May 2015

Imbizo puts spotlight on SA’s cyber security

Written by Bathandwa Mbola
Experts in cyber technology say care must be taken to balance the advancement of technology with safeguarding national security.

Stakeholders in this field, including think tanks, policy commentators and political analysts, met in Pretoria recently for discussions hosted by State Security Minister David Mahlobo.

Consensus is that because cyber technology is a borderless platform, this creates a breeding ground for more sophisticated threats such as cybercrime, cyber terrorism, cyber warfare and cyber espionage.

Government and the private sector agree that stronger partnerships must be formed to safeguard South Africa’s national security and its attraction as an investment destination.

The session formed part of the National Imbizo Focus Week, which saw several Cabinet Ministers and their deputies going to communities to explain government’s programme of action.

It interrogated the question of balancing the often competing rights of access to information with the obligation to uphold national security as well as perspectives on the role of intelligence in a democracy.

Minister Mahlobo committed government to strengthening the early warning systems to respond adequately to the ever changing domestic and global security issues.

He said government’s response is already well captured in the National Cyber Security Policy, which aims to promote a cyber-security culture and demand compliance with minimum security standards. It also strengthens intelligence collection through establishing public–private-societal partnerships.

However, citizens should serve as a powerful frontline defence, according to the commentators. This can be done through more public awareness and education on cyber security, cooperation and partnerships with civil society.

The importance of national cyber security was recently highlighted when a 15-year-old school girl from Cape Town was removed from a flight to Johannesburg by police recently under the suspicion that she was going to board an international flight to join the Islamic State (IS).

It is believed the teenager was actively engaging with IS recruiters on social media networks.

Other cases that highlight cyber security include the South African Police Service website hack in 2013 and system breaches at a number of government entities such as the South African Revenue Service, Postbank and the Alfred Nzo District Municipality.

Role of intelligence

The session also interrogated the role of intelligence in a democratic state as well as the definition of national interest.

Minister Mahlobo said national security has been defined in terms of the ability of any state to protect its interest from external threats.

These interests are broadly defined as territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of the nation.

However, in a web of international relations the threat to security is not from one nation to another but also from other non-state sources of insecurity.

“We need to expand the traditional notions of security to address the non–traditional threats and so develop a comprehensive approach to security,” the Minister said.

It was for this reason that government extended the security paradigm to address the rapidly growing non-traditional threats like the struggle for resources embedded in the pursuit for energy security, environmental degradation, forced immigration and international terrorism.

On the question of the role intelligence in a democratic South Africa, the policy commentators questioned, “who then guards the guardians?”

The State Security delegation emphasised that South Africa is a country that has institutions and laws by which they have to oblige.

“The intelligence services have been given special powers but these powers must be exercised in accordance with legislation, regulations, guidelines and rules,” said Minister Mahlobo before reiterating that the Constitution is the supreme law of South Africa.

Minister Mahlobo said there is a need to appreciate the complex issue of secrecy in a time of heightened danger. He said transparency would be promoted where possible without compromising their operations.

Internet, social media safety tips
Parents have also been urged to ensure the safety of their children, who may be targeted on social media. The internet can be a dangerous place and social media websites are no exception, says the South African Police Service (SAPS). It shared the following to tips for parents:

 

  • Learn about the internet and social media. Stay informed of the latest internet websites and social media that children make use of.
  • Insist on knowing your child’s passwords and learn the common acronyms children use online and in text messages.
  • Get involved. Spend time online with your child, whether at home, at the library or at a computer centre in your community. Your involvement in your child’s life, including his or her online life, is the best insurance you can have for your child’s safety.
  • Move your child’s computer into a family room or a frequently travelled room. In fact, your child should be able to use a shared family computer. This tends to limit the visiting of potential dangerous chat rooms and social networking websites, as most teens prefer to view these sites in private. If you must, limit your child’s use of the computer to certain times, such as when you are home or in the room.
  • Talk to your child about the dangers of the internet. Let them know that it is possible to meet internet predators online, especially with the use of private chat rooms or social networking websites.
  • Obtain parental control tools from your internet service provider, local computer store and web browsers.

 

Safety and Security
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