A Wake-Up Call for Data Security: The Cell C Breach

Michael Pretorius

September 5, 2025

On December 20, 2024, Cell C, one of South Africa’s leading telecommunications providers, detected unauthorized access to parts of its IT infrastructure. The incident, initially believed to be limited to isolated systems, quickly escalated in scope. By early 2025, the threat actor RansomHouse publicly disclosed that it had exfiltrated and published nearly 2 terabytes of sensitive customer data.

This breach serves as a sobering reminder that no sector is immune, and that cybersecurity cannot be an afterthought — especially when dealing with millions of users’ private information.

Understanding the Breach

Following forensic investigation and public confirmation by Cell C, it became clear that unstructured datacontaining a wide range of customer information had been accessed and unlawfully disclosed online.

The compromised data included:

Full names and contact details (email, phone numbers)
South African ID numbers
Banking details (if stored for billing purposes)
Driver’s license numbers
Passport details
Medical records (in certain account closure cases)

Given the nature of this data, Cell C warned customers about potential identity theft, phishing attacks, and financial fraud, urging vigilance and preventative action.

How Cell C Responded

In the wake of the breach, Cell C took immediate steps to manage the fallout:
- Collaborated with top cybersecurity experts to contain and assess the breach.
- Notified the Information Regulator and relevant authorities as required under POPIA.
- Launched a public Information Hub to help customers understand and respond to the risks.
- Committed to strengthening cybersecurity infrastructure to prevent similar attacks in the future.
While these measures were necessary and responsible, they came after the breach occurred, highlighting the growing need for proactive, integrated cybersecurity solutions.

Proactive Measures: How 2TS SmartDesk Could Have Made a Difference

To avoid falling victim to breaches of this scale, organizations must deploy real-time endpoint protectionand enforce tight access controls across all devices. This is where SmartDesk, the Unified Endpoint Management (UEM) platform by 2TS, becomes essential.

Unified Endpoint Management (UEM)

SmartDesk gives full visibility and control over all corporate endpoints — from desktops to mobile devices, allowing organizations to:

Monitor for suspicious behavior
Enforce strict access policies
Lock or wipe compromised devices in real time

Endpoint Detection & Response (EDR)

Built-in EDR tools detect unauthorized access attempts and anomalous behavior, automatically isolating affected systems to stop attackers before data can be exfiltrated.

Automated Patch Management

SmartDesk ensures all software and devices are up-to-date with the latest security patches, eliminating known vulnerabilities commonly exploited by threat actors.

Device Encryption & Access Controls

SmartDesk enforces file-level encryption and role-based access, ensuring only authorized users can access sensitive information, even if a device is compromised.

Forensic Logs & Breach Response

In the event of a breach, SmartDesk provides detailed logs for root-cause analysis, regulatory reporting, and insurance claim substantiation, reducing recovery time and reputational damage.

A Look at the Bigger Picture

The breach at Cell C follows a disturbing pattern of high-profile cyber incidents targeting South African infrastructure and service providers. From financial institutions and government departments to national carriers and telecoms, attackers are exploiting weak points in endpoint and data security.

Cybercrime is evolving, and so must our defenses.

Prevention Is Better Than Cure

The Cell C breach underscores the urgent need for proactive cybersecurity infrastructure, especially in industries that manage sensitive personal data. Solutions like SmartDesk by 2TS offer real-time protection, centralized visibility, and immediate response capabilities that could mitigate or even prevent such attacks.

Don’t wait for a breach to take action.

Secure Your Business Before It’s Too Late

Contact 2TS today to discover how SmartDesk and our cybersecurity suite can help your organization stay protected in a rapidly evolving threat landscape.

👉 Visit 2ts.co.za/smartdesk to learn more or book a consultation.