CYBERCRIMINALS ARE GETTING SMARTER — DON’T MAKE IT EASY FOR THEM!

By KOPANO MONAHENG

As Cybersecurity Awareness Month is observed globally in October, Microsoft South Africa and e-Gov are highlighting the growing need to protect government departments, businesses and citizens against cybercrime.

Cybercriminals, meanwhile, are finding increasingly sophisticated ways to steal money, access sensitive information and exploit security weaknesses. Throughout the month, organisations will be running campaigns to promote awareness and encourage better cybersecurity practices.

Lerato Mathabatha, executive director for public sector at Microsoft South Africa, said cybercriminals now operate like businesses, with artificial intelligence (AI) helping them move faster and on a larger scale.

She said organisations and government departments needed to strengthen security, respond quickly to threats and build resilience.

“And all of us should verify before we trust,” she said.

Mathabatha outlined Microsoft’s four-pronged approach: strengthening internal security, protecting customers, disrupting criminal networks and collaborating with security partners.

In September, Microsoft’s Digital Crimes Unit disrupted EvilTokens, an AI-powered platform that helped criminals access email accounts and impersonate trusted contacts to commit fraud.

Between April 2024 and April 2025, Microsoft thwarted US$4 billion in attempted fraud, she said.

The company also works with more than 15,000 security partners worldwide, sharing threat intelligence with governments, law enforcement agencies and industry players.

As part of its local efforts, Microsoft hosted the Gauteng Provincial Government’s Cybersecurity Day at its Johannesburg offices to strengthen cybersecurity awareness in the public sector.

For South African government departments, businesses and citizens increasingly reliant on digital services, Mathabatha’s message was clear: technology alone cannot eliminate cybercrime, and everyone has a role to play in staying alert.