Category: Data Protection (Page 2)
2011 Cyber Security Strategy Released
The UK government have re-evaluated their 2009 cyber security strategy and have released an up to date version. As the number of cybercrime attacks that have been reported has increased dramatically within the last decade; having an effective cyber security strategy in place has become more important. Hackers have become more sophisticated with their methods which have magnified the weaknesses in company’s cyber security infrastructure. They have successfully targeted businesses …
New UK Data Privacy Commissioner
A report produced by the inquirer has made an amendment to a tabled discussion regarding data privacy. A position is to be created which will regulate privacy issues affecting the public. The House of Lords made this statement “The Secretary of State shall appoint a Commissioner to be known as the Privacy Commissioner ..It shall be the duty of the commissioner to promote respect for individual privacy.” The current and …
78% Of British Businesses Experience Data Loss In Last 12 Months.
Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity are concepts not taken seriously enough by many company boards. A survey released by EMC revealed that the UK is not giving DR the focus it arguably merits. According to the survey 78% of UK organisations have experienced data loss in the last 12 months. This is higher than the European average of 54%. The affects of IT outages must me made clear to CEOs …
US Water Facility Hacked
It has been revealed that a water utility near Springfield, Illinois, was successfully attacked by hackers. The incident is now being investigated by US homeland security and FBI officials. As a result of the attack, a water pump motor burn’t out when it was continuously switched on and off. This is the first time that a foreign hacker has successfully targeted a US industrial facility and gained access to controls. …
Norwegian Firms Lose Confidential Data to Hackers
Oil, gas and defence firms in Norway are the victim of a series of sophisticated attacks made by hackers. Norway’s National Security Agency (NSM) has stated that industrial secrets and information about contract negotiations have been stolen. NSM are currently unsure how many firms have actually been targeted but know that at least ten firms have been affected so far. These cyber-attacks on Norwegian firms have added the country to …
DARPA Increase Budget to Improve Internet Security
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) was heavily involved in creating the internet and now they are stepping up their efforts to help improve internet security. At its Colloquium on Future Directions in Cyber Security, Dugan declared that the agency has steadily increased its cyber research and that the agency is set to increase its funding once again in 2012. Its budget submission for 2012 will increase cyber research …
Hacker Gets Taste Of His Own Medicine
A hacking group who call themselves d33ds hijacked a rival hacker’s online shop. The rival hacker sells unauthorised access to high-profile websites and data. Since its creation, the website has been used to advertise stolen information from a number of organisations such as the U.S. Army and the U.S. Department of Defense. The owner of this online shop goes by the name of Srblche, and he also offers the service …
Cyber Attacks Traced to China
The security company Symantec have revealed that at least 29 firms in the chemicals industry have been targeted by a series of cyber-attacks which have been traced back to China. Symantec has also revealed that they have evidence that another 19 companies, including defence specialists have been affected. It is believed that the attacks took place from late July and lasted until mid- September. Symantec’s report revealed that at least …
Anti-Virus Bugs on the Decline
Researchers have come out and stated that the use of fake antiviruses has declined over the last few months despite new versions being created. Antivirus vendors Kaspersky Lab have released a new report which reveals figures on the average number of antivirus attacks that have taken place over the last few months. The report states that in June, the average number of attacks was in the region of 50,000 and …
Britain Beefing Up Cyber Security Measures
“Cyberspace is going to be one of the great challenges of our day” according to Iain Lobban, director of the Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ). Lobban maintains that cyber attacks pose a serious economic threat. This has certainly rung true in the the past 12 months with a significant rise in the number of apparently government linked cyber threats coming from other countries or organised criminals. In addition attempts to steal …
