Computer hackers last month launched 6000 attempted cyber-attacks against vital South African infrastructure, internet service providers and businesses. Revealed at the State Security Cyber-security conference in Pretoria yesterday, the attacks were detected a month into the launch of the government's cyber-security early warning system.The system is a hub manned by specialised cyber-analysts.Of the 6000 incidents, 2000 were against vital infrastructure organisations. Should hackers breach these organisations' computer servers, such as those of transport, energy or communications, they could cripple the country.One of the biggest threats detected was an attempt by hackers to bring down all of South Africa's internet service providers.Cyber-security experts say South Africa ranks third in the world, after Russia and China in terms of the number of cyber-crime victims.According to the annual Norton Cyber Crime 2013 Report, of the 24 countries surveyed, there were 380million cyber-crime victims.Seventy-three percent of South Africans surveyed said they had been victims. In China 77% were victims while in Russia 85% were victims.Compounding the problem of combating cyber-attacks is that the hub, officially launched on Friday, is manned by only five cyber-analysts.This means that during the past month each analyst dealt with 1200 incidents.Hub head Jabu Radebe said: "In October 6000 'incidents', 2000 of them serious threats, were detected." He said more than 50% of the incidents related to phishing, when criminals steal people's identity and banking information.Asked if South Africa could defend itself against simultaneous cyber-attacks, Radebe said: "If there was such an attack we could bring the necessary 'brains' together. But, for us to launch quick co-ordinated responses, the current policies talk about developing a specific critical information infrastructure policy."He said this policy would help identify critical infrastructure and the necessary interventions.Professor Basie von Solms, director of Johannesburg University's centre for cyber security, cast doubt on South Africa's preparedness against a major cyber-attack.He said the lack of laws compelling people to report such when attacks made it impossible to say how secure the country was...