LCR4805
Assignment 2 Semester 2 2024
Detailed Solutions, References & Explanations
Unique number:
Due Date: 10 September 2024
QUESTION 1
Ransomware attacks, such as the one that targeted the local municipality in this scenario, fall within
the broad category of cybercrimes, which are regulated by various statutes in South Africa. A
ransomware virus typically encrypts data, rendering it inaccessible until a ransom is paid to decrypt
it. In this case, Robert, the alleged perpetrator, can potentially face legal consequences under both
the common law (before the Cybercrimes Act 19 of 2020) and statutory law (after the Act came
into force). The South African legal framework before the Act relied heavily on older laws such as
the Electronic Communications and Transactions Act 25 of 2002 (ECT Act) and common law
crimes like extortion, while the Cybercrimes Act 19 of 2020 specifically modernized and
broadened the legal tools available to address cybercrime.
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