Threats in the Wild
South Africa
South Africa’s government-run weather service knocked offline by cyberattack
A cyberattack has taken the South African Weather Service (SAWS) offline since January 26th 2025 which has been disrupting access to vital weather information for airlines, farmers, and others. SAWS is using social media to share updates on events like thunderstorms and wildfires and the service confirmed the breach was caused by criminal elements and is working with law enforcement on the issue.
Nigerian Bureau of Statistics Website Hacked
The Nigerian Bureau of Statistics announced on December 18th 2024 that its website was hacked and is being worked on for recovery. The NBS, crucial for Nigeria’s economic and governance data, urged the public to disregard any messages posted until the site is restored. This attack is part of an ongoing trend of cyberattacks on Nigerian government websites.
Identity scam warning in South Africa
Identity fraud in South Africa has risen by 337%, with AI-driven attacks like deepfakes and voice cloning used to impersonate victims and bypass security. While AI fuels these crimes, it can also help detect and prevent fraud through advanced learning techniques.
Questions over R500,000 lottery security breach investigation
In 2020, the NLC paid R498,000.00 to Neo Solutions for a non-existent cybersecurity breach, bypassing tender rules. An audit uncovered inconsistencies and possible criminal conduct, leading to a police report, with Neo’s controversial businessman links raised.
International news
Huge cyberattack under way – 2.M IPs being used to target VPN devices
Threat actors are launching brute force attacks on VPNs and other devices, attempting to break into networks. The Shadowserver Foundation revealed that 2.8 million IP addresses are being used to guess passwords on devices from companies like Palo Alto Networks and SonicWall. Most of the attacking IPs are from Brazil, with others spread across Turkey, Russia, Argentina, Morocco, and Mexico.
F-Secure wins prestigious “Best VPN” award at the European Technology Awards
F-Secure won the “Best VPN” award at the European Technology Awards, recognizing its cutting-edge VPN technology. With over 30 years of experience, F-Secure offers top-tier security, backed by EU data protection laws and a strict no-logs policy. This award highlights their commitment to providing the best online protection for users worldwide.
F-Secure partners with Japanese telecom giant SoftBank, launching identity protection for mobile users
F-Secure has teamed up with BBSS Corporation to boost SoftBank’s Security One service, providing stronger protection for mobile users. Their security features include scam protection, identity monitoring, and parental controls. Every day, they block millions of digital threats for over 200 service providers worldwide. This partnership highlights F-Secure’s growing reputation as a go-to cybersecurity partner for telecom companies.
Scammers Use Fake Facebook Copyright Notices to Hijack Accounts
This campaign, which began around December 20th, 2024, primarily focuses on companies within the EU, the US, and Australia. Some instances have still also been detected in Chinese and Arabic languages, indicating a global reach.
Sophisticated Phishing Campaign Targets Ukraine’s Largest Bank
A new phishing campaign orchestrated by the financially motivated threat group UAC-0006 has been discovered targeting customers of PrivatBank, Ukraine’s largest state-owned financial institution.