Editor's News

The global nightmare of ransomware shows no sign of slowing down, with the volume of mobile ransomware rising over three-fold (3.5 times) during the first few months of the year, according to Kaspersky Lab’s Malware Report for Q1, 2017. The number of mobile ransomware files detected reached 218,625 during the quarter, compared to 61,832 in the previous quarter, with the Congur family accounting for more than 86 per cent. Ransomware targeting all devices, systems and...

Earlier this month, businesses and organisations of all sizes from around the world were hit by a large-scale cyber attack, known as WannaCry, leaving them unable to access systems and data. The attack continued to affect companies over the days that have followed. WannaCry is a form of ransomware, meaning it is a computer virus which encrypts files and keeps them encrypted until the hacker receives payment. WannaCry takes advantage of vulnerabilities in old Microsoft...

As the financial implications of IT downtime continue to swell, organisations must be prepared to assign real costs to the intangible or ‘hidden’ damages, which are regularly experienced during a cyber security breach. This is according to Peter Groucutt, managing director of Databarracks: “Increasingly, we are seeing organisations struggling to recover from a cyber incident when compared to more traditional types of downtime. If a disk fails or a database corrupts for example, the recovery...

With 25th May 2017 marking a year until General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) comes into force, Mark Thompson, global privacy advisory lead at KPMG, highlights that business need to get their act together to make sure they don’t fall foul of the new legal framework. He said: “On 25 May 2018, GDPR will affect organisations in the UK and worldwide that have any dealings with consumers and businesses in EU member states. It will fundamentally...

Worried about the WannaCry virus? Don't let the cost of upgrading your online security reduce you to tears, says ValueLicensing Cyberattacks and data breaches are two of the greatest concerns for modern businesses - but making sure your business has access to greater security needn't cost the earth, according to one expert. The WannaCry ransomware cyberattacks that affected the NHS and other organisations across the world shows that it's not just SMEs which are under...

With today’s launch of Samsung Pay, UK Visa account holders can now use their compatible Samsung smartphones for purchases worldwide. Visa’s tokenisation service enables cardholders to add their Visa credit and debit cards quickly and easily to the Samsung Pay wallet and pay in a secure and convenient way at contactless point-of-sale terminals. Samsung Pay is now available to Visa cardholders who bank with MBNA, Nationwide and Santander. When a consumer loads their card into...

Friday’s ransomware attack, which affected 200,000 computer systems in 150 countries and crippled hospitals across the United Kingdom, is a frightening reminder of how much damage can be done by this type of malicious cyberattack. A new global survey of Internet users in 23 countries and Hong Kong (China) reveals that most people are ill equipped to deal with ransomware. “It is simply unacceptable that people do not get the care they need because of...

New research, released today by Agari, reveals that despite the recent high-profile nation-state sponsored email attacks on political parties during elections, none of political parties in the UK, Germany and Norway, all of whom have upcoming elections, have email authentication or protection against spear phishing in place. 8% have published an email authentication policy but left the door wide open by setting their policy to “none”, which will not stop malicious emails from reaching intended...

The WannaCry ransomware attack that has impacted an estimated 300,000 users in 150 countries is a wake-up call for both government and business, said the global body for ICT professionals. Mike Hinchey, President of IFIP (International Federation for Information Processing), today warned that WannaCry was only the latest in a series of online attacks that are likely to escalate in coming weeks and months. “While we don’t yet know who is responsible for the WannaCry...

Less than half (49%) of consumers regularly change their passwords as a way to prevent fraud, according to research from Callcredit Information Group. Yet, the majority (66%) perceive the risk of identity theft and online fraud as one of their biggest concerns around sharing personal information online. The research*, commissioned by Callcredit Information Group as part of the Unlocking the potential of personal data report, also found that only two-thirds of consumers (65%) have a...