SA must take cybercrime more seriously

Thabo Johnson says cybercrime has increased dramatically since 2019.

“Any interaction with different spheres of business, government or individuals, is because cybercrime is not a physical crime and therefore people will not take it very seriously.

“Our laws are also not as strict as international laws.”

Earlier this year, a cyberattack on National Health Laboratory Services led to the shutdown of its laboratory results system and website.

This week, South Africa’s Banking Risk Information Center said cybercrime had seen its biggest increase last year, with a 45 percent increase in digital bank fraud.

READ: South Africa loses billions to financial crimes – SABRIC

Johnson, founder of the African Society for Cyber ​​Security Awareness, said the government must ensure that adequate awareness programs are in place.

“Cybercrime is more complicated now than before, there is no longer someone trying to hack your system and then you put an antivirus on it and then you avoid it.”

Johnson urged people not to give personal information to strangers, especially those who are behind a screen or talking on the phone.

“I always say that when it’s too good to be true, it’s too good to be true. People are attacked because they are vulnerable and want to make more money and easy money.

“They end up revealing their critical information, so the perpetrators can use their money, so the government can be attacked, and the winners will always be the criminals,” Johnson said.

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