Cyber-attacks pose a greater threat than load shedding in South Africa
After two cyber attacks targeting mobile networks, one expert has stated that this issue is becoming a big risk, it potentially exceeds even the impact of challenges like load shedding.
Image: IOL
Following two recent cyber attacks targeting mobile networks, one expert stated that the issue is becoming such a big risk, that it potentially exceeds even the impact of challenges like load shedding.
ESET's recent bi-annual Threat Report stated: 'South Africa is the most targeted country in Africa when it comes to infostealer and ransomware attacks.'
One notable incident involved Cell C, which reported in April that RansomHouse had unlawfully disclosed data after hacking South Africa's fourth-largest mobile operator last November. Although the exact number of compromised individuals is unclear, the operator had 7.7 million subscribers as of February.
Data accessed included: Full names and contact details (email, phone numbers)
ID numbers
Banking details (if stored for billing purposes)
Driver's License Numbers
Medical Records (if supplied for closure of accounts on the death of a family member)
Passport details
At the end of last month, Africa's largest mobile network operator, MTN, announced a significant cybersecurity incident that resulted in unauthorised access to the personal information of customers across several of its markets.
Spiros Fatouros, the CEO of Marsh McLennan, Africa and South Africa, said that 'these events serve as a critical reminder that cybercrime is no longer a peripheral concern but a central business risk, arguably surpassing traditional challenges like load-shedding in its potential impact'.
ESET's bi-annual Threat Report, which collected data between June and November 2024, showed that over 40% of ransomware attacks on the continent occurred in South Africa.
This came as INTERPOL's African Cyberthreat Assessment Report 2022 found that 230 million cyber threats were detected in South Africa in that year. Approximately 219 million, or 95.21% were email-based attacks. At that stage, South Africa was seeing a 100% increase in mobile banking application fraud and is experiencing on average 577 malware attacks every hour.
Fatouros noted that there is an escalating cyber threat landscape that businesses across the globe are having to deal with.
Video Player is loading.
Play Video
Play
Unmute
Current Time
0:00
/
Duration
-:-
Loaded :
0%
Stream Type LIVE
Seek to live, currently behind live
LIVE
Remaining Time
-
0:00
This is a modal window.
Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.
Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque
Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps
Reset
restore all settings to the default values Done
Close Modal Dialog
End of dialog window.
Advertisement
Video Player is loading.
Play Video
Play
Unmute
Current Time
0:00
/
Duration
-:-
Loaded :
0%
Stream Type LIVE
Seek to live, currently behind live
LIVE
Remaining Time
-
0:00
This is a modal window.
Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.
Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque
Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps
Reset
restore all settings to the default values Done
Close Modal Dialog
End of dialog window.
Next
Stay
Close ✕
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
IOL News
3 hours ago
- IOL News
Police arrest suspect in the shocking murder of Ivory Park Taxi Association treasurer
Police have arrested one of the suspects linked to the killing of Ivory Park Taxi Association (IPTA) treasurer, Lefa Matemane, who was shot multiple times in Midrand. Image: File/IOL Police have arrested one of the suspects linked to the killing of the newly elected taxi association treasurer in Midrand, Johannesburg. This follows the murder of the Ivory Park Taxi Association (IPTA) treasurer, Lefa Matemane, who was fatally shot at the Shell filling station on New Road in Midrand, on Wednesday. The shooting occurred in broad daylight, leaving witnesses shocked and devastated. Matemane was declared dead on the scene. The motive behind the murder remains unknown. On Thursday, police announced that one of the suspects linked to Matemane's murder has been arrested. 'SAPS and Midrand Business Watch security officers have arrested one of the shooters linked to the killing of the Ivory Park Taxi Association treasurer, Lefa Matemane. Matemane was shot multiple times at Shell Garage on New Road in Midrand on Wednesday, June 4,' said spokesperson Athlenda Mathe. The association chairman, Vusi Macheke, confirmed that the suspect was arrested on Wednesday. This is not the first incident involving IPTA. In December, three patrollers were gunned down in two different vehicles in Freedom Drive. Matemane was recently elected treasurer during IPTA's annual general meeting (AGM), which took place on May 21, at the Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand. The association had fractured into slates, leading to the AGM with various groupings backing different leaders. Asked if Matemane's shooting could be linked to the factions within the association, Macheke, who was also re-elected as the chairman unopposed, declined to comment. However, during his speech following his re-election, he admitted there were divisions, saying the association made a decision to expand its leadership team to include everyone. Macheke said the new leadership needed to steer the association forward and ensure there is unity. Asked how the situation should be dealt with, the South African National Taxi Council (Santaco) spokesperson, Rebecca Phala, said the organisation would not comment on an ongoing police investigation.
The South African
4 hours ago
- The South African
South Africans detained in Zimbabwe for illegal entry face deportation
Zimbabwean authorities have detained several South African nationals in Harare Remand Prison for breaching immigration laws and are holding them pending deportation. While many South Africans are pending deportation, the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC) says three South African men face trial in Zimbabwe on charges of conspiracy to commit armed robbery. Meanwhile, the ZHRC reports that a Zimbabwean court has convicted a South African woman of dealing in dangerous drugs and sentenced her to 10 years in jail. ZHRC Chairperson Jessie Majome told IOL that officials have confirmed six men at Harare Remand Prison as South African nationals. She said they are now ready for deportation following verification by South Africa's High Commission. However, she said the South African diplomatic mission told Zimbabwean authorities that the elderly seventh man is not a South African citizen. As a result, officials will not deport him. Majome said she visited the prison and found 66 foreign nationals held in the men's section. 'It is an issue of concern to the Commission because it involves a special category of people who should not be in prison,' she said. She stressed that authorities should not treat people arrested for irregular immigration like suspects awaiting trial, even though the offence is illegal. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
IOL News
5 hours ago
- IOL News
South African citizens languish in Harare prisons, convicted for drug dealing, or awaiting deportation
The Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission says during a recent tour of the Harare Remand Prison, it came across scores of South African citizens awaiting deportation, while others are on trial, while one South African woman was sentenced for dealing in drugs. Image: File/Tawanda Mudimu/The Herald The Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission has told IOL that scores of South African nationals are languishing in Zimbabwe's Harare Remand Prison, awaiting deportation, after they were arrested for breaching the neighbouring country's immigration laws. Another group of three South African men are not facing deportation, but will face trial in Zimbabwe's courts after they were charged for conspiracy to commit armed robbery. On the other hand, the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission has established that a South African woman has been convicted for dealing in dangerous drugs in Zimbabwe, and has sentenced to 10 years in jail. In an interview, chairperson of the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission, Jessie Majome told IOL that by Thursday, she had established that there are six men, who have been certified to be South African nationals in conjunction with South Africa's High Commission in Zimbabwe, who are ready for deportation from the Harare Remand Prison. She said a seventh man in the group will not be deported to South Africa, as the diplomatic mission has informed Zimbabwe's authorities that the elderly man is not a South African citizen. 'I had gone to the prison to visit a certain group of people who had been in custody for too long. I then noticed that there were 66 foreign nationals in the Harare Remand Prison for men. It is an issue that is of interest to the Commission because it involves a special category of people who should not be in prison; even though irregular immigration is against the law, they should not be treated like individuals awaiting trial," she said. Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad Loading Majome said Zimbabwe does not have independent holding facilities for people arrested for violating the country's immigration laws, and verifications happen while the people are detained in prison. At the time of the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission's visit in April, it was established that there were about seven South African men, but Majome said the number has now risen because other South African nationals were found in the women's section of Harare Remand Prison. Chairperson of the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission, Jessie Majome spoke to IOL on the plight of South Africans detained in Zimbabwe. Image: Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission In its April report, the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission stated that detained foreign nationals at the Harare Remand Prison comprised 16 people from Burundi; 12 from Ethiopia; 11 from Democratic Republic of Congo; two from Rwanda; two from Uganda; eight from Malawi; one from Libya; one from Mozambique; one from the People's Republic of China; seven from South Africa; one from Pakistan; one from Taiwan; one from France; one from Britain and one from Cape Verde. During the interview with IOL on Thursday, Majome said her organisation has since established that there are three South Africans in the women's section of the Harare Remand Prison. 'There are three South African nationals, who are women in the Harare Remand Prison, it is a separate prison. Two of those women are awaiting deportation back to South Africa. 'Three of the detained South African men are facing charges of conspiracy to commit armed robbery. Those ones are not awaiting deportation, but they are going to appear before the Harare Magistrate's Court in June. 'So it is seven South African men awaiting deportation, and two women. The third South African woman has been convicted of dealing in dangerous drugs and has been sentenced to 10 years in prison in Zimbabwe,' she said. The human rights activist and attorney told IOL that the Harare Remand Prison is heavily crowded. 'Conditions of prisons in Zimbabwe depend on where the person is. Where the three women are detained, at the women's prison, it is not crowded at all but at the Harare Remand Prison where the men are, there is crowding,' she said. Majome reiterated the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services requires additional funding, and the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission has been at the forefront for campaigning for additional funds for the ZPCS. The human rights activist added that this is not the 'first or last time' South African nationals have been detained in Zimbabwean prisons. 'This is not a new thing, even though I understand it is of interest. This happens a lot. It just so happened that on that particular visit, we highlighted that in our report. 'This is a common phenomenon the world over. What is important is to always remember the humanity and the equality of all human beings wherever they are - be it in prison, whether they have jumped the border, they must be treated with dignity. 'Migration is a phenomenon of human beings and must be done legally, but if it is not, human rights must still be upheld,' she told IOL. Last year, IOL published a story where non-profit organisation Baagi Ba South Africa was advocating for the South African government to enter into international prisoner transfer treaties. These treaties would allow South African prisoners convicted in other countries to be brought back home, to serve their sentences in South Africa. In countries where such programmes exist, including the United States, they are designed to alleviate the hardships faced by offenders incarcerated far from home and facilitate their rehabilitation. At the time, IOL interviewed Glory Matipile, founder and chief executive of Baagi Ba South Africa, who insisted that effective rehabilitation for the hundreds of South Africans imprisoned around the world requires them to serve their sentences within South Africa's correctional system. A key benefit of this, she noted, is the ability to speak the local language. Glory Matipile, founder and chief executive of Baagi Ba South Africa, a non-governmental organisation fighting for South Africans to serve jail sentences back home. Image: Supplied 'This organisation, Baagi Ba South Africa, was founded in 2018, and so far, we have about 260 young people working across South Africa to raise awareness and provide support to families with relatives convicted abroad. We also collaborate with organisations that assist South Africans in foreign prisons. We reached out to our representatives in South African embassies but did not receive much support. Now, we work with organisations in foreign countries to facilitate communication between imprisoned South Africans and their families back home,' she said. She said with the economic hardships, it is almost impossible for most families in South Africa to travel to visit their incarcerated relatives in countries including Brazil, Philippines or Hong Kong - a special administrative region of the People's Republic of China. 'South Africa is one of the few countries in the world without international prisoner transfer. Such a programme already exists in the United Nations, and what is left is for South Africa to adopt it and follow the rules that are already there, and being used by other countries. The essence is that if we had such a programme, South Africans convicted in foreign countries would be sent home to serve near their families. Foreigners in our prisons would them be moved to go and serve their sentences in their home countries so that rehabilitation can take place. 'You will remember that former president Nelson Mandela was advocating for prisoners' rights. We are being denied to have such a policy.' She said her organisation's records has around 800 names of South Africans convicted and sentenced in foreign countries. IOL News
