Cybercrimes a threat to SA, warns minister

SOUTH Africa was not immune to cybercrimes, although State Security Minister David Mahlobo believed the government was making strides in protecting its information infrastructure.

Mahlobo said information technologies had improved economies and strengthened service delivery, but also posed a risk in the form of ransomware.

This had hit various countries, crippling, among other things, railway and health-care services, and hitting major economies globally.

“Attacks on any of these networks would potentially have disastrous consequences for individuals and for society, as witnessed in the recent ransomware attack on more than 100 countries, affecting thousands of organisations worldwide,” said Mahlobo, while delivering his budget vote in Parliament.

“Our country is one of the targets for cybercrime and research shows small companies and ordinary citizens, especially unsuspecting children, are being targeted more and more by cybercriminals, state actors and hacktivists.”

Mahlobo said the global community had expressed concern over the use of technology by cybercriminals at the expense of “international peace, security and stability” and “undermining the sovereignty and security of states”.

“Ransomware, identity theft, cyberbullying, internet banking fraud, misuse of social networks and many other types of attack are prevalent.”

The minister said legislation currently before Parliament in the form of the Cybercrime and Cybersecurity Bill would bolster efforts to protect the country’s infrastructure against hackers.

The bill, said Mahlobo, would deal with threats to the territorial integrity and sovereignty of states, damage to the economy, the use of technology to recruit people for terrorist activities, criminals using computer data to commit offences, and the use of social media to violate public order or ignite hatred and discrimination.

Those who attempted to “destabilise governance” would also be targeted if the bill is passed. – ANA