StormWarning! Blog

Scammers are using a new, manipulative tactic to hijack social media and messaging accounts — and it starts with a friendly message on WhatsApp from an unknown number.

The Alarming Reality of Cybersecurity Threats for Corporates and Government Departments

Recent revelations have underscored the devastating consequences of weak cybersecurity measures for corporations and government institutions alike. A hacking group, N4aughtySecGroup, has claimed responsibility for exploiting vulnerabilities across South Africa’s financial and social systems, exposing critical gaps in cybersecurity readiness. Their actions included fraudulent claims of R370 Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grants, amassing a staggering R175 million. These breaches highlight the escalating risk faced by entities that fail to prioritize robust cybersecurity defenses.

As incidents of banking fraud and scams continue to rise, it has become increasingly crucial for consumers to remain vigilant about potential threats to their financial security.

South Africans should be vigilant about the persistent threat posed by physical card transactions, including card skimming, which steals bank card information.

According to the South African Banking Risk Information Centre (SABRIC), reported losses from counterfeit credit card fraud reached R142 million in 2022, while debit card fraud resulted in losses of R270 million.

Master Zero Trust implementation for unmatched security. Explore how overcoming implementation hurdles can fortify your organisation against evolving cyber risks, ensuring robust protection and peace of mind in today’s dynamic threat landscape.

Introduction

In today’s vastly interconnected digital world, it is wise to make an informed assumption that adversaries are already in our networks to exfiltrate our precious data or conduct other malicious activities. This sobering reality necessitates a proactive approach to cybersecurity, one that challenges traditional security paradigms.

Zero Trust security (ZT) embodies this proactive approach by ensuring that no one is trusted by default, whether they are inside or outside the network. Verification is mandatory for anyone attempting to access network resources, creating an added layer of security that has been shown to prevent data breaches. Although the Zero Trust notion is not new—it has been around for over ten years—in our current, increasingly complex digital environment, it has become a paramount concern.