Recent high profile hacks on websites and online networks of large organisations have resulted in Brits feeling concerned about the threat of hacking, and calling for businesses and government to take firmer action.
According to a new report released by Professor Majid Yar, leading cybercrime expert from the University of Hull, commenting on the results of a survey* by PC Tools, 97% of Brits believe online hacking is an issue we, as a society, should be worried about.
Read more →Over three quarters of UK office workers would turn a blind eye to malpractice in the office and fail to report it, according to the latest research from the Federation Against Software Theft.
The research also found that two thirds of British workers are unaware of the law when it comes to protecting whistleblowers in the workplace. A staggering 69 per cent of those questioned stated that they had no idea that legislation exists to protect them should they do the right thing.
Read more →June was a difficult time for cybercriminals as it saw some notable successes for various law enforcement agencies in the war on cybercrime, according to the latest malware report from Kaspersky Lab.
In the US, the activities of two international cybercrime groups that made money from fake antivirus programs were terminated. According to preliminary estimates, the damage caused by the groups amounted to $74 million. In addition to US agencies, the operation to shut down these groups involved law enforcement agencies from another 11 countries. About 600 people suspected of implementing fraudulent online schemes were arrested in several Southeast Asian countries.
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For many UK businesses, physically securing computers is preferable to encryption or password protection. This is borne out by the DTI Information Security Breaches Survey 2006 managed by PricewaterhouseCoopers, which reports that “while 24% of large UK businesses encrypt or password protect their computers’ hard discs, 28% of them actually physically secure their desktop PCs and laptops”. Also, it reports that “the bigger the organisation, the more likely it is to have computer equipment stolen”.
However, although it reports that 82% of very large businesses reported theft of equipment by outsiders, it also states that a third of all thefts of equipment in large businesses are carried out by their own staff. Therefore, locking down company PCs with administrator control should be the first line of defence in a company’s security policy, providing an initial deterrent to would-be thieves from inside and outside the organisation.
Just about every way that an organisation’s data is lost or ‘stolen’ is through human error. There have been countless reports of laptops being left behind in taxis or at airports, and stolen out of cars or simply in the street (as a laptop case will more than likely have a laptop inside it). Indeed, the way of the business world these days is to travel, but when off the company’s premises laptops can easily be lost, stolen or even “sold on”. Therefore, the company’s data will also be lost, stolen or “sold on”, and even if it doesn’t fall into the “wrong hands” the security breach is likely to be reported in the media – a case of bad publicity if ever there was one.
High quality locks, such as those distributed by Avanquest Solutions offer users a new generation of computer and office equipment security. Such locks are installed in seconds without a key – just insert the locking head and push! The head swivels and pivots to resist prying and twisting, and the rubber spacers ensure a superior fit on a wide variety of equipment. When it comes to releasing the lock from the security slot, a bevelled keyhole design guides keys into position for easy unlocking.
A retractable lock has been specifically designed for travelling professionals, whether on business or taking business on holiday. Its compact and lightweight design can be used to secure laptops, luggage, briefcases and more, whether in the home, in the boot of a car, or in an office or hotel.
Physical computer locks provide the most cost effective security solution to fund, and the most simple to deploy. One of the eight principles of the expanded Data Protection Act 1998 is that data must remain “secure”, and physical locks will always be the first line of defence against theft. However, the afore-mentioned DTI Survey reports that (only) “nearly one in six businesses overall physically secures their PCs”. This means that in the war on data theft, just over five in six businesses have no first line of defence … and that’s no way to win a war.
Details of anti-theft locks can be found at www.avanquest.co.uk/pcguardiananti-theft.
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Sophos is reminding organisations of the threat posed by zombie networks after a teenager in New Zealand was accused of being at the centre of an international cybercrime network.
18-year-old computer programmer Owen Thorn Walker, has been charged with two counts of accessing a computer for dishonest purposes, damaging a computer system, possessing software for committing crimes, and two counts of accessing a computer system without permission. If found guilty, Walker could face up to ten years in jail.
When arrested in November 2007, it was alleged that Walker – known by his online handle ‘AKILL’ – was the boss of a gang that had infected 1.3 million computers around the world, stealing banking and credit card information.
“Hackers can use zombie networks of innocent people’s computers to send spam, manipulate stock prices, steal identities and attack company websites. These botnets are one of the biggest security problems faced by the Internet today, and are a powerful weapon in the hands of an experienced cybercriminal,” said Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant at Sophos. “Some people may feel that this case is a long way away because it’s happening in New Zealand, but Sophos tracks thousands of compromised computers around the world every hour, doing the bidding of remote hackers often thousands of miles away. It is essential that all computer users put in place strong defences to properly protect their PCs.”
Walker appeared in Thames Magistrate’s Court in northern New Zealand, and was released on bail.
In January Sophos published its annual Security Threat Report, which discussed how financially-motivated cybercriminals use zombie botnets in their pursuit of money. They recommend that companies protect their desktops, gateways and servers with automatically updated protection against viruses, spyware, hackers, and spam.
Do you do enough?
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