Namibia recorded a sharp decline in cyber vulnerabilities and reported cyber threat events during the first quarter of 2026, but businesses, financial institutions and operators of critical infrastructure remain exposed to increasingly sophisticated ransomware attacks, according to the Namibia Cyber Security Incident Response Team (NAM-CSIRT).
The latest Cybersecurity Constituent Newsletter, released by NAM-CSIRT under the Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN), shows that detected cyber vulnerabilities fell 31.3%, while reported cyber threat events declined 47.3% between January and March 2026.
The report attributes the improvement to stronger cybersecurity awareness, continuous network monitoring, proactive threat mitigation and better cyber hygiene among businesses, government institutions and critical infrastructure operators.
Despite the encouraging trend, NAM-CSIRT warned that the country’s cyber risk profile remains elevated as cybercriminals increasingly target organisations that hold sensitive data and provide essential services.
During the quarter, the national cyber monitoring system detected 367,670 vulnerabilities and 103,085 cyber threat events, highlighting the scale of attempted attacks against Namibian networks.
The report identifies exposed remote management services and outdated network protocols as some of the biggest weaknesses facing organisations, with open Customer Premises Equipment WAN Management Protocol (CWMP), Network Time Protocol (NTP), Telnet, Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) and Domain Name System (DNS) services remaining among the most common vulnerabilities.
For businesses, the report warns that ransomware groups are becoming increasingly organised and financially motivated.
Threat actors such as Prinz Eugen and XP95 are employing more sophisticated extortion techniques targeting financial institutions, government agencies and organisations that process large volumes of confidential information, increasing the potential financial and operational impact of cyber incidents.
The report also points to the cyberattack on Namibia Airports Company (NAC) as evidence that operators of critical infrastructure remain attractive targets.
The attack allegedly involved unauthorised access to internal systems and the theft of approximately 500GB of data by the INC Ransomware Group.
While airport operations, safety and security were not affected, the incident underscored the growing financial, operational and reputational risks cyberattacks pose to organisations.
CRAN Executive for Communication and Consumer Relations, Mufaro Nesongano, said the decline in cyber incidents demonstrates that investments in cybersecurity are beginning to deliver measurable results, but warned that businesses cannot afford to lower their guard.
“The significant reduction in both cyber vulnerabilities and threat events is encouraging and demonstrates the value of continuous awareness, collaboration, and proactive cybersecurity measures. However, the evolving threat landscape and incidents targeting critical infrastructure remind us that cybersecurity remains a shared responsibility. As Namibia advances its digital transformation agenda, it is essential that organisations continue to strengthen their cyber defences, invest in resilience, and foster a culture of cybersecurity awareness,” Nesongano said.
