Liberty Holdings hacker alert sends clients into a panic
CYBER hackers have caused panic at Liberty Holdings after the firm’s computer systems were infiltrated by extortionists.
The company’s chief executive, David Munro, held an urgent press conference in Braamfontein yesterday, just hours after they alerted their customers to the incident.
Munro used the occasion to calm their clients following their fears which they vented on social media.
He said there was no evidence that any of the company’s clients had been directly affected by the cybercrime incident.
The hackers managed to gain access to the firm’s e-mails.
“The company was alerted to the infiltration to its network on Thursday and swiftly launched an investigation through its team of specialists.
“We did engage with the external parties involved to determine their intentions, but we made no concessions in the face of this attempted extortion,” said Munro.
He said no further action was required from customers at this stage.
However, fuming Liberty customers were still worried about their investments and claimed to have been kept in the dark about whether their money was safe.
The company had sent a text message to its clients over the weekend.
It read: “Dear Valued Customer, Liberty regrets to inform you that it has been subjected to unauthorised access to its IT infrastructure by an external party who requested compensation for it.
“Since becoming aware we have taken immediate steps to secure our computer systems and are investigating the incident.
“We are giving this matter the highest priority and will keep you informed as appropriate.”
Thokozani Nkosi, who is invested in Liberty Life, took to social media to express his concern after receiving the alarming text message.
“I thought it was a scam SMS when I got the notification. I took it seriously when I realised the text wasn’t asking for anything – it was just informing people of the breach.
“I wonder what this means regarding people’s private financial and health info,” Nkosi said.