By paying ransomware, organisations are leaving themselves open to repeat attacks and long-term business disruption, according to Lloyd Timcke, regional director for Africa and Israel at cybersecurity firm Rubrik. At a cybersecurity event in Johannesburg last week, the company said attackers are increasingly exploiting identity systems such as Active Directory and cloud identity providers, allowing…
Ransomware is a type of malicious software that makes a victim’s data, system or device inaccessible. It locks the target or encrypts it (converting text into an unreadable form) until the victim pays a ransom to the attacker. It’s one of the most widespread and damaging forms of cyberattacks affecting organisations around the world. An…
Ransomware and GenAI risks are on the rise. In December 2025, organisations globally faced sustained cyber pressure, as the average number of cyber attacks per organisation per week reached 2 027, a 1% increase from the previous month and a 9% increase from December 2024. In SA, companies faced 1 850 attacks per week, with financial…
AI-powered cyber attacks and ransomware top the cyber security challenges for 2026, warn cyber security firms. In November 2025, global organisations faced an average of 2 003 cyber attacks per week, driven by ransomware expansion and GenAI-linked risks, representing a 3% increase from October and a 4% rise year-on-year. This is according to cyber security…
Lorna Hardie More than two-fifths (41%) of the world’s major ransomware attacks target African organisations, despite the continent suffering a digital infrastructure deficit when compared to the developed world. This is according to the Check Point 2025 African Perspectives on Cyber Security report, released earlier this week, which found that AI is helping drive faster…
A ransomware group has claimed that it has successfully attacked the Methodist Church of Southern Africa (MCSA) and is demanding a ransom payment, TechCentral has learnt. The church fell victim to the apparent attack earlier this month, with some details – though not the entire leak – published on the dark web on 2 October…
Morten Gammelgard, Co-Founder and Global CRO at BullWall. Perimeter and preventative cyber security controls are no longer enough to protect organisations from the ransomware onslaught – automated containment solutions are now necessary to help contain attacks in real-time and improve ransomware resilience. Speaking during a webinar hosted by Solid8 Technologies and BullWall, in partnership with…
Cyber Insight, in partnership with Sophos, hosted an exclusive cyber security event on 19 August at the Eikenhof Estate in Stellenbosch, bringing together IT managers, clients and partners to explore the latest ransomware research and the future development roadmap for Sophos solutions. Ransomware remains a top concern for SMEs The event highlighted findings from the…
The Ingonyama Trust, a statutory body established in 1994 to manage communal land in KwaZulu-Natal for the benefit of Zulu tribes and communities, has been the subject of an attempted ransomware attack, the effects of which are still under investigation. A senior IT expert, who disclosed details of the incident to TechCentral, said NightSpire has…
With ransomware costs climbing steeply across South Africa, Sophos and Phishield have announced a partnership designed to give businesses both stronger defences and a financial safety net. The collaboration is the first in sub-Saharan Africa formally to integrate advanced threat detection with cyber insurance. The move comes against the backdrop of Sophos’ State of Ransomware…
