South Africa is recording significantly higher levels of cyberattacks than many other countries on the continent, with its status as a major financial and digital hub making it an attractive target for cybercriminals.
Interpol says no African country is immune to cybercrime, but South Africa is experiencing particularly high levels of ransomware and distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks.
The warning comes in Interpol’s latest Cyber Assessment Report, which highlights a sharp increase in cybercrime-related financial losses across Africa.
According to the 40-page report, losses linked to cybercrime more than doubled, rising from about $192 million in 2024 to $484 million. The assessment is based on survey data from 36 African member countries.
The report describes the continent’s cybercrime landscape as evolving from isolated criminal activity into an increasingly industrialised and borderless ecosystem.
Among the key drivers of the surge are artificial intelligence-assisted scams, credential theft and automated social engineering attacks.
Interpol’s cybercrime unit director, Neal Jetton, said criminals are not necessarily singling out South Africa. Instead, they are scanning digital networks for weaknesses that can be exploited.
Jetton said increased digitalisation, combined with gaps in data and network security in some areas, has created vulnerabilities that financially motivated cybercriminals are actively searching for.
He explained that criminals operate across borders, scanning networks and identifying weaknesses that can be exploited for financial gain.
The findings highlight the growing need for stronger cybersecurity measures as African countries become increasingly reliant on digital services and connected systems.
South Africa’s prominent role in the continent’s financial and technology sectors places additional pressure on businesses, government institutions and individuals to strengthen their digital security and protect sensitive information.