The Director of the Jamaica Cyber Incident Response Team (JaCIRT), Lieutenant Colonel Godphey Sterling, has announced a significant 78% decrease in attempted cyberattacks across the country over the past year. This reduction is attributed to heightened awareness and proactive measures taken by organizations to address vulnerabilities before breaches occur.

However, despite this decline in overall cyberattacks, there has been a concerning rise in ransomware incidents within Jamaica. Key sectors, including the hotel industry, financial institutions, insurance companies, and media outlets, have been targeted. Some of these attacks resulted in the unauthorized extraction of sensitive personal data.

JaCIRT is urging affected organizations to report incidents to the Office of the Information Commissioner and notify their clients, particularly those in the financial sector, about potential data exposure. Col. Sterling emphasized that customers of impacted financial institutions should closely monitor their accounts for any suspicious activity, particularly large or unfamiliar transactions, over the next six months.

JaCIRT, a division of the Office of the Prime Minister, continues to play a crucial role in strengthening Jamaica's cybersecurity landscape by supporting both public and private sectors and promoting a culture of cybersecurity awareness across the nation.

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