Cyber Threat Intelligence
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Ransomware Victim Public Sector

gpaa.gov.za

Ransomware attack by Lockbit3 · Disclosed March 11, 2024 · 🇿🇦 South Africa

gpaa.gov.za

Date Disclosed
Mar 11, 2024
2024
Threat Group
Lockbit3
578 total victims
Country
🇿🇦 South Africa
Industry
Public Sector

ThreatAI Analysis

Compiled from this incident record and the threat intelligence profile for Lockbit3. Figures and technique mappings are quoted from the source data, not inferred.

About the Lockbit3 group

LockBit, also recognized as LockBit Black or Lockbit 3.0, is one of the largest Ransomware Groups in the world and has orchestrated extensive cyberattacks across various industries, impacting thousands of organizations globally with its relentless and adaptive strategies. Lockbit3 has listed 2,016 victims since December 2021.

Incident Analysis

gpaa.gov.za was targeted by Lockbit3 ransomware, one of the most active ransomware groups in our database with 578 confirmed victims globally. The attack was disclosed on March 11, 2024, when gpaa.gov.za appeared on the group's dark web leak site.

gpaa.gov.za is based in South Africa , operating in the Public Sector sector. South Africa ranks #32 globally for ransomware attacks, with 93 victims in our database.

Sector context: Organisations in this sector hold valuable data and operational systems that ransomware groups seek to exploit for financial gain through encryption and data exfiltration.

Lockbit3 typically employs a double extortion model: first exfiltrating sensitive data from the victim's systems, then deploying ransomware to encrypt files. Victims face two simultaneous threats — paying to restore access and paying to prevent publication of stolen data. The group's leak site publishes victim names and exfiltrated data as leverage.

Data source: This incident record is sourced from public ransomware group leak site disclosures aggregated via the ransomware.live API. Disclosure date reflects when the victim was published on the leak site, which may differ from the initial date of compromise. This platform does not publish or link to stolen data. Last data update: Sep 7, 2026 00:00 UTC.

Frequently Asked Questions

Was gpaa.gov.za attacked by ransomware?

Yes. gpaa.gov.za was listed as a victim of the Lockbit3 ransomware group on March 11, 2024. The organisation is based in South Africa and operates in the Public Sector sector. The disclosure appeared on the group's dark web leak site.

Which ransomware group attacked gpaa.gov.za?

gpaa.gov.za was attacked by Lockbit3 ransomware. Lockbit3 is one of the most active ransomware groups, having claimed 578 victims globally. The group typically employs a double-extortion model: encrypting the victim's files and threatening to publish stolen data.

When did the gpaa.gov.za ransomware attack occur?

The ransomware attack on gpaa.gov.za was disclosed on March 11, 2024. This date reflects when the victim was published on the threat group's leak site, which may differ from the actual date of initial compromise.

What data was stolen in the gpaa.gov.za ransomware attack?

The specific data stolen from gpaa.gov.za has not been independently verified by this platform. Ransomware groups typically exfiltrate data before encrypting systems and use the threat of publication to pressure victims. As a Public Sector organisation, gpaa.gov.za likely held sensitive business data, client information, and operational records.

How can organisations protect against Lockbit3 attacks?

To defend against Lockbit3 and similar threat actors, organisations should: maintain regular offline backups tested for restoration; implement network segmentation to limit lateral movement; deploy multi-factor authentication on all remote access; use endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools; conduct regular phishing and security awareness training; and monitor threat intelligence feeds for indicators of compromise (IOCs) associated with active groups.