Security

For every 1000 computers in the UK there are 107 cyber attacks, putting the country in fifth place in global rankings according to a report from data protection firm SecureWorks. Topping the chart, with the fewest attacks pro rata, was India, with only 52 attacks recorded for every 1000 PCs, suggesting that criminals are finding [...]

A deviously implemented malware campaign has been detected in the UK. It has been targeting the private financial information of thousands of users whilst simultaneously staying off the radar of most mainstream anti-virus software vendors. Anyone who regularly banks online is at risk from the malware, which has the ability to harvest passwords and customer [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]