SA has third highest number of cybercrime victims
"More South Africans prefer to do their festive shopping online to avoid the mall rush, but this spike in online shopping marks ideal hunting ground for cybercriminals.”
Approximately R2.2 billion is lost annually to cyber attacks in South Africa.
This according to the SA Banking Risk Information Centre (SABRIC) which said South Africa had the third highest number of cybercrime victims worldwide.
Head of Dialdirect Insurance Maanda Tshifularo speaking on the spike of cybercrime during the festive season said cybercriminals took the holiday season seriously and prepared well in advance for their online shopping sprees.
“The reasons are easy to understand: there is an increase in online shopping, meaning an increase in credit card and other personal information available for stealing.
“Criminals take advantage of shoppers who throw caution to the wind and click on links that promise never-to-be-seen-again deals. Click the link and you’ve downloaded malicious software. Your computer or phone is now compromised by criminals.”
ALSO READ: Be safe from cyber criminals when shopping online
“More South Africans prefer to do their festive shopping online to avoid the mall rush, but this spike in online shopping marks ideal hunting ground for cybercriminals.”
Further research from IT group Dimension Data showed that consumers doing their festive shopping online could be at risk of losing up to R70 000 per incident.
Research by Barclays also showed that more than a quarter of all online scams in the UK occurred over the Christmas period, while Threat Metrix said there were over 50 million global cyber attacks over the 2017 holiday season.
So, how can one safeguard themselves against cybercrime:
Read about cybercrime. The more you know, the more likely you are to spot a con and the less likely you will fall for scams.
Don’t use your social media profiles to log in to other accounts.
Use strong passwords, with a variety of uppercase and lower-case letters, symbols, and numbers. Never write them down where other people can see them. You should also try to change them up every now and then.
Only use reputable online shopping sites. One thing you can do is look at the URL of the website. If it begins with “https” instead of “http” it means the site is secure. Also, check with friends if they’ve heard of it or used it before.
ALSO READ: Local residents targeted by cybercriminals
Be extra cautious when using Wi-Fi hotspots. Some scammers falsify popular hotspots.
Don’t click on random links.
Use good quality security software and a firewall on your computer, and update them regularly.
To protect against identity theft, take care not to reveal too much about yourself on social media networks.
Back-up the data on your computer, daily.
Do not respond to random emails claiming that you have won a prize or inherited money.
Keep an eye on your monthly statements to identify unusual or unauthorised transactions or behaviours.
ALSO READ: Travel smart with these cyber security tips
Tshifularo said although vigilance was key in preventing and limiting these attacks, and cybersecurity was constantly evolving to address the ever-changing methods of cyber attacks, having adequate cyber insurance in place was imperative in a technologically booming South Africa.
“The cost of what cyber criminals steal could run into tens of thousands of rands, if not more”, Tshifularo concludes.
“Add to that the legal fees of recovering what is yours and you could be facing an astronomical bill. It’s wise to not only be vigilant with your online shopping this festive season but to also have sufficient cover in place should a cybercriminal decide to shop from your pocket” he said.
ALSO READ: E-mail to jail: The Cybercrime Bill and whether you should worry
Do you have more information about the story? Please send us an email to editorial@rekord.co.za or phone us on 083 625 4114.
For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord’s websites:
For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram
