{"id":1087,"date":"2021-05-21T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-05-20T22:00:00","guid":{"rendered":""},"modified":"2025-04-25T13:30:00","modified_gmt":"2025-04-25T11:30:00","slug":"cybercrimes-latest-trends-in-south-africa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.domains.co.za\/blog\/cybercrimes-latest-trends-in-south-africa\/","title":{"rendered":"Cybercrimes &#8211; The Latest Trends In South Africa"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"bsf_rt_marker\"><\/div>\n<p>Cybercrimes in South Africa have been on the rise. Before the pandemic, cyber security was a serious concern for most companies, however, in the past year it has pushed its way higher up on the daily business agenda and now includes most individuals as well! Here\u2019s why&#8230;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-rank-math-toc-block\" id=\"rank-math-toc\"><h4>TABLE OF CONTENTS<\/h4><nav><ul><li><a href=\"#cybercrimes-on-the-rise\">Cybercrimes on The Rise<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#types-of-cybercrimes\">Types of Cybercrimes<\/a><ul><li><a href=\"#stalkerware\">Stalkerware<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#routers\">Routers<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#ransomware\">Ransomware<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#phishing\">Phishing<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#sim-swap\">Sim Swap<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#insurance\">Insurance<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"cybercrimes-on-the-rise\">Cybercrimes on The Rise<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The pandemic\u2019s influence increased digitalization of several companies\u2019 processes, while other businesses had neglected to upgrade ageing networks due to budget restraints. Added to this, the work-from-home culture in many industries has led to more uncontrolled server access.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>All of the above are opportunities for cyber criminals, especially those who have used the past year to hone their skills. It is therefore no surprise that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.masthead.co.za\/newsletter\/cybercrime-in-south-africa\/\" alt=\"Link to Masthead - Article - Cybercrime In South Africa\" title=\"Masthead - Article - Cybercrime In South Africa\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">cyber attacks have increased dramatically since lockdown<\/a>. Cyber criminals are using more sophisticated tactics and programming, even to the point of bringing back some of their old-school tricks as \u2018hooks\u2019. Plus, they are now targeting people at home and at work. Anyone and everyone are at risk!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"types-of-cybercrimes\">Types of Cybercrimes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>In South Africa some of the following types of cyberattacks are more prevalent:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"stalkerware\">Stalkerware<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Stalkerware, also known as spyware, is software that has been illegally loaded to a device, and is used to read messages, see what someone is typing, track locations, eavesdrop on telephone conversations, etc. Pretty much everything you may have seen in the movies. Scary right?!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Don\u2019t click on links in emails or install programmes (even Apps) that you don\u2019t know or trust. Double check every single App before giving it access to your phone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"routers\">Routers<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Home routers are considered \u2018soft targets\u2019, as the average person may not even realise how routers can compromise their cyber security. Did you set up your router\u2019s password or did you just take what your ISP suggested for you? Set up this password yourself and make sure it isn\u2019t something that can be easily guessed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"ransomware\">Ransomware<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Ransomware is a type of software that gains access to a device, computer, server or network in order to encrypt critical data so that it is unusable by the victim. The cyber criminal then asks for a sum of money as a ransom in order to undo what they have done.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This type of attack operates on a fear basis and is \u2018easy money\u2019 for the cyber criminal, it has therefore increased over the past several months. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.news24.com\/fin24\/companies\/ict\/move-aside-malware-the-rising-threat-is-stalkerware-20210501\" alt=\"Link to News24 - Article - Stalkerware Rising Threat\" title=\"News24 - Article - Stalkerware Rising Threat\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Statistics from Kapersky<\/a> shows that while over 50% of ransomware victims had paid the ransom, very few had actually gained their data back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Be very sceptical about every unknown email, check and double check addresses and don\u2019t click on any link within Spam emails. Educate your staff and everyone in your household.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"phishing\">Phishing<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Phishing is a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.domains.co.za\/blog\/spam-alert-south-africa-is-under-attack\/\" alt=\"Link to Domains.co.za Blog - SPAM ALERT \u2014 South Africa is under attack\" title=\"Domains.co.za - SPAM ALERT \u2014 South Africa is under attack\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">SPAM email<\/a> that tricks individuals into clicking on a link that will download malware (malicious software) onto their computer, phone, mobile device or company network.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The various groups of cyber criminals are not pushing out untargeted mass SPAM emails anymore. They are taking their time to compile targeted, highly authentic-appearing emails that look legitimate. In SA we had over 600 000 phishing attacks in the second quarter of 2020 alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"sim-swap\">Sim Swap<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Have you noticed that some banks have discontinued the One Time Pin verification process? That is because the old-school tactic of sim swapping has increased substantially over the past two years. The rise in ecommerce shopping could have something to do with this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"insurance\">Insurance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>On the positive side, some insurance companies are now offering policies that cover damages caused by security breaches, however we would advise that you always read the fine print and understand the clauses thoroughly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Beware! Assume that your business and home devices are always at risk. This way you can <a href=\"https:\/\/www.domains.co.za\/blog\/online-safety-and-cyber-security\/\" alt=\"Link to Domains.co.za Blog - Adopting a culture of Online Safety &amp; Cyber Security in the Workplace\" title=\"Domains.co.za - Adopting a culture of Online Safety &amp; Cyber Security in the Workplace\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">bring in the right software and measures to prevent vulnerabilities<\/a> or lessen the gravity of incidents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Domains.co.za is a <a alt=\"Link to Domains.co.za - Register Domains\" title=\"Domains.co.za - Register Domains\" href=\"https:\/\/www.domains.co.za\/domain-registration\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">domain registration<\/a> and <a alt=\"Link to Domains.co.za - Web Hosting\" title=\"Domains.co.za - Web Hosting\" href=\"https:\/\/www.domains.co.za\/web-hosting-south-africa\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">website hosting<\/a> company based in South Africa. Apart from domain names and hosting we also provide our clients with a solution to get their businesses online \u2013 <a alt=\"Link to Domains.co.za - Site Builder Add-on\" title=\"Domains.co.za - Site Builder Add-on\" href=\"https:\/\/www.domains.co.za\/websitebuilder\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Site Builder<\/a>, an add-on solution to cPanel Web Hosting, to safeguard websites online and free <a alt=\"Link to Domains.co.za - Domain Validated SSL Certificates\" title=\"Domains.co.za - Domain Validated SSL Certificates\" href=\"https:\/\/www.domains.co.za\/ssl\/domain-validated-ssl-certificates\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">SSL Certificates<\/a> to ensure your visitors&#8217; data transmission is always encoded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Cybercrimes in South Africa have been on the rise. Before the pandemic, cyber security was a serious concern for most companies, however, in the past year it has pushed its way higher up on the daily business agenda and now includes most individuals as well! Here\u2019s why&#8230; Cybercrimes on The RiseTypes of CybercrimesStalkerwareRoutersRansomwarePhishingSim SwapInsurance Cybercrimes on The Rise The pandemic\u2019s influence increased digitalization of several companies\u2019 processes, while other businesses had neglected to upgrade ageing networks due to budget restraints. Added to this, the work-from-home culture in many industries has led to more uncontrolled server access. All of the above are opportunities for cyber criminals,  <a alt='Cybercrimes &#8211; The Latest Trends In South Africa' title='Cybercrimes &#8211; The Latest Trends In South Africa' href='https:\/\/www.domains.co.za\/blog\/cybercrimes-latest-trends-in-south-africa\/' class='moreElipsis'>[&#8230;]<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":1246,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1010],"tags":[1332,1330],"class_list":["post-1087","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ssl-certificates","tag-cyber-attacks-have-increased","tag-cybercrime-trends-in-south-africa"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.domains.co.za\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1087","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.domains.co.za\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.domains.co.za\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.domains.co.za\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.domains.co.za\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1087"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.domains.co.za\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1087\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2630,"href":"https:\/\/www.domains.co.za\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1087\/revisions\/2630"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.domains.co.za\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1246"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.domains.co.za\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1087"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.domains.co.za\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1087"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.domains.co.za\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1087"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}