• News
  • Sport
  • TV
  • Radio
  • Education
  • TV Licences
  • Contact Us

For all official information and updates regarding COVID-19, visit the South African Department of Health's website at www.sacoronavirus.co.za

No Result
View All Result
  • SOUTH AFRICA
  • POLITICS
  • BUSINESS
  • SPORT
  • AFRICA
  • WORLD
  • SCI-TECH
  • LIFESTYLE
  • FEATURES
  • OPINION
Home Coronavirus

FEATURE: Cybercrime is on the increase during lockdown

28 June 2020, 9:34 AM  |
Tshepiso Moche Tshepiso Moche |  @sabcnews
The COVID-19 pandemic has seen people come up with some innovative ways to address the impact of the virus.

The COVID-19 pandemic has seen people come up with some innovative ways to address the impact of the virus.

Image: SABC News

The COVID-19 pandemic has seen people come up with some innovative ways to address the impact of the virus.

 

This week, we look at cybercrime and its impact during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. The global war against COVID-19 is central to all countries, as a third of the world remains on lockdown in attempts to conquer it. A few industries stand to benefit by regarding this crisis as an opportunity. One of these is the technology space. In this series titled, COVID Tech, SABC News’ Tshepiso Moche reports on coronavirus-related tech developments in South Africa and globally. 

Young scientists from the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) say sharing or spreading of misinformation and cybercrime during the COVID-19 pandemic has gone up during this period.

The young scientists say cybercriminals are using the COVID-19 pandemic to spread fake news.

Since the beginning of the lockdown, South Africa has seen an increase in cybercrime activities.

Cybersecurity researcher from CSIR, Thabo Mahlangu, says they have seen an increase in data being stolen from users and an increase of breaches within the video conferencing platforms.

With many people working from home during this period, scientists say this has created security challenges.

Many people who have started working from home since the beginning of the lockdown, are using apps or digital tools like Zoom, Microsoft Teams and Skype to communicate with their colleagues.

Mahlangu, who was part of the young scientists addressing the media this week, says ransomware is also on the rise.

Ransomware is a type of malware from cryptovirology that threatens to publish the people’s data unless a ransom is paid.

Any organisation that has an online presence is at risk of cyber-attacks.

“There is an increase in attempts to steal data from users, malware and phishing attempts, breaches on video conferencing platforms, and scams and fraudulent activities using digital means,” adds Mahlangu.

In the sound clip below, Mhlangu explains how some cybercriminals operate:

CSIR establishes Security Operations Centre (SOC)

CSIR has since established a Security Operations Centre (SOC) to try and lessen the spread of malware and stop cybercriminals from targetting people.

The CSIR established the SOC, which is a facility that houses an information security team responsible for monitoring and analysing an organisation’s security risk vulnerability on an ongoing basis.

The SOC’s objective is to detect, analyse and respond to cybersecurity incidents, using a combination of technology solutions and a strong set of processes for local municipalities and other entities in South Africa to protect them against phishing attacks and malware.

The sound clip below speaks more about the Security Operations Centre’s work:

Sharing of misinformation

30-year-old Nelisiwe Dlamini has encouraged people to verify stories from social media, especially those that have to do with COVID-19 before pressing the share button.

It is believed that the spread of incorrect information has worsened since the beginning of COVID-19 over the past few months.

Fake news can be defined as any information that is false, fake and misleading with an intention to cause harm.

In April, the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies announced that it would be collaborating with Real411 to help curb the spread of disinformation related to COVID-19.

People can combat digital disinformation shared on WhatsApp, Facebook and Twitter by reporting the sharing of such information on the Real411 website.

Complaints from the Real411 site ranges from misinformation suggesting that COVID-19 doesn’t exist to posts on social media about cures for the deadly virus.

Earlier, the government warned people against any sharing of fake news saying those who are found to be sharing such information could face prosecution.

Dlamini says people should avoid sharing any information that has not been verified, as such information creates panic and confusion among other things.

In the sound clip below Dlamini talks about verifying information:

Fake News leads to arrest and prosecution

The spread of fake news has been rife on social media.

In April, a video of a 55-year-old man urging people to refuse to be tested for COVID-19 went viral on social media.

In the video, the man warned people against test kits which he suggested that they were already contaminated.

“Do not under any circumstances allow them to test you. There’s a possibility that the swabs are contaminated with COVID-19,” he said in the video.

The man was arrested by members of the Parow SAPS.

Cybercriminals used COVID-19 information to create fake websites to trick the victims into downloading attachments and emails that were infected with malicious code.

Since the outbreak of COVID-19, CSIR has created a dashboard to assist government and health institutions to track the spread of misinformation, in order to avoid unnecessary public panic.

The dashboard categorises information as misinformation (misleading content), disinformation (fabricated content), and mal-information (hate speech content).

Share article
Tags: CSIRCouncil for Scientific and Industrial ResearchCybercrime
Previous Post

COVID-19 deaths in SA still lower than global average

Next Post

There is no need to close down schools: Education Department

Related Posts

Syringes with needles are seen in front of a displayed stock graph and words "Omicron SARS-CoV-2" in this illustration taken November 27, 2021.

Omicron-specific COVID shots could increase protection as boosters, European Medicines Agency says

3 July 2022, 3:01 AM
The International Space Station (ISS) photographed by Expedition 56 crew members from a Soyuz spacecraft after undocking, October 4, 2018. NASA/Roscosmos/Handout via REUTERS

Astronaut study reveals effects of space travel on human bones

2 July 2022, 7:38 PM
A man with luggage walks in the rain on The Bund as Typhoon In-fa approaches Shanghai, China July 25, 2021.

China lashed by year’s first typhoon, record rains forecast

2 July 2022, 12:40 PM
Iranian media put the strength of the quake at 6.1 while the European Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) said it had a 6.0 magnitude.

At least three killed in magnitude 6.1 quake on Iran Gulf coast- TV

2 July 2022, 1:35 AM
Patients reported less fever and tiredness and more skin lesions in their genital and anal areas than typically seen in monkeypox, the study of 54 patients at London sexual health clinics in May this year found.

Monkeypox symptoms differ from previous outbreaks – UK study

2 July 2022, 12:57 AM
A protective face mask is handed over to a customer of Spar supermarkets during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Vienna, Austria April 1, 2020.

SA records COVID-19 380 new cases, 3 related deaths

1 July 2022, 7:50 PM
Next Post
File Image: There are concerns over the rising number of infections at schools countrywide after Grade 7 and 12 learners returned to school at the beginning of the month.

There is no need to close down schools: Education Department

Most Viewed

  • 24hrs
  • Week
  • Month
  • EMS says fire at Bree Street Taxi Rank in Johannesburg has been extinguished
  • The public has until 18 May to make submissions on Icasa’s regulations for extension of expiry period for data, airtime
  • ANC NEC expected to hold a special meeting on Sunday
  • Eastern Cape flood victims plead for support as access to food, services remains difficult
  • Amathole Regional Secretary elated to have corruption charges against him dropped
  • E Cape Liquor Board says Enyobeni tavern owner will face criminal charges
  • Missing Soweto boy’s body found at Eldorado Park wastewater plant
  • Interpol arrests suspect for swindling US citizens millions of dollars
  • Police close investigation into Enyobeni tavern tragedy
  • Taxi commuters to pay an additional R5 in fare from Friday
  • East London police search for clues that led to tavern death; calls to revoke tavern’s licence 
  • UPDATE: At least 17 people killed in an East London tavern stampede
  • SANTACO and NTA calls on COSATU to join the national shutdown over the hiking fuel prices
  • NTA yet to decide whether to support calls for national shutdown amid fuel price hikes
  • South Africans no longer required to wear face masks indoors

LATEST

  • South Africa

East London’s Scenery Park youth demand action to stop underage drinking


The aftermath of a shelling on an office building near the centre of Kharkiv, which hadn’t been shelled in weeks, as Russia’s attack on Ukraine continues in Kharkiv, Ukraine,
  • World
  • Russia, Ukraine conflict

Blasts kill three in Russian city near Ukraine border


Eskom
  • South Africa

NUM expects power situation to return to normal following latest wage negotiations


Protesters set fire to the Libyan parliament building after protests against the failure of the government in Tobruk, Libya July 1, 2022.
  • Africa

Libyan protest movement says it will step up its campaign


Olympic and Paralympic track star Oscar Pistorius sits in the dock in the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria. May 6, 2014.
  • South Africa

Oscar Pistorius took part in victim-offender dialogue with Reeva Steenkamp’s father as part of parole considerations


A worker pours crude oil into a locally made burner using a funnel at an illegal oil refinery site near river Nun in Nigeria's oil state of Bayelsa.
  • Business

Nigeria lost $1 billion in Q1 revenue to crude oil theft


Weather

  • About the SABC
  • Contact Us
  • Jobs
  • Advertise
  • Disclaimer
  • Site Map

SABC © 2022

No Result
View All Result
  • SOUTH AFRICA
  • POLITICS
  • BUSINESS
  • SPORT
  • AFRICA
  • WORLD
  • SCI-TECH
  • LIFESTYLE
  • FEATURES
  • OPINION

© 2022

Previous COVID-19 deaths in SA still lower than global average
Next There is no need to close down schools: Education Department