Government tightens cybersecurity following recent attacks

The government has detailed its response to recent cybersecurity breaches targeting Telecom Namibia and the Ministry of Health and Social Services. Speaking at the Government Information Centre in Windhoek, Executive Director I-Ben Nashandi of the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) confirmed the government is investigating the scope of the attacks and implementing measures to prevent future incidents.

Nashandi explained that initial findings indicate the breach primarily impacted information related to the Ministry of Health. He noted, “We are continuously updating our cybersecurity frameworks and protocols, including third-party system vulnerability testing, to reduce the possibility of such events reoccurring.”

Impact on Health Ministry

Executive Director of the Ministry of Health and Social Services, Ben Nangombe provided further clarity into the breach’s impact on the ministry’s systems. He explained that the dashboard compromised during the attack had been deployed online, which allowed hackers to access it.

The dashboard has since been taken offline, and Nangombe assured the public that it will be redeployed in a secure environment with updated security patches and changed user login details.

Response from CRAN

Separately, the CEO of the Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN), Emilia Nghikembwa, said that there was a coordinated response to the attacks. She revealed that CRAN’s cybersecurity team collaborated with Telecom Namibia and the Ministry of Health to mitigate the impact. Nghikembwa stressed the importance of adopting best practices, including regular security assessments, data encryption, multi-factor authentication, and timely software updates.

“These incidents serve as a call to action for government entities and private sector operators to enhance their cybersecurity posture,” Nghikembwa said.

The government has assured the public that its cybersecurity frameworks are being strengthened to safeguard critical systems and minimize vulnerabilities.