Cybersecurity

Paratus Confirms Akira Ransomware Attack

Paratus has confirmed in its latest statement that it fell victim to a ransomware attack by the cybercriminal group Akira on 13 February this year. The attackers reportedly accessed approximately 84GB of internal company data, but Paratus assured customers that cloud backups remain encrypted and secure. The company syas it is currently working with international cybersecurity experts to assess the extent of the breach and implement necessary countermeasures.

24 February, 2025 80

Business / Economics

Banking Leaders Chart the Future at CEO Roundtable

The banking sector CEOs gathered for a strategic roundtable discussion this week, focusing on pressing challenges such as climate risk, cybersecurity, and regulatory policies. The event, hosted by the Bank of Namibia, carried the theme "Setting the Scene and Driving Impact for 2025," as highlighted by Ms. Naufiku Hamunime, Technical Expert in International Relations & Sustainability.

21 February, 2025 41

World

South Korea spy agency says DeepSeek ‘excessively’ collects personal data

South Korea's spy agency has accused Chinese AI app DeepSeek of "excessively" collecting personal data and using all input data to train itself. It also questioned the app's responses to questions relating to issues of national pride. Laura Westbrook has more.

11 February, 2025 49

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Opinion Pieces

World Bank Economic Initiatives Propel Namibia to Prosperity

Josef Kefas Sheehama The implementation of key long-term strategies, such as the National Development Plans (NDPs) and Harambee Prosperity Plans (HPPs), to advance Vision 2030 as a vehicle to industrialise the nation, as well as the country's growing poverty, insecurity, and fragility developmental goals and the increasing risks associated with climate change, have made it imperative to accelerate Namibia's development. Namibia's New Country Partnership Framework (CPF) which is part of […]

20 January, 2025 21 2

Opinion Pieces

Lockbit 3.0 Ransomware: What you need to know

By: Ednard Toivo Ransomware is malicious software (malware) designed to block access to a computer system or its data until a ransom has been paid. It is targeted against individuals, corporations, and governments, among others. Once a ransomware attack occurs, victims usually find their files encrypted with a payout message attached to them, and the payment is often made in the form of cryptocurrency. This attack can weaken an […]

15 January, 2025 69

Health / Medical

Health Ministry Addresses Cyber Attack on Pharmaceutical Data

The Health and Social Services ministry has reported a cyber-attack on December 13, which breached its Pharmaceutical Management Information System dashboard. The breach exposed aggregated data on medicine stock levels and healthcare worker contact details but did not compromise personal patient information. The server was isolated to prevent further damage, and ongoing investigations are being conducted. To prevent future attacks, the Ministry plans to upgrade security measures, restrict access, and […]

18 December, 2024 28

Namibia

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 […]

17 December, 2024 43

Business / Economics

Telecom Namibia Data Breach Sparks Outcry Over Privacy Risks

Prominent figures impacted by Telecom Namibia's data breach, which compromised the personal details of over 600,000 clients, raised alarm over cybersecurity lapses. Agriculture Minister Calle Schlettwein and PDM leader McHenry Venaani criticized the extensive storage of personal data by service providers, citing privacy risks. Activist Michael Amushelelo plans legal action against Telecom Namibia and has urged the CEO to step down. Concerns also extend to potential breaches of sensitive government […]

17 December, 2024 52

Namibia

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 […]

16 December, 2024 78