REGULAR
CYBER-CRIMEWATCH
With the number of cyber-attacks on the increase and cyber-crime predicted to be a significant issue in 2016 – Safer Internet Day took place on 9 February 2016 – James Shaw of insurance broker Darwin Clayton, takes a look at how individuals and businesses can protect themselves from fraudulent activities.
Whether attacks are conducted by organised criminals, terrorist groups, or bored teenagers in their bedroom, cyber-crime can have a major impact on businesses’ operations and reputations. Any individual or business can be targeted, but small businesses are particularly vulnerable, because they are less likely to have sufficient safety measures in place.
The attacks can result in business continuity issues, such as websites being taken offline or the content detrimentally tampered with, or the more serious impacts of money and confidential data being stolen.
Technological developments have helped to speed up the way we communicate, but with the benefits of online banking and web transactions comes the rising risk of cyber-crime. Attacks often take place online, but people should also be wary of phone calls that look to collect private data (known as ‘vishing’ as opposed to ‘phishing’ which is online).
Your insurance company and bank may have more stringent checks relating to your identity. While these may increase the time your call takes, it shows they are taking your security seriously.
PROTECT YOUR DETAILS
• Banks NEVER call or text to ask for their customers’ banking details. You should never provide your details to anyone who calls you.
• Do not click on any links or call any numbers in emails or texts that claim to be from your bank.
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• If you receive a call from your bank and want to ensure it is legitimate, contact the bank directly yourself using your usual contact method. If phoning, make sure the previous call is ended before dialling out.
• Use secure authentication for any online banking facility.
• Change your passwords from defaults and regularly update.
• Be careful when entering website addresses. Fraudsters can set up identical looking websites, which have very similar addresses (for instance just one letter difference). If you use these sites to pay for goods you will be handing over your details.
• Encrypt all mobile computing devices (laptops/tablets/phones/ PDAs) and portable devices such as USB sticks.
BE WARY OF
PAYMENT REQUESTS Businesses are also suffering attacks from criminals via post and email that are not specifically cyber-attacks and commonly include:
1. Letters from suppliers notifying a change of bank details – letterheads and signatures can be copied, so always check this is genuine via your usual contact method and not by ringing/emailing the details on the letter.
2. Payment requests from directors or owners of the business by email to pay or wire funds to a particular account – again you should have a system in place to verify this is genuine and do not reply to the
original email which could be a fake despite appearing to be from the individual concerned.
WHAT TO DO IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE BEEN THE VICTIM
Act quickly to limit the damage:
• Check your accounts for unusual activity
• Check your credit report • Check your computer for viruses • Keep a record of what you’ve done
• Report the matter to relevant organisation (i.e. your bank and the police)
• Report any lost/stolen documents to the issuing organisation (i.e. Passport Office)
• Contact Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040.
TAKING PRECAUTIONS Unfortunately, there’s no way to guarantee you won’t be the victim of cyber-crime, but taking these precautions means it is a lot less likely. Remember, the less you give away about yourself the lower the chance of that information falling into the wrong hands.
Insurance cover is also available to protect your business from cyber threats and is an important part of the overall risk management approach.
www.darwinclayton.co.uk
www.saferinternet.org.uk/ safer-internet-day/2016
Tomorrow’s Cleaning March 2016 | 29
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