Lock Down the Mobile Web This Summer

5 December 2024

South Africans familiar with securing mobile devices should also secure their mobile internet access these holidays.

That’s the word from ISPA, SA’s official internet Industry Representative Body (IRB), which says the ability of mobile devices to connect to the internet from new places while on holiday must be managed for a safe festive period.

No stranger should be able to pick up a device to steal identities or get instant access to personal data. To prevent unauthorised device access, all mobile devices taken on holiday should have PINs, passphrases or biometric security activated.

“Restricting unauthorised access in unfamiliar places will ensure the peace of mind we all seek on holiday,” says Sasha Booth-Beharilal, ISPA chair.

“Because tourists remain prime targets for criminals and mobile devices are often used to validate identities, vacationing mobile users must secure their network data and their devices to protect their identity,” adds Ms Booth-Beharilal.

It’s also important to be aware of critical notifications, in real-time. Make sure all necessary notifications are set, complete with tones or vibration, so important financial transactions are never missed.

Users should always be vigilant and react quickly to events requiring their attention because criminals often base their attacks around social behaviour. For example, one common attack vector sees cybercriminals contacting fraud targets using One Time Passwords (OTPs) as the purported reason.

As users move out of their daily routines, they should be aware of using Wi-Fi internet access that isn’t their own. The best precaution is to use a VPN (virtual private network) service or to not engage in sensitive transactions using public internet access.

Finally, parents and guardians should never underestimate the ability of children to correctly guess PIN codes.

Use unique and unpredictable security credentials that adhere to best practice. Do not use family birth years as PINs. Password managers are a useful tool and help users create strong and unique passwords which limit the risk of any service they use being compromised.

Founded in 1996 Internet Service Providers’ Association of South Africa, ISPA is the only internet Industry Representative Body (IRB) officially recognised by the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies (DCDT) in the country. ISPA advocates for an open, free, and competitive internet landscape and represents a diverse group of over 200 internet organisations.

Check out ISPA’s Cyber Safety Resources page here: https://2026.ispa.org.za/safety/.