Government investigates Telecom Namibia data breach

The government is investigating a massive data breach that compromised the personal information of over 619,000 Telecom Namibia clients, including sensitive records totaling 626 gigabytes. Among the leaked data are documents from the Office of the President, highlighting the severity of the incident.

Information and Communication Technology Minister Emma Theofelus called for an urgent need for stronger data protection laws, as the Data Protection Bill remains pending in Parliament. “Our priority is to ensure that the compromised information does not negatively impact affected citizens,” Theofelus said.

Cybersecurity and Digital Strategy Consultant, Nrupesh Soni, described the breach as “alarmingly substantial,” underscoring the scale of the leaked information.

The breach, attributed to the cybercriminal group Hunters International, was discovered on 13 December 2024, after Telecom Namibia refused to pay a ransom. Initial assessments suggested no sensitive information was compromised, but further analysis revealed otherwise.

Telecom Namibia is working with law enforcement and cybersecurity experts to contain the breach and prevent further risks. Customers are advised to take precautionary measures, including updating passwords and reporting any suspicious activities.

Telecom CEO Dr. Stanley Shanapinda assured clients that measures are in place to protect sensitive data and urged the public to avoid circulating the leaked information, as doing so constitutes a criminal offense.