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Cyber attacks hit parastatals

Hiding in the dark: Cyber criminals target Botswana due to its relatively high per capita wealth and weak controls or awareness amongst many corporates and users
Hiding in the dark: Cyber criminals target Botswana due to its relatively high per capita wealth and weak controls or awareness amongst many corporates and users

The Botswana Energy Regulatory Authority (BERA) and the Local Enterprise Authority (LEA) have become the latest targets of cyber criminals, with both organisations reporting phishing attacks this week.

A phishing attack occurs when cyber criminals send fraudulent, but genuine looking communications that appear to come from a reputable source. In many instances, the cyber criminals also set up a website that at first glance looks like the reputable source.

The attack is designed to trick users into divulging sensitive data, downloading malware, and exposing themselves or their organisations to cybercrime. On Tuesday, LEA warned its clients that it was aware of an email purporting to originate from the organisation and entitled “Payment”. Recipients of the fake email are directed to click on a link to access the “payment advice”.

Editor's Comment
The State apparatus must be sanitised

When the State cannot rely on its own machinery to pursue suspected wrongdoing, repairing that machinery must become a national priority.The establishment of a Special Investigations and Asset Recovery Task Force may help government respond to the immediate challenge. However, Botswana cannot afford to leave the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEC) and the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) struggling whilst building...

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