Cybersecurity Expert Warns Journalists of Rising Digital Threats

• •Journalists face increasing cyber threats, including phishing and ransomware.
• •Cybersecurity is essential for protecting sensitive sources and maintaining newsroom credibility.
• •Professor Adu-Manu cited a case of spyware infection as a warning for journalists.

A cybersecurity expert has alerted journalists and media organizations to enhance their digital security practices due to increasing cyber threats that jeopardize sensitive sources and newsroom credibility. Professor Kofi Sarpong Adu-Manu highlighted various threats, including phishing, social engineering, account takeovers, and ransomware, during a session at the National Community Media Cyber Capacity Building Project in Accra. He emphasized that journalists are often deliberate targets due to their public visibility and access to sensitive information. The expert cited the case of Angolan journalist Teixeira Cândido, whose phone was infected with spyware after clicking a malicious link. He urged journalists to prioritize cybersecurity in their editorial practices and make informed security decisions based on the sensitivity of their work.