Elite crime-fighting unit the Hawks and computer forensic investigators said yesterday there was an increase in the number of cases in which online e-mail accounts such as Gmail were hacked, monitored for about 28 days and then used to intercept financial transactions without the user’s knowledge.
At the same time, more South Africans are falling victim to ransomware, a type of malware that takes control of data until a ransom is paid.
Hawks spokesman Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi said parastatals, government, big business and wealthy individuals were being targeted in both cases.
Computer forensic expert Danny Myburgh has received at least five new cases of online e-mail hacks this month.
“A lot of people use Gmail or other online e-mail accounts as their primary account for their personal affairs,” he said.
“The perpetrators watch what you are doing without you knowing.
“They take note of the terminology you use and the way that you speak to your mother, sister and banker.”
