The number of successful cyber attacks against UK law firms rose by 77% in the past year to 954, up from 538 the year before, according to a new study of the threat. Chartered accountants Lubbock Fine said that the wave is driven by criminals seeing law firms as prime targets for ransomware attacks or blackmail.
This is due to the sensitive personal and financial information they hold, which hackers can sell on the dark web or threaten to publish on the internet. Earlier this month, a global survey revealed that ransomware attackers have been paid off at least eight times in recent years.
Read more…
Source: The Law Society Gazette
Related:
- Hackers breach Foreign Office computers in cyber attack on Government countryside outpost
January 15, 2021
It is understood the attack is not connected to the devastating cyber attack on the Solar Winds Orion software, which US officials pin on Russian hackers. The Foreign Office has not commented on any suspects of its investigation, but tonight confirmed the breach, which was first reported by The Sun. A Government spokesperson said: ‘We take data ...
- UK: Fake NHS text asks for bank details in return for coronavirus vaccine
January 8, 2021
People are being warned about a fake NHS text which is demanding bank details from people waiting for a coronavirus vaccine. Liverpool City Council said in a “scam alert” that the message had been “circulating”, advising people they were eligible for a COVID-19 jab. The National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) also tweeted a warning, reminding those waiting ...
- The UK’s new offensive cyber unit takes on organised crime and hostile states
November 19, 2020
A new offensive force made up of spies, cyber experts and the members of the military is already conducting cyber operations to disrupt hostile state activities, terrorists and criminals, the UK government has revealed. The new group – known as the National Cyber Force – aims to tackle threats to the UK’s national security such as ...
- Huge U.K. Defense Spending Boost Funds Cyber Force, Space Command And AI
November 19, 2020
U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced on Wednesday evening that the Ministry of Defence would receive an extra £16.5 bn / $21.8bn over the next four years. This is the largest investment in defense for 30 years and is on top of already agreed increases in spending. Johnson said that the massive increase was justified despite ...
- Cybersecurity: One in three attacks are coronavirus-related
November 3, 2020
The UK’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) is ‘stepping up support’ for the National Health Service to help protect UK hospitals and other healthcare organisations against cyberattacks. The NCSC’s Annual Review 2020 reveals that the cyber arm of GCHQ has handled more 200 cyber incidents related to coronavirus during the course of this year – almost ...
- Marriott fined £18.4 million by UK watchdog over customer data breach
November 2, 2020
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has fined Marriott £18.4 million over a 2014 data breach, heavily reducing the penalty originally planned due to COVID-19 disruption. The Marriot hotel group was subject to a 2014 data breach impacting the Starwood resort chain, acquired by Marriott in 2015. At the time, threat actors were able to infiltrate Starwood systems ...