Kaspersky Urges Defence as Cyberattacks Grow in SA
South Africa faces a sharp rise in cyberthreats, with over 6 million online attacks and 10.3 million on-device incidents blocked in H1 2025, according to Kaspersky. Infostealers, ransomware, spyware, and phishing dominate the landscape. The emergence of threats like SparkCat highlights growing risks across platforms. Kaspersky stresses layered defences, informed threat
Cybersecurity risks of personal devices in the workplace
As hybrid work grows, BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) is now common across African workplaces, but it brings serious cybersecurity risks. A KnowBe4 report reveals 80% of employees use personal devices for work, with 70% unmanaged. Experts urge companies to focus not just on tech, but also on strengthening the human element through awareness, governance, and behavioural security practices.
Cyber security burnout is undermining business resilience
Cyber Insight warns that AI is accelerating cyber threats, overwhelming IT teams with alerts and exposing critical gaps. CEO Deon Smal urges businesses to adopt proactive strategies, including 24/7 monitoring, vCISO advisory, and local SOC support. Strategic investment in people and adaptive technologies is key to building resilience and turning cybersecurity into a business enabler, not just a reactive burden.
Warning for South Africans who use WhatsApp on their phones
Scammers are increasingly hijacking WhatsApp accounts by impersonating trusted contacts and using SIM swap fraud to steal one-time passwords. Cybersecurity expert Lucas Molefe warns that criminals exploit urgency and personal details from social media to deceive victims. He urges users to enable 2-factor verification, never share OTPs, and verify suspicious messages.
AI coding tools exploited to fuel cybercrime wave
The misuse of AI chatbots like Claude and ChatGPT is fueling a rise in AI-assisted cybercrime. Attackers exploit these tools to create malware, steal data, and launch extortion campaigns, despite built-in safeguards. Experts warn that “vibe hacking” enables even non-coders to develop harmful software, increasing threats to organisations. Developers are now focused on improving detection of malicious use.
Six cyber vulnerabilities that could cripple SMEs
Many South African SMEs remain highly vulnerable to cyber threats, with 30% of smaller firms lacking any cybersecurity measures. A recent study urges action, highlighting six key areas: moving beyond passwords, training staff, patching systems, backing up data, securing all devices, and limiting access rights. Proactive steps are vital for survival in an increasingly digitised and threat-prone business landscape.
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