- AVBOB has disclosed that its IT systems were hacked by “external malicious actors”.
- Some of its digital services are currently unavailable, but the mutual assurance society says customers can access services at AVBOB branches nationwide.
- It is not yet clear whether clients' personal information was breached.
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AVBOB has reported disruptions to some of its digital services following a hack by “external malicious actors”.
The mutual assurance society has been providing funeral, burial and insurance services for more than 100 years. It currently serves more than 5.5 million people, according to its website. Unlike a company, AVBOB does not have shareholders. All surplus profits are returned to members.
On Monday, AVBOB notified its clients that some of its digital systems were offline following a third-party IT hack. The disruption is preventing the society from providing certain services.
AVBOB did not disclose which systems are unavailable and indicated that it was still trying to determine whether client data had been compromised.
AVBOB general manager of corporate affairs Adriaan Bester said the incident was being “treated with the utmost seriousness, and our technical teams, together with specialist partners, are working around the clock to restore functionality”.
“We wish to assure our policyholders, partners and stakeholders that we are actively managing the situation and prioritising the continuity of essential services.
“While some systems and branch services remain affected, all AVBOB branches nationwide remain operational and available to assist with payments, claims registration and funeral arrangements through manual procedures,” Bester said.
A frequently asked questions (FAQ) page linked to the notice on the AVBOB website indicates that the entity became aware of the incident on 30 May. AVBOB has not yet disclosed who the malicious actor is.
The FAQ page states that AVBOB does not have access to the PIN codes or passwords of its clients’ bank accounts, so no accounts could be compromised.
AVBOB expects its digital system to be available “in days rather than weeks”, though it could not provide an exact timeline for resolution.
AVBOB said clients would not be negatively affected if they experience delays in making payments during this period. A notice on the AVBOB website explains how AVBOB clients can pay their premiums online during the disruption.
“We sincerely apologise for the inconvenience caused and thank our clients and partners for their patience and understanding. We are committed to restoring all systems as soon as possible and returning to normal operations,” Bester said.
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