Keep Safe Online

Home owners' and small business online security awareness

NEW: Garlik‘s annual UK Cybercrime report (September 2009) estimates that:

• There was a 207% increase in account takeover fraud in 2008.
• Online banking fraud has increased by 132%, with losses totalling £52.5m, compared to £22.6m in 2007.
• There were 44,000 phishing websites specifically targeting banks and building societies in the UK in 2008.
• £181.7m of card fraud took place on the Internet in 2008, representing 55.3% of total Card Not Present (CNP) fraud losses.
• Just under 50% of UK businesses experienced a computer security incident (around 860,000). The number having a serious breach has stayed constant at around 25% (around 430,000).
• 16% of businesses experienced an attack from an unauthorised outsider (including hacking attempts) (137,600 incidents).

High profile news stories such as the recent Phishing attacks on Web Mail services such as Hotmail and GMail frequently brings the importance of online security to the attention of the general public, but for millions of unsuspecting home owners and smaller businesses it is often too late.

Online security is an essential part of every day life for individuals and businesses alike, but without adequate knowledge and awareness, security will always take a back seat against other priorities, such as maintaining adequate cash flow (in the case of the smaller business), or feeding the children (in the case of the home owner). Being secure online doesn't have to be a burdonsome task. It doesn't have to take up much time and it doesn't have to cost a lot money, as long as a few basic rules are implemented and maintained.

There is a direct correlation between the level of security people have at home with the level of security people have at work. It is often the case that when an organisation implements an information security awareness programme, people take the information on board and follow through at home too.

There are Ten simple steps which will dramatically reduce the liklihood of a business or small home network from falling victim to hackers, phishing attacks, viruses and so on. To find out what these 10 simple steps are simply fill in the form below and we'll email you the free guide immediately.

Online, Keep Safe Resources:

Below are some free online resources which any smaller business or home owner will find useful:

• www.getsafeonline.org - Free objective advice. Sponsored by British Government and leading businesses;
• www.identitytheft.org.uk - How to: protect yourself and react if you think you are a victim;
• www.becardsmart.co.uk - Supported by Mastercard, Visa, and APACS;
• www.banksafeonline.org.uk - UK banking industry initiative to help online banking users stay safe online;
• www.cyberfraud.org.uk - Public service dedicated to protecting consumers from becoming a victim of Internet fraud/theft, covering all aspects of cybercrime;
• www.itsafe.gov.uk - A free UK government service which provide home users and small businesses with warnings and news about computer security problems.

What are the potential implications of becoming a victim?

• PWC/DTI Information Security Breaches Survey 2006
  • 87% large businesses suffered security incident last year
  • Average cost of worst incident for large business £65k to £130k
  • Viruses biggest cause of breaches
• National High Tech Crime Unit survey 2004
  • Of 201 respondents 167 (83%) experienced high-tech crime in 2003
  • Impact of these crimes > £195million
• What would it cost your company?

Nationwide fined over PC theft
Nationwide Building Society has been fined £980,000 by the Financial Services Authority following the theft of a laptop containing details of nearly 11 million customers. Security experts said that the huge fine should serve as a warning to other firms about the importance of protecting customer data.
IT week, 19 Feb 2007

Prisoner freed in fake fax fiasco
A PRISONER was freed because of a bogus fax. The message, full of errors and sent from a grocery store, said a court ‘demanded’ the release of Timothy Rouse. Warders took nearly two weeks to spot the blunder. Police, who arrested the 19-year-old at his mother’s home in Lexington, Kentucky, are investigating who sent the fax. Rouse was on remand accused of beating an old man.
Metro, 23 Apr 2007

Fury as 30,000 have IDs stolen
Ministers faced a fresh furore over IT security today after admitting that 30,000 people have had bank account, National Insurance and personal details stolen. Thieves broke into a van delivering a tape containing data to a government office for the Independent Living Fund which allocates funds to the vulnerable. The Lib Dem’s David Laws said the theft was “deeply worrying”.
London Lite, May 16, 2007

Police foil £220 million 'keyboard hacker' raid on bank
Police have foiled an audacious attempt by criminal hackers to steal £220 million from a Japanese banking group in the City, it emerged today. A high-tech crime ring planned to use "key logging" technology - which records every keystroke typed into computers - to gain access to Sumitomo's systems in London and transfer money electronically to ten bank accounts around the world.
 By Philippe Naughton, Times Online March 17, 2005