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Department of Justice: Ransomware Attack Cripples South African Legal System

In September 2021, the South African Department of Justice became the target of a devastating ransomware attack that crippled the country’s entire legal infrastructure. All electronic systems, including e-mails, online court systems, and departmental websites, were rendered inoperative, disrupting critical judicial and administrative functions for weeks.

This attack severely impacted court cases, resulting in postponed hearings and a backlog of legal matters. The attackers demanded a ransom to restore services, and while the department refused to pay, the recovery process was slow and cumbersome, exposing weaknesses in its digital infrastructure.

Lessons Learned:

  • Ransomware Protection: Ransomware remains one of the most dangerous forms of cyberattacks, particularly for government institutions where downtime can have national consequences. The Department of Justice’s experience highlights the importance of having backups and a robust data recovery strategy in place.
  • Cybersecurity Awareness and Training: Government institutions often face human-related vulnerabilities, such as phishing and weak passwords. Continuous training of staff in identifying and avoiding phishing attacks can significantly reduce ransomware risks.
  • Proactive Security Audits: Many government systems are outdated, making them more susceptible to attacks. Regular vulnerability assessments and system audits are essential for identifying and addressing weak points before they are exploited.

How Afritech Computing Would Have Assisted: Afritech Computing could have provided the Department of Justice with ransomware-specific defenses, including endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools, which would quickly identify and isolate any ransomware attempts. Our managed services would ensure daily data backups, both locally and in the cloud, allowing for a fast recovery in the event of an attack. Additionally, we would conduct regular vulnerability assessments of their systems and offer continuous cybersecurity training to staff, ensuring a high level of awareness and responsiveness to potential threats.

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