National Treasury confirms malware on infrastructure reporting platform

National Treasury has confirmed that it has "identified malware on its Infrastructure Reporting Model website, the online infrastructure reporting and monitoring system".

In a statement issued to the media late on Wednesday, the Treasury announced that it has isolated the IRM servers to assess the extent of the compromise and to ensure the security of its systems.

"Considering recent media reports since Sunday regarding security incidents affecting Microsoft platforms in the USA, NT has requested Microsoft's assistance in identifying and addressing any potential vulnerabilities within its Information and Communication Technology ICT) environment,". the Treasury said.

Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel

According to reports, this comes amid a widespread global cyber-espionage campaign exploiting vulnerabilities in Microsoft server software, impacting hundreds of organisations worldwide.

Despite the incident, the Treasury assured the public that its systems and websites continue to operate normally without disruption. The department’s ICT unit processes over 200,000 emails daily and facilitates more than 400,000 user connections through its websites each day.

"On average, the NT ICT team successfully detects and blocks approximately 5,800 security threats directed at NT systems every day, showcasing the department's commitment to maintaining a secure digital environment". Treasury added.

"These threats encompass a range of malicious activities, including phishing attempts, malware infections, and spam attacks".

IOL Business

mthobisi.nozulela@iol.co.za