In today’s increasingly interconnected world, technology has become central to our lives, offering both convenience and opportunities but also exposing us to a rapidly evolving landscape of cyber threats. Data breaches and cyber-attacks are constant risks for every organisation, underscoring the necessity of staying ahead in cybersecurity. As we push for technological advancement, we must remain vigilant as these advancements bring inherent risks. Cybersecurity Awareness Month serves as a vital reminder to proactively protect every aspect of our digital presence from the ever-changing threat landscape.
In January 2023, Royal Mail disclosed that it had fallen victim to a ‘cyber incident’ orchestrated by the Russian ransomware group known as LockBit. This disruption extended to their international shipping services, as well as minor delays in national postage. Two months later, services were restored. However, towards the end of February 2023, the criminals disclosed Royal Mail staff data as a means of pressurising the company to fulfil their ransom demands.
In February, Reddit verified that they were victims of a cyberattack with hackers gaining unauthorised access to internal documents through a successful phishing attack. This breach led to the exposure of sensitive information of hundreds of both current and former employees, as well as certain advertiser and financial data. The phishing campaign lured some employees into visiting a deceptive page that skilfully replicated the company’s intranet portal, making it highly convincing and authentic in appearance.
In March this year, Capita, a major outsourcing company, experienced a substantial cyberattack with far-reaching consequences for both public and private sectors. The breach impacted Capita’s internal Microsoft Office 365 applications, resulting in service disruptions for numerous UK clients, including local authorities, Government organisations and the NHS.
In 2023, phishing attacks stand out as the most significant threat to both businesses and individuals. The UK Government’s Cyber Security Breaches survey found that out of the 346 businesses that discovered a cybercrime in the last 12 months, 89% identified this crime as a phishing attack.
Types of phishing attacks:
- Email Phishing – deceptive emails that appear to be from legitimate sources.
- Spear Phishing – highly personalised using detailed information.
- Business Email Compromise (BEC) – impersonating executives.
- Vishing – voice phishing e.g. phone calls.
- Smishing – Text-based attacks.
- Whaling – targeting high ranked executives.
The rapid digital transformation and the proliferation of online threats have made knowledge and vigilance in safeguarding our digital lives and assets paramount, making Cybersecurity Awareness Month more important than ever before. As technology continues to advance, so do the tactics of cybercriminals. Therefore, staying informed and proactive in understanding the evolving cybersecurity landscape is not only a personal responsibility but a collective imperative to protect our data, privacy, and the integrity of the digital realm.
For more information to enhance your understanding of how to fortify your digital infrastructure and ensure future readiness for both you and your organisation, reach out to us on LinkedIn or visit our website.
Sources:
Welcome to Cyber Security Awareness Month 2023
The biggest cyberattacks of 2023 so far – Tech Monitor