Liberty Investigates Data Breach Exposing Customer Personal Information Liberty, a South African insurance and financial services firm, has disclosed a data breach involving unauthorized third-party access to its systems, exposing customers' personal information. The incident was detected yesterday, prompting the company to take immediate containment measures. According to Liberty CEO Yuresh Maharaj, services remain fully operational, and a full investigation supported by cybersecurity experts is underway. The company is notifying affected clients, confirming that compromised data includes ID numbers and names. An SMS sent to customers reassured them that policies and investments remain secure. Under South Africa’s Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA), organizations must report breaches to the Information Regulator and affected individuals promptly, detailing the nature of the incident and mitigation steps. Liberty has complied with these obligations, emphasizing transparency and accountability. This breach occurs amid a surge in cyber threats in South Africa, where organizations faced an average of 2,145 weekly attacks in January a 36% year-on-year increase, according to Check Point Research. The financial impact of such incidents is growing, with JSE-listed companies potentially losing up to 30% of their share value following a cyber crisis. Liberty has previously experienced a cyberattack in 2018, when an external party breached its IT infrastructure and demanded compensation. The latest incident underscores the persistent risks facing financial institutions in an evolving threat landscape.