The government is looking to the private sector for advice as to how it should develop and implement data and cyber security during the current parliamentary term. Security minister Baroness Pauline Neville-Jones spoke about the plans during the Homeland and Border Security 2010 conference which took place last week. She said that citizens needed to [...]
Security
Businesses to become involved in data security policy making
UK farmers affected by data loss
Over 13,000 dairy farmers working within the UK have become victims of data loss after a laptop containing extensive personal information was stolen. The laptop was owned and operated by management and information organisation DairyCo and it was forcibly stolen from an employee’s car whilst it was parked away from official company premises. The private [...]
Businesses fail to grasp threat from online criminals, report finds
A study has discovered that attacks by online criminals are a frequent occurrence within many businesses, but also concludes that a worrying number of firms are ill equipped to deal with some of the most advanced threats in the current climate. The Ponemon Institute conducted the research, soliciting responses from over 500 firms. It concluded [...]
Predicted rise in theft of laptops coincides with holiday period
The summer months could see the highest rate of laptop thefts in any period this year as criminals take advantage of houses sitting empty with portable storage devices and computers in plain sight whilst owners are on holiday, according to laptop security experts. Laptop tracking firm Absolute Software has released a stark warning after surveying [...]
Businesses exhibit growing awareness of data security risks
Another survey, commissioned in this case by telecoms firm Orange, has shown that there is an ongoing improvement in the level of concern and care with which small and medium sized businesses (SMBs) in the UK approach data loss and the risks facing personal information for which they are responsible. 26 per cent of respondents [...]
Most fail to encrypt USB memory sticks, survey finds
A new study has discovered that the majority of those working with USB sticks in order to transfer and store data do not properly secure these portable devices using encryption. The study was not carried out over a general, mixed discipline selection of employees, but rather it focused specifically on IT security professionals, which makes [...]
ICO tackles additional law enforcement data loss incident
The police service in Kent has been reprimanded by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) after it was found to have breached regulations governing data protection in what will be the second data leak from a police organisation this month. The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) was confronted by ICO representatives last week after it neglected [...]
PCI DSS compliance heads for UK in July
The enforcement of the data security standards that govern the payment card industry is beginning next month and experts believe that many UK businesses could face hefty fines as a result of non-compliance. PCI DSS is being instigated by Visa from the start of July. As a result, the electronic point of sale (EPOS) and [...]
Experts criticise lax UK data privacy regulations
The adequacy of laws protecting the privacy of data in the UK have been brought into question by experts at a conference, with the implication being that other European nations have tougher regulations and better levels of data privacy. The exponential and perpetual increase in the volume of private data being stored by businesses and [...]
Data loss insurer refuting high profile claim
An insurance claim worth about £2.3 million is being contested by a business insurer in the US after it denied liability for a data loss incident at the University of Utah two years ago. This case is of international importance as its outcome could dictate legal precedents in other cases of insurance claims following on [...]




