Govt can't keep you safe

INVESTIGATION: OVER 10 000 UNPROTECTED ENTRY POINTS FOR HACKERS TO GET YOUR INFO

- Hein Kaiser

Millions of South Africans' personal details, sensitive state information, and other critical data are at risk of being compromised.

An investigation into the digital security of government servers has shockingly revealed more than 10 000 unprotected entry points through which hackers could potentially exfiltrate sensitive information.

Disturbingly, the gov.za domain, used by governmental institutions in South Africa, is the main conduit to these vulnerabilities.

The Citizen's investigation revealed a potentially dismal picture of cybersecurity that may seem compliant on the surface, but lacks the robustness to resist most kinds of online attacks.

Some firewalls to protect IT systems are in place but, overall, there's a weakness in the national armour, according to the hacking expert.

The chief executive of cyber security operation Scarybyte, Karim Jaber, said if a dedicated group of hackers waged war on South Africa, the country could be taken down in three days.

"From critical infrastructure to essential services like home affairs could be hacked," he said.

According to an expert who wanted to remain anonymous and who demonstrated vulnerabilities to The Citizen, home affairs represents one of the largest risks, with more than 1 000 possible points of digital entry into the system.

An access point, he said, is like a porous border post.

There may be a firewall or border management agents present, but it does not stop anyone from charging at the border and getting through.