UK government issues 2020 Cyber Security Breaches Survey

Cyber-threats are on the rise, according to the UK government. A new report findsthat nearly half of businesses, at 46 percent, in the UK faced cybersecurity breaches or attacks in the last 12 months.

The 2020 Cyber Security Breaches Survey has released by the responsible UK government department, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS).

The report finds that the intensity of the attacks has increased in 2020 compared with previous years. Among the 46 percent of businesses that identify breaches or attacks, more companies experiencing these issues at least once a week in 2020 (32 percent, vs. 22 percent, taking a 2017 benchmark).

The cybersecurity implications of working remotely

The global spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus has had a notable impact on workplaces worldwide, and many organizations are encouraging employees to work from home. What are the cybersecurity implications of this shift?

Having a sizable amount of employees suddenly working remotely can be a major change for organizations and presents numerous problems with regard to cybersecurity.

One issue involves a lack of authentication and authorization. Because people are not seeing each other face-to-face, there is an increased need for two-factor authentication, monitoring access controls and creating strong passwords. There’s also a risk of increased attacks like phishing and malware, especially since employees will now likely receive an unprecedented amount of emails and online requests.

Microsoft Warns Of 'Devastating' Cybersecurity Threat To Windows Users: Here's What You Need To Know

Microsoft's threat protection intelligence team has warned of a "significant and growing" cybersecurity threat that can deliver a devastating payload. The FBI has warned about how high impact a threat ransomware is, and now Microsoft is adding to the voices of vigilance. While ransomware threats such as the newly discovered strain of NetWalker that can inject malicious code right into the Windows 10 explorer executable process are bad enough, they are but the tip of a very worrying cyber-iceberg. The Microsoft threat protection intelligence team has described in comprehensive detail how one type of ransomware attack poses a significant and growing threat, particularly to business users, calling it one of the "most impactful trends in cyberattacks" that we face today. The good news is that despite being able to deploy what Microsoft refers to as devastating payloads, the attacks and the fallout that follows are preventable.

Cyber security experts: Hackers target children’s SS numbers

 For computer hackers looking to steal someone’s identity, there’s nothing better than taking the social security number of a child, say cyber security experts at two area universities.

Excela Health stopped 832 “violent intrusions” by hackers trying to gain access to the social security numbers of children in the last month, Excela Chief Executive John Sphon said recently.

Excela, which has an information systems security professional on its cyber team, said its intrusion software caught the hackers and its detection software reported the largest number originated in Vietnam.

Cyber security low in priorities for digital initiatives, according to EY survey

A recent survey by EY found that just one-third of companies consider cyber security when starting to plan digital initiatives Cyber security low in priorities for digital initiatives, according to EY survey image

A lack of communication with cyber security staff seems to be common within companies.

In the latest EY Global Information Security Survey (GISS), only 36% of respondents said that cyber security teams were in the loop in the opening stages of digital initiatives.

Additionally, one in five respondents said that less than 5% of their cyber security budget is being spent on digital initiatives.

These findings come despite threats to company systems and data rising, with 60% declaring an increase in cyber attacks within the past 12 months.

Lander hosts NYT reporter for cyber security talk

In this digital age, it’s hard to consider the technology we have at our disposal as primitive or underdeveloped, but when it comes to cybersecurity and cyberattacks, we’re still just starting to understand the scope of what havoc technology can wreak.

Two-time Pulitzer Prize winner and New York Times national security correspondent David Sanger spoke Monday at Lander University as part of the school’s Larry A. Jackson lecture series. Having written multiple books on the development and deployment of cyberattacks, Sanger said today’s understanding of cyber is comparable to how well the Wright brothers understood how the airplane would be used

Here’s the Top Cyber-Security Software You Need To Consider Downloading For 2020

Only 66% of businesses around the world can say they are truly prepared for nowadays’ cyber-security threats, according to a study by eSecurity Planet. The good news is that companies have started spending more in IT security in 2019 than in previous years.

But while security seems to be “getting better,” it’s still costing companies an average of $3.92 million in data breach damages.

Don’t wait till that happens to you before taking action. These tools are a must for those who value their privacy, as well as businesses that don’t need the hassle of an expensive data breach any time soon.