SA government departments urgently need to address cybersecurity gaps
Following the ransomware attack on the Department of Justice in 2021 – and the recent exposure of vulnerabilities by hacking group SpiderLog$ - it’s time for the government to bolster and modernise its cybersecurity efforts. Check Point® Software Technologies Ltd. (NASDAQ: CHKP), a leading provider of cybersecurity solutions globally, has noted with concern the recent efforts of hacking group SpiderLog$, which pointed out glaring vulnerabilities in the security systems used in South African government departments. SpiderLog$ was able to obtain private data of President Cyril Ramaphosa, including details of a loan he took out from a South African bank in the 2000s, his home address, ID number, and cellphone numbers. Additionally, the group produced screenshots showing it could gain entry to the webmail interface of the defence and state security departments (making it possible to access sensitive and military information), as well as identify the private IP...