Thabo Johnson says cybercrime has increased dramatically since 2019.

“Any interaction with different spheres of business, government or individual is because cybercrime is not a physical crime and therefore people will not take it very seriously.

“Also, our laws are not as strict as international laws.”

Earlier this year, a cyber attack on the National Health Laboratory Services shut down the system and its lab results website.

This week, the South African Banking Risk Information Center said cybercrime saw its strongest growth last year, with digital banking fraud up 45%.

READING: SA loses billions due to financial crimes – SABRIC

Johnson, who is the founder of the African Society for Cyber ​​Security Awareness, said the government must ensure that there are adequate awareness programs in place.

“Cybercrime is more complicated now than it used to be, it’s no longer someone trying to hack your system and then you put an antivirus in and then you prevent yourself.”

Johnson urged people not to give personal information to strangers, especially those behind a screen or on a phone.

“I always say when it’s too good to be true, it’s too good to be true. People are attacked because they are vulnerable and want to make more money and easy money.

“They end up giving away their critical information, so that the perpetrators can use their money, so that the government can be attacked, and the winners will always be criminals,” Johnson said.

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