The Namibia Cyber Security Incident Response Team (NAM-CSIRT) has published its second quarterly report for 2025, highlighting a notable rise in cyber threats and security weaknesses throughout the nation.

The document, located at the Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN), points to a worrying increase in cyber incidents from April to June 2025.

As stated by Emilia Nghikembua, Head of NAM-CSIRT, the group identified 549,556 security flaws, representing a 1.62% rise compared to the prior quarter. The report also noted a significant 224% surge in cyber incidents, with 843,490 cases documented.

The report highlights non-HTTP sinkhole activity and botnet infections as significant risks. These statistics emphasize the critical importance of businesses, organizations, and individuals enhancing their online security measures and implementing preventive security strategies.

Nghikembua referred to the initiative as a “crucial step forward in Namibia’s digital transformation process,” highlighting the essential role of NAM-CSIRT in safeguarding the country’s critical information infrastructure against ever-more complex cyber threats.

New ransomware groups like World Leaks and DataCarry have been recognized as significant global and regional threats, with African organizations facing growing attacks.

At the local level, Telegram-based phishing schemes and social engineering fraud continue to be common, taking advantage of public trust and vulnerabilities within organizations. Nam-CSIRT highlighted the significance of increasing awareness, implementing multi-factor authentication, and confirming messages to avoid these types of attacks.

In addition to detection and response, NAM-CSIRT has been proactively establishing national and international collaborations to enhance cybersecurity robustness.

In April 2025, the NAM-CSIRT was formally introduced by Minister of Information and Communications Technology, Emma Theofelus, representing a major step forward in protecting Namibia’s digital economy.

NAM-CSIRT was involved in international capacity-enhancement programs, such as the GISEC Global Cyberdrill in Dubai, which achieved a Guinness World Record for being the biggest cyber exercise with more than 130 national teams participating.

Additionally, the team participated in the 37th Annual FIRST Conference and the NATCSIRT Annual Meeting held in Copenhagen, enhancing global collaboration and exchanging top strategies with over 700 cybersecurity groups from more than 100 nations.

NAM-CSIRT also participated in CRAN’s celebration of Girls in ICT Day, advocating for inclusivity in digital transformation by inspiring young women to enter careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). This effort highlighted the significance of cultivating a confident and capable digital future generation.

The report also highlighted cyberbullying, which is seen as an increasing concern in Namibia’s digital era. Although existing laws, including the Communications Act (No. 8 of 2009) and the Electronic Transactions Act of 2019, offer a foundation for dealing with online harassment, the upcoming Cybercrime Act is anticipated to enhance legal safeguards against cyberbullying and associated crimes.

Furthermore, NAM-CSIRT emphasized that cybersecurity is a joint obligation, necessitating collaboration among the government, private industry, civil organizations, and citizens. Through united efforts, Namibia can establish a secure digital atmosphere that encourages innovation, strength, and economic development.

Individuals are advised to notify cyber incidents via email to report@nam-csirt.na or reach out to Nam-CSIRT by calling +264 61 222 666.