Technology
Egypt Launches Cybersecurity Roadmap to Protect 98 Million Internet Users
New government initiatives and public-private partnerships focus on protecting 98 million internet users as digital threats continue to rise.
How we reported this
Egypt is shifting its national focus toward long-term digital protection, building on its recent global standing as a leader in cyber strategy. According to the International Telecommunication Union’s Cybersecurity GCI index, Egypt holds the 23rd global position with a score of 95.45. This ranking reflects the success of established national bodies like EG-CERT, which continue to focus on the protection of critical data and infrastructure.
Building a Digital Awareness Foundation
The core of this roadmap centers on the March 2026 launch of the Wa3i.net digital awareness platform. Operating under the national 'Digital Citizenship and Online Protection' initiative, the platform aims to strengthen cybersecurity awareness among Egypt’s 98 million internet users, who represent 72.2% of the population, according to source data. By centralizing educational resources, the government intends to provide a uniform standard for digital safety across the country.
The push for awareness extends into the classroom and beyond. The National Telecommunication Institute (NTI) has launched the second edition of the Cybersecurity Academy for Juniors and Youth. This free program is designed to train 5,000 participants-ranging from school children to recent graduates-across Greater Cairo and nine other governorates. Practical workshops are already underway; for example, Kaspersky recently partnered with the Information Technology Institute at the Knowledge City branch to hold a 'Family Cyberday.' More than 30 families attended the event, which provided hands-on training for phishing recognition, data protection, and safe gaming practices.
The Threat Landscape and Future Steps
These initiatives are a response to the growing vulnerability of the digital ecosystem. Kaspersky reported that 27.4% of Egyptian internet users encountered online threats in 2024. Furthermore, the region covering the Middle East, Turkey, and Africa saw a 44% rise in phishing and social engineering attacks during that same period. Data suggests that as internet adoption grows, so does the sophistication of malicious actors targeting both individual users and the business sector.
Looking ahead, the roadmap for digital protection remains tied to institutional training and platform development. Beyond these centralized government efforts, entities like the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) continue to offer free distance learning in cybersecurity essentials through collaborations with firms like Cisco. For residents and students, the path forward involves utilizing these existing resources-such as the digital literacy programs at the Egyptian National Library or the coding and security workshops provided by public centers-to build individual resilience against the risks posed by an increasingly connected world.