UK Cybercrime is increasing
A recent report on Internet Security and cybercrime has shown that UK users are among the most targeted in the world, with both home users and businesses being attacked daily, and over half a billion personal records stolen in 2015.The report highlights some shocking statistics that show just how big the cybercrime problem is.
Unreported Crime
It's a requirement for any breach of personal information to be reported back to the ICO and to the people whose data has been accessed.
Of the reported incidents, 36% come from the Health Service, but it's estimated that 85% of private sector breaches went unreported.
If you handle personal data, either electronically or otherwise, then you are required to register with the ICO, it's your responsibility to make sure your registration is kept up-to-date, and that you only record and process the data that's required by your company.
2,215 ransomware attacks per day
The means to infect your computer became much more sophisticated, although there were a few old tricks brought back into use by the criminals, including the fake telephone support call and using office documents to spread macro worms.
Also used were 0-day exploits. A 0-day exploit is a vulnerability that is identified in some software, but has yet to be fixed by the software manufacturer, or identified by antivirus software. Typically a hacker who discovers a previously unknown vulnerability has about 7 days before system admins begin patching the vulnerability, though with home users and smaller companies, that could be up to 1 month.
In 2015, a new 0-day exploit was discovered every week, 19% of those were in Adobe Flash Player.
It's not just the software you have installed either, in 2015, three quarters of websites surveyed in the report were susceptible to at least one vulnerability, meaning visiting a genuine website could lead to unknowingly downloading an infected file.
It's Not Just the NHS
The increase in cyber attacks is not just aimed at big businesses, it's across all sectors from home users up.
In 2015 the number of cyber attacks against small businesses (1-250) accounted for 43% of all spear-phishing attacks, and the number of attacks aimed at individual employees shot up 55% in 2015 based on the previous years stats.
This shows a more organised, targeted campaign by the criminals who know many small businesses don't have in-house IT knowledge sufficient to deal with these kinds of attacks.
Home users were also big business, with criminals aware of the lack of protection of data saved on home NAS devices, and the slow install of security patches by home users.
And the attacks don't stop at desktop and laptop computers, with smartphones and other internet connected devices being targeted too.
If you think your company could do with a fresh review of it's security, or you would like your home and home devices checked out, contact tinsleyNET today.
We offer security reviews for home users up to business level perimeter penetration tests . Contact us to find out how tinsleyNEt can help protect your data.
#WeCanHelp
tinsleyNET IT Services Consultant
IT Support for small to medium sized businesses, home office workers and home users across the West Midlands and Shropshire.
Comments
Post a Comment