SAA Hit by Significant Cyberattack, Disrupting Internal Operations
South African Airways (SAA) has confirmed a major cyberattack that disrupted its internal operational systems, prompting the airline to appoint independent digital forensic investigators.
Cyberattack Disrupts SAA Systems
The cyberattack, which began on Saturday, temporarily disrupted access to SAA’s website, mobile application, and several internal operational systems. Despite the breach, the airline managed to minimize disruptions to core flight operations.
“Essential customer service channels, including contact centers and sales offices, remained functional. Full system recovery was achieved later the same day,” SAA stated.
Related: Cybercrime: A Global Risk Surpassing Load Shedding in Potential Impact
Investigation Underway
SAA has engaged independent forensic experts to determine the root cause and scope of the incident. The airline is also assessing whether external cybercriminal activities were responsible.
Data Security Concerns
Preliminary investigations are ongoing to determine if any sensitive data was accessed or stolen. SAA has pledged to notify affected parties in compliance with regulatory requirements if a breach is confirmed.
The airline emphasized its commitment to working with law enforcement to ensure system integrity and operational security.
Recent Cybersecurity Incidents in South Africa
MTN Cyberattack
In April, MTN experienced a cybersecurity breach that exposed personal information of customers in select markets. The telecom giant confirmed no critical infrastructure was compromised.
President Ramaphosa Targeted
In 2022, hacking group SpiderLog$ leaked details of a loan taken by President Cyril Ramaphosa, highlighting vulnerabilities in South Africa’s cybersecurity defenses.
Rising Cost of Data Breaches
According to recent reports, the average cost of a data breach in South Africa reached R53.1 million in 2024. IBM research indicates that compromised credentials account for 17% of cyberattacks, with an average cost of R56 million per incident.
Interpol’s 2024 African Cyberthreat Assessment Report revealed a 23% year-on-year increase in cyberattacks across the continent, the highest globally.
Related: MTN Hit by Cybersecurity Incident, Customer Details Compromised