Latest news with #Surfshark
The Citizen
9 hours ago
- Business
- The Citizen
South Africa remains a global hotspot for data breaches
During the second quarter of the year, user account leaks averaged one every minute, a record high. South Africa continues to be the target of cybercriminals, with the country being ranked 27th of most breached globally. Picture: iStock South Africa continues to be a target of cybercriminals, ranking 27th globally in the most breached countries in the second quarter of 2025, highlighting persistent cybersecurity gaps. A new report by Surfshark has revealed that, so far in 2025, a total of 369,600 accounts have been leaked in the country. A data breach every minute The second quarter of the year hit a high, with one user account leaked every minute. Surfshark's report indicates that more than 21 000 South African accounts were breached between April and June, which translates to approximately three per 100 000 people. In total, South Africa has had a total of 124.2 million personal records exposed since 2004. On average, each email is breached with 2.9 additional data points. ALSO READ: A cyberattack every 39 seconds: Upgrade PCs to upgrade security Personal information Sarunas Sereika, product manager at Surfshark, said today's digital age requires people to share more and more personal information to carry out daily tasks. 'Whether sharing your name and address for food deliveries, or phone numbers when making a booking at a barber shop, there is no guarantee that businesses are keeping crucial information safe and secure. 'In the wrong hands, this data can be used to commit identity theft, via social media, for targeted scams or sold on the dark web — where they're traded for further illegal use,' said Sereika. Leak Surfshark's latest study showed that 161 100 accounts were leaked in the second quarter of 2025. Globally, a total of 93.6 million accounts were breached, with the US ranking first and amounting to 45% of all breaches from April through June. France takes second place, while India is third, followed by Germany and Israel. ALSO READ: Data breaches cost SA organisations over R360m in 3 years Data breach over the years Surfshark's analysis of data breaches since 2004 shows that South Africa ranks second in Africa, with 42.8 million compromised user accounts. A total of 12.7M unique emails were breached from South Africa. The report also showed that 22.7 million passwords were leaked together with South African accounts, putting 53% of breached users in danger of account takeover that might lead to identity theft, extortion or other cybercrimes. Statistically, 66 out of 100 South African people have been affected by data breaches. Global stats Countries with the highest breach density in Q2 2025 Leaked accounts per 1,000 residents France – 172 Israel – 130 United States – 123 Singapore – 26 Canada – 24 South Sudan – 23 Belgium – 21 Ireland – 16 Switzerland – 16 Germany – 15 Surfshark said a data breach happens when confidential and sensitive data gets exposed to unauthorised third parties. More needs to be done Surfshark's data breach report provides critical insight into the vulnerability of the country's cybersecurity; however, more needs to be done to protect South Africans from attack despite the Protection of Personal Information Act (Popia). While artificial intelligence and Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) are the most popular technologies in the news right now, there are concerns about the emerging technology landscape, which is putting people and businesses at risk. South African organisations must increasingly prioritise cybersecurity defences to safeguard their digital infrastructure and maintain trust in an interconnected world. ALSO READ: Average cost of a data breach in SA is R53.1m – Report
Tom's Guide
10 hours ago
- Politics
- Tom's Guide
Political turmoil and military tensions see 24 internet restrictions imposed so far in 2025
24 cases of internet restrictions have been imposed in the first six months of 2025, with countless people, activists, and journalists being censored. One of the best VPNs, Surfshark, monitors cases of censorship through its Internet Shutdown Tracker and cases exceed those recorded in the first six months of 2024. So far in 2025, 24 internet restrictions have been recorded in 10 countries/territories. The first six months of 2024 saw 20 restrictions in nine countries, with internet censorship going on to impact 4.8 billion people. This trend could see even more people become victims of internet censorship by the end of 2025, and reinforces how vital it is to oppose internet censorship at every turn. Of the 24 internet restrictions recorded, 15 occurred in Asian countries/territories. India imposed five restrictions, mostly as a result of protests taking place across several regions and cities. The disputed Jammu & Kashmir region also saw five restrictions amid political turmoil. Iran was third on the list, recording three internet restrictions. These largely took place during the height of its military tensions with Israel and saw demand for VPNs peak at 707% over the baseline. Congo DR, Iraq, Panama, and Venezuela all restricted the internet twice, while Kenya, Togo, and Tanzania recorded one case of internet restriction. The Proton VPN Observatory saw a VPN spike of 12,000% over the baseline in Togo as protestors called for the president's resignation following controversial constitution changes. NetBlocks, which works in partnership with Surfshark to run its tracker, reported at least three days of internet blackouts in Panama. This took place at the end of June and coincided with protests by banana workers. According to Surfshark this was the first time Panama has imposed internet restrictions since the provider began monitoring data in 2015. ⚠️ Update: Metrics show the internet blackout in the Bocas del Toro Province of #Panama is in its third day, with emergency calls also impacted; the measure, imposed in response to banana workers' protests, continues to limit economic activity and freedom of expression 24, 2025 "Over the years, governments have used internet shutdowns to control and silence journalists, activists, and the public," said Justas Pukys, VPN Product Manager at Surfshark. "Internet blackouts can be dangerous, especially during critical events such as elections, protests, or other political turmoil. Losing internet access makes it harder to stay in touch with family members, access critical news outlets, and share urgent information with the world about unfolding events." "Since internet access is now essential to basic human rights, it's more important than ever to track cases of mass censorship." Social media is often seen as an easy target for authorities looking to impose restrictions. Social media restrictions differ from network restrictions but can occur simultaneously. Surfshark reports that 24 countries are currently blocking social media or voice over IP (VOIP) services. Telegram is the most targeted app, with X/Twitter close behind. Venezuela blocked Telegram in the early hours of January 11 as President Nicolás Maduro was sworn in for a third term. A few days earlier, Venezuela had gone on a VPN banning spree as 21 providers had their websites blocked. In March, the Proton VPN Observatory recorded a VPN spike in Turkey of 1,100% over the baseline. The government restricted access to YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and X, as protests engulfed the country following the arrest of President Erdogan's main political rival. TikTok was also blocked in Albania – another country imposing its first restriction – as a one-year ban came into effect in March. The app famously went offline for a short period in the US as rumors surrounding its ban and/or potential purchase circled. President Trump has since extended the TikTok ban twice and it looks unlikely to be shut down again. Although this move wasn't done with direct censorship in mind, and therefore not classed as an internet restriction, it shows that no country is immune to restrictions and it should be challenged at every level. VPNs are on the front line when it comes to combating internet censorship, and they are a vital tool for those living under restricted conditions. Many of the leading VPNs are effective at bypassing restrictions of varying severity. In most instances, all it takes to bypass blockages is connecting to a server in a different country and accessing the app or site being blocked. But in some cases, you need one of the most private VPNs as government censorship is more sophisticated – China and Russia are the two leading examples here. Advised for bypassing all restrictions, but especially important for sophisticated restrictions, is VPN obfuscation. Obfuscated servers hide the fact you're using a VPN and make it harder for sites, internet service providers, and governments to block your traffic and identify you. NordVPN, Surfshark, ExpressVPN, and Proton VPN all have obfuscated servers, as do other secure providers not featured in our best VPN list. All of these providers have strict no-logs policies, which mean your internet traffic is never recorded, stored, shared, or sold. Double VPN or multi-hop features are also present. These route your traffic through two encrypted VPN servers, rather than the usual one, for added security. Proton VPN champions anti-censorship features which are specifically designed to bypass internet restrictions and keep vulnerable users safe. These include Proton VPN Free, Guest Mode, and the ability to disguise its Android VPN app. Many VPNs also offer free emergency VPN subscriptions to journalists, activists, and anyone living under internet censorship unable to access a free and open internet. Providers like Proton VPN and Windscribe do this in the form of some of the best free VPNs, while others like NordVPN and Surfshark have dedicated emergency VPN programs. Follow Tom's Guide on Google News to get our up-to-date news, how-tos, and reviews in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button. We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example: 1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service). 2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad. We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.
Tom's Guide
4 days ago
- Business
- Tom's Guide
Grab Norton VPN for $2.50 per month with Tom's Guide's exclusive deal
Norton is a huge name in the world of antivirus, and it's now looking to become one of the best VPNs. Norton VPN focuses on privacy and security, leaning on the knowledge and expertise the world-famous security brand is known for. It's somewhat feature-light compared to the likes of NordVPN, Surfshark, and Express VPN, but it represents good value for money. Right now, you can save up to 72% on one-year plans. Norton VPN Plus works out at $2.50 per month ($29.99 up front) and Norton VPN Ultimate is $3.33 per month ($39.99 up front). These prices are exclusive to Tom's Guide and our friends at TechRadar, with very few VPNs available at a cheaper price. Norton VPN Plus: a solid VPN with great potential Save 72%: Norton VPN has drastically improved in the last year. With Norton VPN Plus you can protect up to 5 devices on one plan with rock-solid encryption and fast speeds. A kill switch, password manager, and threat protection are all included, along with Double VPN and IP Rotation. The one-year plan is $2.50 per month ($29.99 up front) thanks to Tom's Guide's exclusive deal. You'll benefit from a 60-day money-back guarantee and there's also a 7-day free trial. Norton has been getting serious about its VPN over the last year. We're in the process of re-testing the product, and so far we're impressed with the strong improvements we've seen. It completed a no-logs audit in 2024 and launched its own VPN protocol, known as Mimic – designed to obfuscate your VPN traffic. There's also a kill switch, password manager, Double VPN, IP Rotation, and a high standard of threat protection. The last time we speed tested Norton VPN it maxed out at over 950 Mbps, making it one of the fastest VPNs. The Norton VPN Plus plan is the best value right now. It's 72% off and works out as $2.50 per month ($29.99 up front) for one year's protection. You'll get VPN protection for up to five devices, the features mentioned above, plus 10 GB of cloud storage (Windows users only) and dark web monitoring. Norton VPN Ultimate is designed for families, with protection for up to 10 devices on offer. This plan includes all the features offered in the Norton VPN Plus plan, with the addition of 50 GB cloud storage and parental controls. This plan is 69% off, equating to $3.33 per month ($39.99 up front) for a one year subscription. All plans come with a 60-day money-back guarantee, double the length offered by most major VPN providers. You can also unlock a 7-day free trial of Norton VPN so you can try before you buy. This isn't something VPN providers generally offer. Surfshark is the only major provider to currently offer a free trial across all platforms, so this is a plus point for Norton. These exclusive prices make Norton VPN one of the cheapest VPNs out there. Although we haven't completed our full review of the upgraded Norton VPN product, we're confident in saying it's a secure and reputable VPN provider. It's not packed full of VPN features – yet – but it will keep your data safe and may be of special interest if you're already a fan of Norton's antivirus products. Follow Tom's Guide on Google News to get our up-to-date news, how-tos, and reviews in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button. We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example: 1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service). 2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad. We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.
Phone Arena
6 days ago
- Business
- Phone Arena
The JBL Xtreme 3 is back in the spotlight at 42% off in Amazon's limited-time sale
The JBL Xtreme 3 is 42% off once again $140 off (42%) The JBL Xtreme 3 is 42% off in Black once again, offering way more value for money. With its impressive audio output, rugged build, and long playtime, it's perfect for just about any occasion, especially at its current price. Take advantage of Amazon's limited-time sale while it lasts. Buy at Amazon Receive the latest mobile news By subscribing you agree to our terms and conditions and privacy policy Grab Surfshark VPN now at more than 50% off and with 3 extra months for free! Secure your connection now at a bargain price! We may earn a commission if you make a purchase Check Out The Offer Music lovers, Amazon is once again letting you get epic JBL sound for much less. We're talking about the e-commerce giant's latest JBL Xtreme 3 sale, which slashes the unit back to its lowest price in first saw this epic $140 price cut last month. Just like before, the promo is exclusively available on the unit in Black, while the Camo and Blue variants retail for $130 off. If you missed last month's chance to save big on one of the best large portable Bluetooth speakers , now's your chance to act. Grab your $140 in savings before Amazon's limited-time sale a rugged design with an IP67 rating, this large fella is ready to take the party anywhere you go. Not only that, but it supports Bluetooth multipoint, so you and your friends can take turns blasting your favorite when it comes to sound, the JBL Xtreme 3 delivers a lot. It gets incredibly loud, letting you entertain small gatherings and large crowds alike. Out of the box, it offers deep and punchy bass, detailed mids, and clear vocals. On top of that, it features four EQ presets and a five-band equalizer to help you fine-tune the audio to your life is just as awesome, with this bad boy promising up to 15 hours of nonstop playtime. What's more, it lets you charge devices while streaming, just like the smaller JBL Charge it's not the latest JBL Xtreme model, but the Xtreme 3 packs a punch to this day. Plus, now that it's once again available at its lowest price in 2025, it's a much more attractive pick. Head to Amazon and take advantage of this epic 42% discount while it's still available. And remember — since it's a limited-time promo, chances are it won't last too long.
Phone Arena
6 days ago
- Business
- Phone Arena
This budget Lenovo tablet with LTE just became cheaper than ever
Save $110 on the Lenovo Tab K11 LTE $169 99 $279 99 $110 off (39%) The affordable Lenovo Tab K11 LTE just became way cheaper. Right now, you can get the 8/128GB Android tablet for $110 off its original price at That brings it to its lowest price yet. Hurry up and save while it lasts. Buy at Lenovo Receive the latest mobile news By subscribing you agree to our terms and conditions and privacy policy Android tablet Grab Surfshark VPN now at more than 50% off and with 3 extra months for free! Secure your connection now at a bargain price! We may earn a commission if you make a purchase Check Out The Offer Why spend an arm and a leg on a tablet with cellular connectivity when Lenovo is offering its Tab K11 LTE for a stunning $110 off its original price? Yep, the $279.99 Android slate is down to a new all-time low, and you can buy it for only $ we've come across other bargains in the past, none of them exceeded $90. As if that's not enough, we last saw the Tab K11 at lower prices back in May. So, if you missed your earlier chances to save, now's a great time to this Android tablet doesn't offer 5G, but it's still a perfectly decent choice for casual use. It also packs an 11-inch WUXGA display with a decent 90Hz refresh rate. Since it's a budget-friendly model, this bad boy doesn't boast superb brightness, but you should have no visibility issues for performance, you can expect the Tab K11 to handle daily tasks with ease, though you might not want to push it to its limits way too much. It features a MediaTek Helio G88 chip, paired with 8GB RAM and 128GB of extras include a four-speaker system and Kids Space, so parents can set content restrictions and create a safe environment for their kids. In terms of battery life, you have a decent 7,040mAh battery with up to 10 hours of playback per charge. In addition, the device gets OS support until Android 15 and regular security maintenance until the end of the day, the Lenovo Tab K11 LTE may not be the most impressiveon the market, but it's a suitable option for undemanding users. And now that you can get it for only $169.99, it becomes way more irresistible. Get yours and save $110 while Lenovo's promo lasts.
