O National Bank of Angola (BNA) There have been 100 fewer cyberattack attempts this year, with a daily average of 250 compared to 350 in 2023, said the institution's governor, Tiago Dias.
Speaking at the opening of second edition of the BNA conference cycle with the theme “Cybersecurity in the Angolan Financial System”, said that the financial system and banks are preferred targets for criminals, with the need for constant improvements to the cybersecurity systems of all institutions in the national financial system.
"As part of its Strategic Plan for the period 2023 – 2028, the National Bank of Angola is greatly strengthening the institution's cybersecurity pillars, implementing innovative processes and technologies, using artificial intelligence, to which is added a strong investment in its team of experts, in order to reinforce the confidence of participants in the financial sector that it regulates and supervises“, He said.
According to the governor, in the regulation chapter, normative instruments are being designed that aim to adapt current regulations to the dynamics that the national and international cyber environment imposes, boosting the exchange of information between financial institutions and beyond, assisting in the treatment of cyber incidents , whose motivations and impacts can affect the national scale.
BUT: National Bank of Angola confirms that it suffered a cyber attack
In his presentation, the deputy director of the BNA's Banking Supervision department, Fernando Panzo, said that the Angolan central bank has already prepared the cybersecurity structure, which is in the consultation phase with banking institutions' partners, the World Bank, for the its publication in December this year.
Speaking to journalists, the director of the BNA's Integrated Security department said that the meeting identified the need to share information between banking institutions on cybersecurity incidents, which in Angola have mostly external origins, with cases also of attempted insider attacks.
António Neto highlighted that the impact generated by 'ransomware' incidents was also discussed, situations in which cybercriminals, in addition to blocking the banking infrastructure, demand the payment of a ransom, in exchange for handing over the code to regain access.
The official also said that the BNA has information, “although not proven”, that, “indeed, some ransom payments may be taking place 'outside'”
