Why Staying Cyber Smart Is Critical Today: Expert Insights from Vuma

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, and while tech makes life more connected than ever, it also opens doors to digital threats. With Black Friday around the corner, deals are popping up everywhere, and so are scammers.

According to recent data, 68% of South Africans were targeted by fraud between August and December 2024, and 33% lost money as a result. As online activity ramps up, now is the perfect time to strengthen your digital defences and make smart, secure habits part of your daily routine.

Default SSIDs like VumaFibre_1234 are hacker magnets. Rename your Wi-Fi to something unique and set a strong password, it’s the first line of defence for your digital space.

Smart bulbs, cameras, and speakers may make life easier, but they’re also potential access points. Use your router’s guest network feature to keep all those smart devices separate from your personal devices, think of it as your home’s digital guest room.

Scammers have found creative ways to embed malicious links into QR codes found on posters, receipts, and flyers. Before you scan, check if the branding looks legitimate or if the code seems edited or out of place. When in doubt, don’t scan.

Your phone is your digital front door, don’t leave it unlocked. Use multi-factor authentication (MFA), avoid reusing passwords, and treat recovery details like trade secrets.

Whether it’s your router, antivirus, firewall, or cloud backup, ensure they all “speak” to each other. Interconnected systems mean faster responses and fewer “oh no” moments.

If you spot something suspicious, a strange link, a fake WhatsApp message, or a shady email, report it immediately to your bank, internet service provider, or the South African Police Service Digital Crime Unit. Your vigilance could help protect an entire community. Think of it as neighbourhood watch, but digital.

“As South Africans connect to faster fibre and smarter homes, it’s important to connect safely,” says Simon Butler, Chief Commercial Officer at Vuma. “Technology empowers people to do extraordinary things, but it’s only truly powerful when we use it safely and confidently. By practising smart digital habits and looking out for one another, we can make the internet safer for everyone.”

Vuma’s fibre network doesn’t just connect devices, it connects people, schools, communities, and opportunities. From homes and classrooms to entrepreneurs and small businesses, the technology enables real-world progress.

But technology is only half the story. To truly thrive, South Africans need smart habits, shared vigilance, and a little digital street smarts.

By staying curious, cautious, and community-minded, we can protect our data, our networks, and one another, making cyber safety a shared effort.