SABRIC & NELSON MANDELA UNIVERSITY JOIN FORCES IN THE FIGHT AGAINST CYBERCRIME

SABRIC (South African Risk Information Centre) utilises a model of collaboration which sees banks and other key stakeholders such as the National Cybersecurity Hub work closely together to derive robust proactive measures to build cyber-resilience and create awareness for cybercrimes. SABRIC and the Centre for Research in Information and Cyber Security (CRICS) at the Nelson Mandela University have joined forces in this regard. Master’s student, Rahul Maharaj from CRICS, have  produced five cybercrime videos about online shopping, mobile banking, computer hygiene, malware and card fraud in collaboration with SABRIC, to empower members of the public with safety tips while transacting  using digital channels.

These videos, hosted on You Tube, will form part of a public Facebook survey in which people can participate to assess how cyber-aware they are. One of the many benefits of social media platforms is the reach that they provide people with for mass exposure to information, and for this reason, Facebook was an obvious choice. In addition, the interactive nature of social media, like Facebook, will enable the student to better achieve his research objectives.

This partnership will yield excellent reciprocal value for both SABRIC and CRICS at Nelson Mandela University; for the university in terms of furthering Rahul Maharaj’s academic career, and for SABRIC by ensuring that the public benefits from the awareness messaging in the videos. SABRIC and Nelson Mandela University are both very excited about the prospects going forward in terms of research findings, as well as finding further opportunities to disseminate the videos.

SABRIC CEO, Kalyani Pillay says: “SABRIC is not only about collaboration, but also believes in supporting and enabling people who want to make a difference in the world, so when Nelson Mandela University approached us, we saw that there was a natural alignment as well as mutual benefit. Agreeing to work together was an easy decision. “

Prof Rossouw von Solms, a member of CRICS, states that: “Teaming-up with SABRIC creates so many opportunities and advantages in this day and age of applied research that benefits the general citizens of South Africa. SABRIC really created an ideal platform for Rahul Maharaj from where for could conduct his research.”