Another Loss for S.A.

The Department of Justice has fallen victim to cyber thieves for the third time in recent years, resulting in the theft of #millions of rand. The hackers targeted the Guardian's Fund, which manages finances for those unable to do so themselves. The attack took place on April 6, but was only discovered five days later. Payments from affected offices have been suspended pending #investigation, with plans to resume on June 1.

The department confirmed the #cyberattack and is collaborating with the #Hawks, the #Financial Intelligence Centre, and an internal #forensic team for investigation. Despite allegations of negligence, the department emphasizes its efforts to strengthen cybersecurity measures through #infrastructure renewal, external expertise, vulnerability assessments, and staff training.

This incident mirrors a previous hack in September 2020 when thieves siphoned off R10m. A year later, the department's IT system was encrypted, impacting court operations and the processing of deceased estates. The information regulator found the department guilty of negligence for the data breach and ordered license renewals for security systems.

#Government infrastructure, including the Department of #Justice, faces persistent #cyberthreats. Scarybyte, a cybersecurity company, emphasizes the need for a dynamic, multilayered approach to cybersecurity and considers both external and internal threats.

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