Recently, I came across a headline that caught my attention.
Ten billion new passwords have just leaked online, increasing the global total of compromised credentials to over 16 billion.
Let that sink in.
These are not just old logins. Many are still active, connected to real emails, cloud storage, bank accounts and enterprise systems.
Once they are out there, the door is wide open to identity theft, financial fraud, ransomware and worse.
This Is Not Just a Tech Problem
Cybercrime is no longer targeting solely “big tech.” It is affecting SMEs, hospitals, logistics companies and everyday individuals.
• 81% of hacking-related breaches occur, due to weak or stolen passwords
• The global cost of cybercrime in 2024 exceeded $10 trillion
• Africa lost an estimated $4 billion — much of which was avoidable.
At Heirs Technologies, we have seen it firsthand.
One of our clients suffered a full-blown ransomware attack—all because of one compromised password. The attack took them offline for a week, causing significant financial and reputational damage.
So, What Can You Actually Do?
Here are the simple steps we share with our clients and teams, they make a significant impact:
🔐 Avoid reusing passwords. Consider using a password manager.
📲 Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) at all times.
🧠 Train your employees. Cybersecurity is fundamentally a human issue.
👁️🗨️ Monitor your systems. Silence does not mean safety.
💡 Invest in cyber readiness. Prevention is cheaper than recovery.
Where the Industry Must Go
Cybersecurity should not sit under the “IT budget.”
It must be a strategic priority — tied to trust, growth and business continuity.
Especially in Africa, where digital adoption is accelerating, our approach must be:
✔️ Secure by design
✔️ Simple for end-users
✔️ Embedded into leadership culture
Final Thought
You don’t need to be a big company to be a target. You just need to be online.
So, ask yourself:
• Are your systems truly secure?
• Is your team aware and trained?
• Are you treating cyber as a growth
enabler — or an afterthought?
Because in this new world, trust starts with security.
Let’s lead from the front.
At Heirs Technologies, we assist organisation’s in designing cybersecurity architectures that are secure, scalable and proactive.
