Windhoek: DNS abuse, denial-of-service attacks and phishing pose a growing threat to internet integrity in southern Africa, the Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN) has said.

According to Namibia Press Agency, in efforts to strengthen cybersecurity capacity and improve regional cooperation in combating Domain Name System (DNS) abuse, the agency's Namibia Cyber Security Incident Response Team (NAM-CSIRT) last week received training in DNS resilience.

CRAN on Monday said DNS abuse, including botnets, denial-of-service attacks and phishing pose a growing threat. 'Such abuses often exploit vulnerabilities within country code Top-Level Domain registries, registrars, and registrants, which frequently lack the necessary security controls and collaborative mechanisms to defend against such threats,' the statement said.

CRAN Chief Executive Officer and Head of NAM-CSIRT, Emilia Nghikembua, said resilient and secure DNS infrastructure is critical to safeguarding digital economies and maintaining public trust. 'This training empowered our stakeholders with the tools and knowledge necessary to identify, prevent and respond effectively to DNS abuse,' Nghikembua said.

She added that capacity building remains a strategic priority. 'The skills and knowledge gained through this training will translate into tangible actions within our local contexts. It is only through continuous education, training, and implementation that we can sustain the momentum and adapt to emerging challenges,' Nghikembua added.

The DNS resilience training underscores NAM-CSIRT and CRAN's commitment to strengthening cyber defence in Namibia and the broader southern African region, she said.