The recent hacking of Parliament’s X social media account has raised concerns about cybersecurity and the integrity of digital platforms. The account was compromised to show posts advertising cryptocurrency, with one post featuring a dollar sign next to President Cyril Ramaphosa’s name and hashtags related to “Solan” and crypto terms. These posts have since been deleted, and the account is currently inactive.
Parliament spokesperson Moloto Mothapo confirmed the security breach, stating that Parliament’s digital team intervened to terminate the compromised stream. An investigation is underway to determine the source of the breach, and additional safeguards are being implemented to strengthen the institution’s digital infrastructure. Mothapo emphasized the importance of maintaining secure and reliable platforms for public engagement, as mandated by the Constitution.
In a separate cybersecurity incident, Microsoft has warned of a phishing campaign targeting hotels, resorts, and businesses in the hospitality industry. The campaign impersonates Booking.com and uses a social engineering technique called ClickFix to deliver malware that steals credentials and conducts financial fraud. The campaign, known as Storm-1865, specifically targets hospitality organizations in North America, Oceania, South and Southeast Asia, and Europe. Fake emails purporting to be from Booking.com are sent to targeted individuals, prompting them to download malware through deceptive error messages.
Furthermore, real estate giant Pam Golding Properties recently disclosed a data breach involving its customer relationship management system hosted on servers in South Africa. The breach occurred when an unknown third party gained access to the system through a user account. These cybersecurity incidents highlight the increasing threat of cybercrime and the importance of implementing robust security measures to protect sensitive data and digital assets.
As businesses and organizations continue to rely on digital platforms for communication and operations, it is essential to prioritize cybersecurity and invest in measures to prevent hacking and data breaches. Public awareness and vigilance are crucial in safeguarding against cyber threats and ensuring the integrity of online platforms.
