Cybercrime on the rise – Be vigilant on the net!

According to Interpol’s Africa Cyberthreat Assessment report, South Africa leads the continent in the number of cybersecurity threats identified. In 2022, the country had 230 million threat detections in total. In second place was Morocco with 71 million.

Of the 230 million detected threats in the country, 219 million (95%) were e-mail related threats. South Africa also had the highest targeted ransomware and business email compromise attempts. The exploitation of these cyber vulnerabilities within South Africa was further highlighted by Accenture, who identified that South Africa has the third highest number of cybercrime victims worldwide, at a cost of R2.2 billion a year. In addition, there was an alarming 100% increase in mobile banking application fraud and the country is on average experiencing 577 malware attacks every hour.

Today, technology is an indispensable part of our lives, especially the Internet, which plays a critical role in both our professional and personal activities. It is nearly impossible to avoid the risks associated with interacting on the internet however following a few best practices can help avert cyber-attacks:

Use strong passwords – Use different user ID/password combinations for different accounts and avoid writing them down. Make the passwords more complicated by combining letters, numbers and special characters (a minimum of 10 characters in total) and change them regularly.

Multi-factor Authentication – enable additional security features where possible such as OTPs and text/call verifications.

Secure your computer – Ensure the computer screen is locked and not accessible to unauthorised persons.

Activate your firewall – Firewalls are the first line of cyber defence. They block connections to unknown or bogus sites and will keep out several types of viruses and hackers.

Use anti-virus/malware software – Prevent viruses from infecting your computer by installing and regularly updating anti-virus software.

Block spyware attacks – Prevent spyware from infiltrating your computer by installing and updating anti-spyware software.

Be social media savvy – Make sure your social networking profiles, such as Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube, among other social networks, are set to private. Check your security settings. Be careful what information you post online. Once it is on the Internet, it is there forever!

Secure your mobile devices – Be aware that your mobile devices are vulnerable to viruses and hackers. Download applications from trusted sources.

Install the latest operating system updates – Keep your applications and operating system up to date with the latest system updates. Turn on automatic updates to prevent potential attacks on older software.

Protect your data – Use encryption for your most sensitive files, such as tax returns or financial records, back up all your important data regularly and store it in another location.

Secure your wireless network – WiFi at home is vulnerable to intrusion if they are not secured properly. Review and modify default settings. Public WiFi, also known as ‘hotspots’, is also vulnerable. Avoid performing financial or corporate transactions on these networks.

Protect your e-identity – Be cautious when giving out personal information, such as your name, address, phone number or financial information on the Internet. Make sure that websites are secure, for example, when making online purchases, or that you have enabled privacy settings, for example, when accessing/using social networking sites.

Always think before you click on a link or file of unknown origin. Do not feel pressured by any emails. Check the source of the message. When in doubt, verify the source. Never reply to emails that ask you to verify your information or confirm your user ID or password.

If you are a victim, do not panic! Report it at your local police station. If you require help with maintenance or software installation on your computer, contact your service provider or a certified computer technician.

Aneesa Khan

Head: Finance & ICT

Sources

https://www.itweb.co.za/content/Pero37Z34ydMQb6m