CYBER ATTACKS: THE NEW FACE OF CORRUPTION IN SA?
A staggering revelation has emerged from the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research’s (CSIR) latest research: cyber security incidents in South Africa have reached the same alarming scale as corruption. Yes, you read that right – cyber attacks are now as pervasive and destructive as corruption, which has long plagued our nation.
The CSIR’s findings, presented at a recent event, revealed that cyber attacks have become a lucrative business, with criminals finding it easier to make a quick buck by hacking into unsuspecting organizations. The report highlighted that companies are unable to respond promptly to these attacks, and the skills shortage continues to be a major challenge.
But here’s the kicker: 32% of organizations are not even bothering to train their employees on cyber security awareness. This lack of preparedness is a ticking time bomb, waiting to unleash a catastrophic cyber attack that could cripple our economy and leave our citizens vulnerable.
The CSIR’s research team also uncovered some disturbing statistics. For instance, 88% of respondents indicated that their organizations had been breached, with 90% attacked multiple times. Only 12% said they had not been attacked. The most common types of attacks included denial-of-service, ransomware, and wiper attacks, with malware, application attacks, and insider threats emerging as the most common cyber threats.
The financial implications of these attacks are staggering. The CSIR’s research found that 4% of respondents had lost up to R1 million due to fines and hiring service providers to remediate the incident. Other organizations incurred costs of up to R500 000.
So, what’s the solution? The CSIR’s researchers have made some bold recommendations, including investing in cyber security infrastructure, developing a skilled workforce, strengthening incident response, improving digital identity, and fostering public-private partnerships.
But here’s the thing: we can’t just sit back and wait for the government to act. We need to take responsibility for our own cyber security and demand more from our organizations and institutions. We need to raise awareness about the importance of cyber security and demand action from our leaders.
So, the next time you hear someone say, "Cyber attacks are just a minor issue," remember: they’re not. Cyber attacks are a serious threat to our national security, our economy, and our way of life. It’s time we treat them as such.
