South Africa's International Trade Administration Commission (ITAC) has alerted employees and trading partners to a potential data breach following a ransomware attack on January 2, 2024. The attack encrypted files and locked employees out of the system.

In a statement seen by News24 on Monday, April 15, 2024, ITAC disclosed the breach and its efforts to enhance security measures, including firewall updates. Chief Commissioner Ayabonga Cawe confirmed that private information of ITAC employees, service providers, and importers may have been accessed during the attack.

Cawe emphasized the importance of stakeholders being aware that their personal information submitted to ITAC might have been compromised. ITAC is working with South Africa's Information Regulator and consulting legal advisors on how to handle media inquiries.

This incident marks at least the second ransomware attack on a government entity in 2024, highlighting the growing cyber threat facing South Africa and Africa as a whole. Orange Cyberdefense notes a significant increase in cyber attacks in Africa, with the region showing the third-highest growth globally over the past year.

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