A year in review: What can we learn from 2019 Cyber Security headlines?

Do cyber security news headlines make you WannaCry? Do you know your Cyborgs from your Jokeroos? Well, because I Love You, 4D Data Centres have put together their review of some of the biggest cyber security news stories of 2019. (And we promise, no more puns.) 

1. Ransomware Attacks Double in 2019, Brute-Force Attempts Increase

(Health IT Security)

Ransomware has continued to be a major source of disruption across a variety of sectors. In August, McAfee reported a 118% increase in new ransomware in the first quarter of 2019 and more than 2 billion stolen account credentials were available on the cybercriminal underground. [Read more]

2. UK boards ignoring £30bn cyber risk

(Computer Weekly)

This headline sums up the continued inaction on cyber security risks – particularly among SMEs. Lack of boardroom oversight on cyber security affects entire organisations, leaving them vulnerable on both the technical and the human front.Many of the attacks reported in 2019 will be attributed to poor cyber hygiene. [Read more]

3. In an Interconnected World, Data Security is a Shared Responsibility

(Security Week)

This summer saw a breach at Luxembourg-based Eurofins, an international group of laboratories that provide services, including forensic science to the UK police. This breach risked the successful continuation of hundreds of UK court cases but was fortunately resolved before that risk was realised.It was a stark reminder of the exposure we all have to risk through connections with other organisations.  Our increasing interconnectivity means a single attack can have a broad impact; you don’t have to be the direct target of an attack in order to fall victim to it. [Read more]

4. Over a billion Android phones vulnerable to phishing attack

(Tech Radar)

The above headline relates to a security flaw that could leave Android users vulnerable to phishing attacks.In May there was news of a WhatsApp hack, which had the potential to install spyware onto any of WhatsApp’s 1.5 billion users, simply through receiving a WhatsApp call.In China, an app ‘Study the Great Nation’ became the most-downloaded free program – and was revealed in October to give administrators backdoor access to the user’s Android smartphone.Security concerns regarding Huawei have been so prominent that they have led to a delay in the deployment of 5G. The US has even threatened to not share security data with countries who have mobiles on 5G networks supported by Huawei infrastructure.

5. Data breaches hitting more companies than ever

(Tech Radar)

According to one study, 60% of businesses have experienced a data breach in the last three years. The number of cyber attacks is increasing, and the scale is too. These big breaches make headlines, but the small unreported data breaches are also keeping CSOs up at night.  And with GDPR officially in place, the penalties for not properly protecting data are higher than ever.[Read the full article]

So, what does this mean for your business?

In today’s hyper-connected digital workplace, every organisation needs a comprehensive cyber security program in place, including a comprehensive firewall, DDoS mitigation, vulnerability scanning, and secure managed backups.  Collectively, they’ll expose any weak links in your security defences to help you make real differences to your overall security posture.For more information get in touch with the Sweethaven Team today. Give us a call on 01737 247 090. Or drop us an email: commercial@sweethaven.co.ukIf you’ve found the above useful, Sweethaven Business Services will be teaming up 4D Data Centres for a Cyber Security Workshop & Networking Event in Reigate on the 30th January. Tickets are normally £25, but use the offer code 'Sweethaven100' for FREE entry

About 4D Data Centres

4D Data Centres have built a reputation helping hundreds of organisations leave behind reactive systems and processes. Keep pace with an ever-changing threat landscape - our managed infrastructure and security services are tailored to your exact business requirements giving you peace of mind that your data is secure and accessible 24x7x365.