Explore publications.

This study evaluates the nature and extent of cybercrimes prevalent within higher learning institutions of South Africa. Cyber-attacks are growing at a distressing rate and has posed a serious challenge within academia by impacting and disrupting normal learning setting. Universities data infrastructure is vulnerable to criminals, can be compromised easily while students and staff are not alien to proportion of cybercrime impact inclusive of hacking, financial loss, bullying, illegal circulation of pornography, blackmailing’s, extortion and many other crimes. This case study evaluates student views about cybercrimes prevalent, causes, interrogated views about cybersecurity channels and impact of crimes at the University of Venda (Univen). Quantitative approach is applied, where snowballing sample procedure was utilised to quantitatively sample Univen students. The focus of this section, is Univen students, therefore 200 questionnaires were circulated amongst them to collect data. The research utilised the routine activities theory and differential association theory of crime as the study problem framework. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 22 for quantitative data analysis is used to analyse data. The study uncovered depth of cybercrimes prevalent within Univen and extent of victimization and perpetration. It also exposes legal challenges hindering reporting or disclosure of violence suffered in online platforms. It makes recommendations that could be used to inform adoption of framework to manage cybercrimes within higher education institutions (HEI) of South Africa and to find alternatives programmes that will positively address cyber incidents within academia.

The growing number of cybercriminals impersonating religious leaders and institutions for financial gain poses a serious threat to the integrity and economic security of religious groups, notably prominent Pentecostal ministries. This study thoroughly investigates and evaluates this phenomenon, focusing on cybercriminals' tactics, the scope of their actions, and the consequences for targeted religious communities and people. The study applies a complete desktop research technique to analyse hackers' use of religious leaders' identities for financial benefit, focusing on Pentecostal ministries. This strategy includes searching academic databases, reading cybersecurity and religious studies journals, and analysing documented cases. The findings show that cybercriminals are primarily driven by financial gain and use strategies including building phoney social media pages, phishing techniques, and compromising communication lines to impersonate religious groups and scam congregants. This study contributes to developing more effective defences against cyber fraud in religious contexts by evaluating religious institutions' responses and mitigation techniques, as well as law enforcement. This project intends to develop more effective techniques for preventing and combating cyber-fraud against religious bodies through an in-depth examination.