IT security

UK firms stockpiling bitcoins for ransomware attacks

Large UK firms are prepared to pay out more than £136,000 on average to cyber criminals who launch ransomware attacks, a survey has revealed Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Europe faces shortage of 350,000 cyber security professionals by 2022

European companies are expected to go on the world’s biggest cyber security hiring spree in the next 12 months, driving demand for cyber talent that will far outstrip supply, a report has revealed Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

GDPR about change management, says startup DPO

There are threats and risks associated with the GDPR, but one data protection officer believes organisations should focus on the business opportunities instead Continue Reading

Enterprises struggle with emergency patching

Companies are struggling to maintain emergency patch cycles, despite the fact that enterprise reliance on legacy systems often means emergency patches are an everyday fact of life, a survey shows Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

WannaCry shows validity of risk-based security, says RSA head

WannaCry and other recent cyber attacks underline the importance of adopting a risk-based approach to security, says RSA president Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Shadow Brokers prepares zero-day subscription service

Businesses may face an onslaught of zero-day attacks soon as the group that leaked the NSA exploits used in the WannaCry ransomware attacks prepares to release more stolen code Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

People can be strongest link in cyber security, says NCSC

People are often seen as the weakest link when it comes to cyber security, but that must change, says the National Cyber Security Centre Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

EternalRocks author throws in the towel after media attention

Security researcher who discovered worm that could have bigger impact than WannaCry says the author seems to have given up Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

CW Nordics: The trouble with connected things

In this issue, Finnish cyber security expert Mikko Hyppönen talks about security in the Nordics, Russia and the trouble with connected devices. Also read how Icelandic airline Wow Air averted disaster through the use of application performance monitoring software when it embarked on a major expansion. And find out how, since December 2015, anyone playing popular sandbox game Minecraft has been able to build their worlds on the actual map of Sweden. Continue Reading

Finding customer data is big hurdle to meeting GDPR right to erasure

Global organisations do not know where customer data is stored and use unreliable data removal methods to erase content, a study shows Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Singapore government to spend S$2.4bn on technology initiatives

Funding will go towards building a national sensor platform, boosting the government’s cyber security capabilities and driving the use of robots Continue Reading

By

• Aaron Tan, TechTarget

Interview: Nick Bleech, head of information security, Travis Perkins

Last year, Travis Perkins implemented Splunk to help it to respond more quickly to security threats. Now, the business is looking into machine learning and a single customer view Continue Reading

By

• Clare McDonald, Business Editor

Economic and political uncertainty drives organisations to rethink IT strategies

CIO job satisfaction reaches a three-year high as organisations hire more IT staff and invest in innovative digital technology Continue Reading

By

• Bill Goodwin, Computer Weekly

EternalRocks worm combines seven leaked NSA attack tools

Hard on the heels of the WannaCry ransomware attacks, a researcher has found a worm that combines four NSA exploits and associated attack tools, including EternalBlue used by WannaCry Continue Reading

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• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Global ransomware attack could be a security wake-up call

In this week’s Computer Weekly, we look at the global WannaCry ransomware attack that struck the NHS and spread across 150 countries – will it be the wake-up call that finally makes organisations take cyber security seriously? We find out how Moscow is leading the way in smart city digitisation. And our latest buyer’s guide examines customer experience management. Read the issue now. Continue Reading

HSBC voice authentication tricked by twins

Twin brothers managed to trick HSBC’s voice recognition security system into giving account access to the wrong person Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Windows 7 accounts for most WannaCry infections

Statistics show that computers running Windows 7 accounted for the biggest proportion of machines infected with the WannaCry ransomware, while NHS suppliers are blamed for hampering patching by NHS trusts Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Command and control communications key to detecting threats

Malware command and control (C&C) communications are key to detecting advanced threats, according to a security researcher Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Strong cyber security posture reduces impact of breaches

There is a direct correlation between data breaches and falls in stock prices, but the impact is lighter on companies with good cyber security, a study has revealed Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

CW ASEAN: Rise of the machines

In this month’s CW ASEAN, we look at how artificial intelligence and machine learning is improving the way ASEAN businesses fend off cyber attacks and better predict how customers react to various marketing efforts. The growing interest in AI in the region has also spawned start-ups such as Singapore’s Adatos, which is pushing the bar by using declassified methodologies and software used by US defense and intelligence communities to produce data-driven insights. Read the issue now. Continue Reading

CW ANZ: Machine thinking

In this month’s CW ANZ, we look at how artificial intelligence and machine learning is improving the way businesses fend off cyber attacks and better predict how customers react to marketing efforts. The growing interest in AI in ANZ has also turned Australia into a hotbed for data analytics, where consumers are making use of apps to find the cheapest fuel pumps. Read the issue now. Continue Reading

Organised crime exploiting new technology

European law enforcement is to focus on collaborating with industry around cyber crime as organised crime groups increasingly exploit new technologies, according to a regional crime threat report Continue Reading

By

• Peter Ray Allison

Toxic data: What it is and how to find it and deal with it

In this podcast, Mathieu Gorge, CEO of Vigitrust, looks at the management of legacy data and how to find and deal with toxic data that could expose your organisation to compliance breaches Continue Reading

By

• Antony Adshead, Storage Editor

Political turmoil threatens global IT services sector

In this week’s Computer Weekly, we examine the threats to the global IT services sector caused by US president Donald Trump’s protectionist rhetoric, and by the UK’s planned departure from the EU. Home Office IT chief Sarah Wilkinson discusses the challenges of digital transformation in a large government department. And we find out how business leaders need to improve their digital skills. Read the issue now. Continue Reading

UK government, NHS and Windows XP support - what really happened

In all the debate about the NHS ransomware attack, much has been made of a government decision in 2015 to end a contract with Microsoft to provide support for the ageing Windows XP operating system ... Continue Reading

By

• Bryan Glick, Editor in chief

Attackers have no need of zero-days, breach data shows

Cyber attackers do not have to use previously unseen or extremely sophisticated attacks to bypass defences, analysis of publicly reported breaches in the past year reveals Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

GDPR: a quick start guide

We look at how UK organisations can prepare for the General Data Protection Regulation Continue Reading

By

• Jim Mortleman

NHS hospitals hit in global ransomware attack

Hospitals across England are reporting problems with IT systems that are affecting healthcare treatment, caused by what could be a global ransomware campaign enabled by a leaked NSA exploit Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Five cyber security imperatives for all companies

There are five things all companies should ensure they are doing in terms of cyber security Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Singapore universities hit by advanced persistent threat attacks

The attacks on NUS and NTU networks appear to be the work of APT actors and not casual hackers Continue Reading

By

• Aaron Tan, TechTarget

Blockchain economy on the horizon

Blockchain technologies will enable many new and disruptive business models than the internet itself, an expert predicts Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Cognitive security is the future, says Martin Kuppinger

Modern computing capabilities combined with cognitive technology has huge potential for tackling unknown attack patterns and addressing the security skills shortage, says Martin Kuppinger Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Casting the IT skills net wider

In this week’s Computer Weekly, as research reveals that three-quarters of non-tech workers would be interested in a job in IT, we examine what’s stopping them from making the move and how cross-training can help. We analyse the key storage elements of building a private cloud. And Bloomberg’s head of data science talks about the benefits of machine learning. Read the issue now. Continue Reading

Barclays launches £10m UK digital safety campaign

Barclays is to lead a £10m campaign against digital fraud as research reveals London, Bristol and Birmingham are scam hotspots, with young adults most at risk Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Ex-government privacy advisor calls for 'fundamental review' of Gov.uk Verify identity scheme

Former Cabinet Office privacy group co-chair says the Verify identity assurance programme needs 'honest and fundamental reset' Continue Reading

By

• Bryan Glick, Editor in chief

Gov.uk Verify and identity assurance - it's time for a rethink

The government's Verify identity platform is not meeting user needs - it's time to step back and review how best to make online identity for public services work Continue Reading

By

• Jerry Fishenden

Testing is key to IoT security, says researcher

Building an effective testing process across all elements associated with a product is key to securing the internet of things, according to a researcher in the field Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Government privacy advisor quits and slams Cabinet Office for lack of support

Co-chair of Privacy and Consumer Advisory Group resigns and criticises officials for ignoring its advice and attempting to smuggle “inadequate proposals past ministers” Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

UBS applies data protection for compliance and competitive advantage

Swiss bank UBS aims to get greater value out of investments in sensitive data protection systems by using its security capabilities as a differentiator Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

How to deal with data under GDPR

In this week’s Computer Weekly, we take an in-depth look at GDPR – the new EU General Data Protection Regulation - with only 12 months left for organisations to prepare for significant changes in data management. We hear how one firm is using machine learning to revolutionise online fashion retail. And we examine how CIOs can apply lessons from buying software to improve digital transformation. Read the issue now. Continue Reading

Intel urges business to patch critical remote-execution flaw

Intel advises business customers to apply a security update for some versions of its administration firmware for vPro processors to fix a remote execution flaw Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Forge ahead with GDPR, says ICO

UK organisations cannot afford to lose the public’s trust in their ability to safeguard personal data and should be working to ensure they have that capability, says the Information Commissioner’s Office Continue Reading

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• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Backup testing: What to test, when to test, how often to test

We run the rule over what’s involved in backup testing in virtual and physical server environments, how often you should test and the key pitfalls to avoid Continue Reading

By

• Chris Evans

Research highlights cloud security complacency in organisations that ditch on-premise tech

Enterprise attitudes to cloud security are laid bare in the latest research report from Bitglass, and suggest more could be done to secure corporate data stored off-premise Continue Reading

By

• Caroline Donnelly, Senior Editor, UK

Cyber security centre of excellence to open at Cardiff University

Cardiff University and Airbus have launched the first centre of its kind in Europe to tackle cyber attacks on critical infrastructure Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Mastercard integrates biometric technology into cards

MasterCard tests out biometric technology embedded into payment cards, with further trials in Europe planned Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Banks suffer average of 85 attempted serious cyber attacks a year, and one-third are successful

Banks face daily cyber attacks, many of which succeed in stealing data, research finds Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

InterContinental Hotel Group reveals extent of malware attack

Hotel group InterContinental (IHG) reveals that malware attempting to glean payment card details sat undetected on its network in the US for three months Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Human interaction still key to cyber attacks, study reveals

An analysis of threats faced by organisations in the first quarter of 2017 reveals that cyber attackers still rely heavily on user interaction Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Skype most popular communication channel for cyber criminals

The cyber criminal network is truly global and collaborative, making use of popular messaging services, a study has revealed Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

What to do first when hit by a cyber attack

What actions should organisations take if they suspect they have suffered a cyber security incident? Continue Reading

By

• Gemma Moore

Enterprise adoption of encryption accelerating, study shows

Cloud adoption and escalating threats are accelerating adoption of encryption, a study has revealed Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

CW Middle East: UAE faces IT recruitment challenge

In this issue, read how organisations in the UAE face a challenge to attract and retain top-quality CIOs and other key IT staff as the region seeks to tackle a technology skills gap. Also, Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority has revealed that plans to unveil passenger-flying cars are in the final stages, with the initiative expected to launch in July 2017. Meanwhile, the UAE is mirroring global trends by eagerly adopting virtual reality technology. Continue Reading

Six key security weaknesses in industrial systems

Organisations should mitigate six key vulnerabilities in industrial control systems to reduce the risk of cyber attack, warns security firm FireEye Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Security as a service on the rise in the UAE

Organisations in the United Arab Emirates are increasingly turning to security services Continue Reading

By

• Alicia Buller

Virtual reality in healthcare

In this week’s Computer Weekly, we find out how virtual reality technology is starting to be used to improve health and patient care. We examine the new UK tax laws that are causing IT contractors to quit government digital projects. And we analyse the software licensing issues arising from SAP’s recent court case over indirect access to its applications. Read the issue now. Continue Reading

IAM a core building block for GDPR compliance

Identity and access management is key to enabling organisations to become compliant with the GDPR, increase security and improve customer relationships, according to a senior analyst at KuppingerCole Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Outsourcing service left Scottrade Bank customer data exposed

Mistake by outsourcing service provider left the details of 20,000 Scottrade Bank customers vulnerable to theft Continue Reading

By

• Karl Flinders, Chief reporter and senior editor EMEA

Wonga warns 245,000 UK customers of cyber breach

Loan firm urges customers to be vigilant after data breach that may have exposed personal details, including some financial information Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

How UK organisations are leaving themselves open for cyber attack

UK organisations are leaving themselves wide open to cyber attack despite huge investments in cyber security systems, according to two former hackers now working in cyber defence Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

MEPs call for European Commission to reassess Privacy Shield

European parliamentarians have called for an immediate review of the Privacy Shield EU-US data transfer framework due to concerns about privacy protections being undermined in the US Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Essential guide to laptop, desktop PC and mobile device strategy

A guide to the latest technologies and best practice in enterprise IT strategy for laptops, desktop PCs and mobile Continue Reading

Interview: F-Secure’s Mikko Hyppönen on the Nordics, Russia and the internet of insecure things

Computer Weekly sat down with Finnish cyber security expert Mikko Hyppönen to talk about security in the Nordics, Russia and the trouble with connected devices Continue Reading

By

• Eeva Haaramo

NHS Digital plans September go-live for citizen identity service

Health and social care patients will have a single online identity verification log-in to use across health and care by autumn 2017 Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

Chinese hacking group targeted firms through IT MSPs

Security researchers have uncovered a China-based cyber espionage campaign that targeted IT services firms and their customers, underlining the need for supply chain security Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

How IT can be more defensible

A renowned Google engineer calls for the IT industry to build devices capable of being defended and for enterprises to take a balance sheet approach in managing risks Continue Reading

By

• Aaron Tan, TechTarget

First cyber security startups graduate from GCHQ accelerator

The first group of companies has completed a government-led cyber accelerator programme aimed at helping UK startups take the lead in producing the next generation of cyber security systems, with another round to be announced in 2017 Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Thorn CEO on using machine learning and tech partnerships to tackle online child sex abuse

The CEO of US-based no-profit Thorn explains how cross-industry collaboration and machine learning is helping her organisation stay one step ahead of online child sex abusers Continue Reading

By

• Caroline Donnelly, Senior Editor, UK

Non-malware attacks pose bigger threat than malicious software

Malware-free cyber attacks are on the rise and artificial intelligence in cyber security is still far from replacing humans, according to most cyber security researchers Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Threats grow in Saudi Arabia’s cyber sector

Saudi Arabia's wealth makes it an attractive target for cyber criminals, but what have been the recent trends in cyber crime? Continue Reading

By

• Triska Hamid

Making the UK fit for 5G

In this week’s Computer Weekly, we look at the government’s new 5G strategy and assess whether it’s enough to stimulate development of next generation mobile networks. We meet some of the Silicon Valley startups hoping to revolutionise big data analytics. And we examine how to prevent the move to DevOps from harming work-life balance for IT professionals. Read the issue now. Continue Reading

UK business least likely to offer rewards to infosec professionals

UK firms need to rethink incentives to attract and retain people with cyber security skills, according to the findings of a recent global study Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

IBM cognitive assistant to help manage and secure devices

IBM has announced a cognitive assistant powered by IBM Watson to help businesses manage and secure endpoints, including devices making up the internet of things Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Singapore startup partners IBM to pilot blockchain technology

Invictus’ distributed ledger prototype will offer financing options for small and medium-sized enterprises Continue Reading

By

• Aaron Tan, TechTarget

Government to ramp up help for UK cyber security industry

Government, in partnership with industry, is pursuing a range of initiatives aimed at establishing a UK cyber security ecosystem, developing skills and products and boosting exports, says DIT’s Conrad Prince Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

US accuses Russian spies of directing Yahoo breach

US authorities have arrested a man in Canada who has been charged alongside two Russian intelligence officers and a Russian hacker in connection with a 2014 data breach at Yahoo affecting 500 million accounts Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

CW ASEAN: Raising national security standards

In this month’s CW ASEAN, we describe how Singapore is improving its cyber security defenses and preparations through a partnership with British security company BAE Systems. We also find out why the Thai military plans to recruit civilian cyber warriors and we take a look at evolving security approaches. Read the issue now. Continue Reading

CW ANZ: Take cover from cyber threats

In the latest issue of CW ANZ we focus on security, with analysis of why Australian organisations are not sold on cyber insurance. It certainly isn’t a lack of cyber attacks – Australia is, in fact, making cyber security headlines for the wrong reasons. We also take a look at the need for organisations to meet IoT security challenges head-on. Read the issue now. Continue Reading

APAC topped the world in number of cyber attacks in 2016

The prevalent use of pirated software is one of the possible reasons for the APAC region’s poor showing in Trend Micro’s annual study on the state of cyber security Continue Reading

By

• Aaron Tan, TechTarget

CIO interview: Simon McCalla, Nominet

Nominet, the registry for more than 10 million of the UK’s internet domains, is expanding into the internet of things and internet security services Continue Reading

By

• Bill Goodwin, Computer Weekly

NCSC to educate UK politicians on the cyber threat

The National Cyber Security Centre is to deliver tailored seminars for politicians on how to protect their email communications and voters’ data to defend against cyber threats to the political system Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Paying ransomware attackers perpetuates attacks, says researcher

Continually evolving ransomware is among the threats organisations need to factor into their cyber defences in 2017, but only once they have taken care of the basics, says Kaspersky Lab researcher Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

CW Europe: Technology poses new risks to jobs, economies and society

Rapid advances in technology could have destabilising effects on employment and economic growth, and could exacerbate social unrest, the World Economic Forum (WEF) warned. Society’s failure to keep pace with technology change was a key risk under discussion at Davos in January. Continue Reading

WhatsApp, Signal, ProtonMail safe from CIA hacking tools

Top secure messaging and email apps are said to be safe from CIA hacking tools, but organisations are urged to assess their own vulnerability if the tools were to fall into the hands of cyber criminals Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Country as a service becoming reality in Estonia

Programme to help foreigners set up businesses in Estonia through virtual residency is gathering pace Continue Reading

By

• Tarmo Virki

Retail industry steps up the fight against rising cyber threats

UK retail body BRC publishes the first of its kind step-by-step guide on how to manage cyber security threats Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Industrial control systems pose big risk to security

In this week’s Computer Weekly, we examine the risks to critical national infrastructure from security vulnerabilities in legacy industrial control systems. DevOps is growing in popularity – we find out about the organisational, process and cultural approaches to make it succeed. And we ask CIOs how they are becoming hybrid IT and digital leaders. Read the issue now. Continue Reading

More than a million Gmail and Yahoo account credentials on sale

Usernames, email addresses and plaintext passwords of more than a million Yahoo and Gmail accounts are reportedly on sale on the dark web, posing a threat to corporate security Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

AWS outage shows vulnerability of cloud disaster recovery

The recent outage at Amazon Web Services has highlighted the risks of using any public cloud for disaster recovery IT Continue Reading

By

• Cliff Saran, Managing Editor

Cyber attack on Barts NHS trust exploited zero-day vulnerability

A cyber attack that forced parts of Barts NHS trust offline in January 2017 has been blamed on previously unknown malware that was able to bypass the antivirus systems, highlighting a common weakness in cyber defences Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Businesses blame rivals for DDoS attacks

Industrial sabotage is considered to be the most likely reason behind a distributed denial of service attack, a study has revealed Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Yahoo breaches underline executive role in cyber security

Yahoo's data breaches cost its top lawyer his job, CEO Marissa Mayer millions in bonuses, and $350m off its sale price, highlighting the importance of executive involvement Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

The internet of things: an overview

Despite security and other concerns, there are many benefits associated with embracing the internet of things Continue Reading

By

• Bruce Hughes, KuppingerCole

Citizen Love: the story of an ordinary family's fight with the US government

Finnish documentary makers Raimo Uunila and Lauri Danska tell the behind-the-scenes story of activist Lauri Love’s battle with the US government – and the impact of the case on his family Continue Reading

By

• Bill Goodwin, Computer Weekly

Cyber criminals net £8bn from financial services in 2016

Organised cyber fraud gangs are turning their attention to online lenders and emerging financial services, potentially netting £8bn in 2016, a report reveals Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

NHS ‘mislays’ 500,000 confidential patient documents

Health service accused of a ‘cover-up’ after it came to light that more than half a million documents holding patient data were never delivered to their intended recipients Continue Reading

By

• Lis Evenstad

Banking malware, DDoS, ransomware and CEO fraud top UK cyber threats

Businesses need to be aware of the value of their data, how that data is likely to be attacked, and how to defend against particular attacks, says leading UK cyber cop Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

CW Nordics: Top IT priorities for Nordic CIOs in 2017

In this first issue of CW Nordics in 2017 we take a look what CIOs in the region are expecting in the year ahead. We asked a select group of CIOs and analysts in Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden what IT projects are at the top their priority lists. Also read about the Nordic region as a hotspot for IT startups, with Sweden punching above its weight in financial technology. And find out how board executives at healthcare company Elekta are analysing workforce data to make better strategic decisions. Continue Reading

Beware printer helpline scam, warns NTS eCrime Team

National Trading Standards is warning consumers about a scam targeting those looking for help with printer problems Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst

Microsoft issues critical patches but not for zero days

After missing the monthly security update for 14 February, Microsoft has issued some patches but not for zero-day vulnerabilities despite the availability of exploit code Continue Reading

By

• Warwick Ashford, Senior analyst