AI automates every stage of cyber attacks, from reconnaissance and phishing to extortion and evasion. Yet, through international cooperation, we can identify and neutralize these criminal infrastructures."
S2W's CEO, So Sanduk, reiterated their commitment to providing high-quality intelligence that addresses the realities of cybercrime in developing countries, which often lack the infrastructure to counter these threats effectively. S2W’s approach focuses on offering actionable insights that law enforcement agencies can utilize to fill security gaps. Looking ahead, the company aims to enhance its AI-driven global data collection and analysis capabilities, swiftly identifying signs of security threats worldwide and supporting responses to transnational crime.
Company Overview
Since its establishment in September 2018, S2W has been recognized as a promising technology pioneer by the World Economic Forum in 2023. Since being selected as a partner of INTERPOL in 2020, S2W has engaged in investigative cooperation to strengthen global security. Starting July 2024, the company began providing data to Microsoft's 'Security Copilot,' continuing technical collaboration with various institutions and organizations. In October 2025, S2W was selected as the twelfth global partner in the public-private collaboration program led by INTERPOL, marking a significant milestone as the first partner from South Korea.
Product Information:
Japan Branch
The collaboration leverages data from law enforcement agencies of 36 African nations that are members of INTERPOL, combined with telemetry and threat intelligence data from global entities such as Mastercard, Fortinet, Shadowserver Foundation, and TrendAI. This multi-source analysis reveals a staggering increase in cybercrime reports in Africa, with damages surging from $192 million in 2024 to $484 million in 2025. Furthermore, the number of identified victims has escalated from 35,000 to 87,000 in the same period, indicating that the cyber threat is gaining ground rapidly.
A standout finding of the report indicates that 55% of the reported cyber crimes in Africa in 2025 involved some form of AI. Cybercriminals are increasingly utilizing AI to automate phishing campaigns, create synthetic identities for financial fraud, and employ deepfake technology for impersonation. These advancements not only amplify the scale and complexity of attacks but also significantly boost the efficiency of cybercrime operations.
S2W, as the sole Korean partner in INTERPOL's 'Gateway Initiative,' utilized AI-based big data collection and analysis technologies to identify and categorize Africa-originated content on various dark web forums. Their findings were alarming, showing a 62% year-on-year increase in such content, which included sensitive materials like identification documents, PINs for SIM cards, bank authentication details, and information on mobile financial accounts. Many of these leaks stemmed from past incidents of data breaches, phishing schemes, or compromised mobile applications.
The implications of cyber threats in Africa extend beyond the continent, with criminal networks operating transnationally. The report positions West Africa as a pivotal connector within both African and global crime ecosystems. Furthermore, the South Korean National Intelligence Service reported instances of Nigerian-based international drug organizations using romance scams to recruit South Koreans as drug couriers, illustrating the dangerous intersections of cybercrime and other illicit activities.
This troubling context emphasizes the urgent need for enhanced cooperation between nations. As online scams increasingly intermingle with drug trafficking and other crimes, the importance of sharing information across borders, as well as leveraging private sector data and technologies, becomes even more critical in identifying and dismantling criminal infrastructures.
Neal Jetton, head of INTERPOL's Cybercrime Division, stressed the severity of the emerging threat: "Cybercrime has emerged as one of the most significant criminal threats in this region. AI automates every stage of cyber attacks, from reconnaissance and phishing to extortion and evasion. Yet, through international cooperation, we can identify and neutralize these criminal infrastructures."
S2W's CEO, So Sanduk, reiterated their commitment to providing high-quality intelligence that addresses the realities of cybercrime in developing countries, which often lack the infrastructure to counter these threats effectively. S2W’s approach focuses on offering actionable insights that law enforcement agencies can utilize to fill security gaps. Looking ahead, the company aims to enhance its AI-driven global data collection and analysis capabilities, swiftly identifying signs of security threats worldwide and supporting responses to transnational crime.
Company Overview
- - Name: S2W
- - CEO: So Sanduk
- - Established: September 2018
- - Official Website: S2W
Since its establishment in September 2018, S2W has been recognized as a promising technology pioneer by the World Economic Forum in 2023. Since being selected as a partner of INTERPOL in 2020, S2W has engaged in investigative cooperation to strengthen global security. Starting July 2024, the company began providing data to Microsoft's 'Security Copilot,' continuing technical collaboration with various institutions and organizations. In October 2025, S2W was selected as the twelfth global partner in the public-private collaboration program led by INTERPOL, marking a significant milestone as the first partner from South Korea.
Product Information:
- - XARVIS: Big data solution for cybercrime investigations for public sector and government agencies.
- - QUAXAR: Cyber threat intelligence solution for private enterprises.
- - SAIP: Industrial generative AI solution.
Japan Branch
- - Name: S2W Corporation
- - Location: 2-1-6 Uchihonmachi, Minato-ku, Tokyo, WeWork Hibiya Park Front
- - CEO: Hirata Miyoshi
- - Main Business Activities: Provision of S2W solutions in the Japanese market, implementation support, operational support, and related consulting.
Topics General Business）
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