South Africa's ransomware crisis is intensifying, and attackers aren't taking a holiday break. This week on Priviso Live, we unpack the alarming industry analysis showing why South African organisations remain dangerously exposed, with poor patch cycles, weak identity controls, and inadequate backups creating a perfect storm during the festive season when security teams are stretched thin.

We dive into the explosive political fallout surrounding the Communications Minister's controversial EEIP directive - a potential game-changer for Starlink's entry into South Africa that's drawn sharp criticism from the ANC and ignited fierce debate about transformation frameworks and regulatory authority.

The episode reveals stark continental cyber intelligence: Ethiopia and Nigeria are facing unprecedented AI-driven attack rates, with banking, telecoms, and energy sectors under siege from automated phishing kits and enhanced credential attacks. Meanwhile, South Africa's Information Regulator breach portal exposes the true scale of incidents the country has been facing.

But it's not all regulatory drama and threat warnings. We explore NIST's groundbreaking draft AI Cybersecurity Framework - your blueprint for AI governance while South Africa's legislative environment catches up. Plus, we take a fascinating journey through Christmas cybersecurity history, from the 1987 Christmas Tree EXEC worm to the Lizard Squad attacks that ruined millions of gaming Christmases in 2014.

With practical takeaways for security leaders, urgent warnings about AI-generated holiday scams, and critical guidance on protecting your organisation during the most vulnerable time of year, this episode is essential listening before you log off for the holidays.

Don't wait until December 22nd to lock down your defences - the attackers already haven't.