EU Cybersecurity Month: how to spot (and avoid) common cyber scams
No-one likes being rushed into a decision; it’s hard to escape the feeling that we’ll make the wrong move. That’s why the theme for this year’s EU Cybersecurity Month (ECSM) awareness campaign, ‘Think Before U Click’, feels right. Cybercriminals create a sense of urgency to make victims more likely to act hastily against their own […]
Policy debate: the pros and cons of cybersecurity insurance
Organisations are coming under increasing pressure to take out cybersecurity insurance cover. Also known as cyber risk insurance, it’s now a prerequisite in some public sector tenders. Bidders that don’t have it won’t win the deal. In other cases, private sector contracts require it. Let’s look at this from two perspectives: the tendering organisation, and […]
Meet the new flaws, same as the old flaws: how to do vulnerability management better
When it comes to vulnerability management, the old Donald Rumsfeld quote about ‘known knowns and unknown unknowns’ springs to mind. Unless an organisation understands what its weak points are, how can it strengthen or mitigate them, or accept the risks? Carrying out a vulnerability assessment and evaluating the risk from any weak points it uncovers […]
How to spot scams when buying online
Blocked from bargain hunting in stores due to Coronavirus restrictions, many consumers will seek out sweet deals when buying online. Black Friday, and the follow-up, Cyber Monday, provides the perfect platform for criminals to trap unwary shoppers with scams disguised as unbeatable offers. As the pre-Christmas sales season is upon us, police forces across Europe […]
Advice and tips for European Cybersecurity Month
It’s not news to say that 2020 has changed many things; security has felt the impact too. So it’s not surprising that the theme for European Cybersecurity Month (ECSM) reflects the times we live in. This year’s awareness campaign focuses on avoiding online scams and threats that could put our money or data at risk. […]
Celebrating No More Ransom: four years of fighting back against ransomware
Sometimes, the good guys fight back. As ransomware attacks increased over the past decade, law enforcement and the security industry joined forces to tackle the threat. Today, 27 July, marks the fourth anniversary of that collaboration, No More Ransom. No More Ransom launched in July 2016 as a joint initiative of the Dutch National Police, […]
Here’s why now is a good time to check your Business Continuity Plan
A Business Continuity Plan, or “BCP”, is often spoken of in hypothetical terms. We think about a range of potential scenarios and ask the question: “what would happen if…?” Those of us lucky enough to still be working are experiencing some of these scenarios in real time. In the previous blog, we looked at the […]
Adapting cybersecurity to a new world of work
Unprecedented times have left many businesses unprepared, implementing new and untried working patterns in haste which introduces unexpected risks. Working from home has become the default option for many organisations that have been fortunate enough to adapt and continue, but not by choice. It’s helped them to keep operating as best they can, but it […]
How to manage privacy and security concerns over Zoom
Zoom has become one of the de facto tools of choice as we’re now all working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic. As usage has surged over the past few weeks, more people are asking questions about its confidentiality and security practices. In this blog, I outline some of the main risks, and give advice […]
Stay safe: no restriction on cybercrime during COVID-19
Cybercriminals have always used major news events as a trigger for campaigns and the COVID-19 Coronavirus outbreak is an opportunity like never before. It’s a unique set of circumstances on an unprecedented scale – ripe for exploitation by anyone with malicious intent. Right now, many businesses are having to adapt to rapidly evolving restrictions; others […]