Cyberattack Epidemic Sweeps the Continent: Africa’s Most Vulnerable Countries Revealed

Behind the scenes of Africa’s rapid digitization, a sinister force is wreaking havoc – cyberattacks. The once-wary continent is now staring at a staggering 2,960 cyber attacks per organization per week, marking a 37% increase in the first half of 2024, a phenomenon that has left industry insiders and security experts alike, shaking in their boots.

The Shrapnel of Cyber Warfare Falls in Africa

Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa are among the countries crying out for help, with the latter struggling to contain the mayhem as it faces an alarming average of 1,450 weekly cyber attacks per organization, a 4% increase over last year. The financial sector’s efforts to stay ahead of the digital curve have been met with significant success, but the rest of the country still lags behind in an already precarious situation.

Indicators of Compromise Paint Grim Picture

The manufacturing sector bore the brunt of the attacks, a dismal 56% increase since the previous year, with a concerning trend of 177% and 186% increases in the communications and utilities sectors. "We are in the middle of an unprecedented cyber war," stated a security expert, "and no nation is immune to the fallout. Action is needed, and fast!"

The Call to Action is Unmistakable

Cybersecurity experts are urging African businesses to take immediate action, implementing the highest security standards, conducting regular training, maintaining robust backup systems, and forging contingency plans to mitigate the impact of any incident. "We will work tirelessly to protect our clients," stressed Lionel Dartnall, SADC Security Engineering Manager at Check Point, a leading cybersecurity solutions provider.

This new data from Check Point underscores the gravity of the cyber situation. Will Africa’s governments, corporate leaders, and citizens rally behind a unified front to combat these uninvited digital invaders or suffer the consequences of inaction? Only time will tell.

The Telecoms Industry is Plotting Against You: Don’t Let Them Shut Down Your 2G and 3G Networks

The Association for Comms and Technology (ACT), a lobby group representing six of the largest telecommunications companies in South Africa, is secretly plotting to undermine the government’s plan to shut down 2G and 3G networks. And they’re using every trick in the book to do it.

According to ACT CEO Nomvuyiso Batyi, the deadline for switching off these older networks is "unnecessary" and should be left to the industry to determine when the right time is to terminate the 2G and 3G carriers. But what’s really going on here is that the telecoms industry is trying to protect their own interests and profits, rather than serving the needs of the public.

The Truth About 2G and 3G

The truth is that 2G and 3G networks are still widely used in South Africa, particularly in rural areas where building towers is more expensive and generates less revenue. And it’s not just about the cost – many people in these areas can’t afford 4G handsets and are still reliant on 2G just from an affordability point of view.

But the telecoms industry is trying to spin this as a problem, claiming that the shutdown of 2G and 3G networks will be a "big headache" for merchants and that it will affect the consumer handset market. But what they’re really trying to do is protect their own profits and keep the status quo.

The Real Agenda

So what’s the real agenda here? It’s simple: the telecoms industry wants to keep making money off of 2G and 3G networks, even though they’re outdated and inefficient. They’re using every trick in the book to delay the shutdown of these networks, including claiming that it will be a "big headache" for merchants and that it will affect the consumer handset market.

But the truth is that the shutdown of 2G and 3G networks is necessary for the growth and development of South Africa’s telecommunications industry. It’s time for the government to stand up to the telecoms industry and protect the interests of the public.

The People’s Voice

So what can you do? You can start by speaking out against the telecoms industry’s attempts to delay the shutdown of 2G and 3G networks. You can also support organizations that are working to promote the growth and development of South Africa’s telecommunications industry.

Together, we can make a difference and ensure that the telecoms industry serves the needs of the public, rather than just protecting its own interests.

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“BREAKING: Court Saves the Day, Exposes NSFAS’s Shady dealings!

In a shocking twist, the Western Cape High Court has handed eZaga Holdings a major win, reinstating the fintech giant as an NSFAS direct payment provider. And let’s be real, this development is a major blow to the financial aid scheme’s reputation.

As the plot thickens, it appears that NSFAS was hell-bent on dumping eZaga and its peers, despite the companies’ protests of innocence. But the court’s ruling shows that even the mighty can’t bully their way out of accountability. Or can they?

In a veiled attempt to deflect criticism, NSFAS claimed that the judgement only deals with the “circumstances” surrounding the contract termination, but refused to acknowledge the elephant in the room: the tender process was riddled with irregularities.

Meanwhile, eZaga is milking its “landmark win” for all it’s worth, boasting about its “commitment to integrity and excellence.” Yeah, sure. After all, a company that’s been accused of corruption can’t exactly brag about its morals.

As the saga continues to unfold, one thing is clear: NSFAS needs to stop trying to cover its tracks and get to the bottom of these shenanigans. It’s time to show some transparency and accountability, rather than dodging and weaving around the truth. After all, students are watching and won’t tolerate any shadiness.”

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Ministerial Intervention: A Last-Ditch Effort to Save Sports Broadcasting from the Brink of Chaos

A high-stakes showdown between the nation’s top broadcasters, the SABC, eMedia, and SuperSport, went down on Tuesday, with Communications Minister Solly Malatsi and Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie attempting to broker a peace deal and put an end to the escalating war over sports broadcasting rights.

The meeting, which was attended by eMedia and the SABC, but notably skipped by SuperSport, aimed to address the contentious issue of sports rights, which has been mired in controversy for months. The drama reached a boiling point when eMedia accused MultiChoice, the parent company of SuperSport, of anticompetitive behavior and refusing to allow the SABC to broadcast rugby and cricket games on its Openview satellite TV platform.

But behind the scenes, tensions are still simmering, and the fate of South African sports broadcasting hangs in the balance. The Competition Tribunal’s recent ruling in favor of eMedia, which restricted the SABC and MultiChoice from entering into sublicensing agreements that sideline Openview, has only added fuel to the fire.

"We need to understand the sources of the deadlock and the commercial aspects of the contest for bidding for sports rights," Malatsi said in a statement, acknowledging the complexity of the issue. "We can’t just talk about finding solutions without understanding the dynamics at play."

Malatsi and McKenzie have promised to tackle the regulatory obstacles that have led to "constant uncertainty" in the industry, and have committed to investigating the concept of "national interest" in sports matches, which has created confusion and loopholes.

The meeting’s outcome may be a step in the right direction, but it’s clear that the sports broadcasting war is far from over. Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story.