In the ever-evolving world of technology, cybersecurity remains a top concern for many organisations, governments, and individuals. With cyber threats constantly on the rise, staying informed about the latest news and developments in the field is essential for maintaining digital safety. In this blog post, we will explore the top cybersecurity news stories from this week, shedding light on significant events, and noteworthy security incidents.
This week’s top stories include news that hackers have (unsuccessfully) targeted a UK nuclear waste company, news that healthcare firm HealthEC LLC has suffered a data breach, and new stats which reveal that consumers are likely to ditch brands after security issues.
Consumers Prepared to Ditch Brands After Cybersecurity Issues
New research has shown that in 2023 businesses experienced a total of 800,000 cyberattacks. Among these, more than 60,000 were identified as Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks, while 4,000 businesses fell prey to ransomware. The research conducted by Vercara revealed that consumers possess nuanced views on cybersecurity incidents and frequently lack awareness of their role in upholding cyber hygiene within a business.
With reputation, assets, and profits at stake, it’s important that organisations of all sizes take cybersecurity seriously. As always, prevention is better than cure.
Hackers Target UK Nuclear Waste Company RWM
The entity responsible for a £50 billion project to construct a substantial underground nuclear waste repository in Britain has disclosed that cyber attackers have focused on the company. Radioactive Waste Management, the organisation overseeing the Geological Disposal Facility (GDF) project, has reported that hackers made an unsuccessful attempt to infiltrate the business through LinkedIn.
Whilst it hasn’t been specified here, hackers are increasingly using social media to phish employees to gain access to an organisation’s network.
Cactus Ransomware Gang Hit the Swedish Retail and Grocery Provider Coop
The Cactus ransomware group alleges that they've breached Coop's security and is now issuing threats to expose an extensive trove of personal information, totalling over 21,000 directories. Coop stands as one of the leading retail and grocery providers in Sweden, boasting a network of approximately 800 stores nationwide.
Data Breach at Healthcare Tech Firm Impacts 4.5 Million Patients
HealthEC LLC, a company specialising in health management solutions, recently experienced a data breach affecting nearly 4.5 million individuals who have received care through one of the company's clients. HealthEC offers a Population Health Management (PHM) platform that enables healthcare organisations to integrate data, perform analytics, coordinate care, engage with patients, ensure compliance, and generate reports.Supply chain attacks, such as these, are becoming increasingly common.
23andMe Alleged That End-Users Were to Blame for Data Breach
In December, 23andMe acknowledged a cyberattack where hackers pilfered the genetic and ancestry data of 6.9 million users, constituting almost half of its customer base. In the aftermath of the breach, 23andMe finds itself entangled in over 30 lawsuits filed by the breach’s victims. Recent reports suggest that the company is attempting to shift blame onto the victims, aiming to distance itself from any culpability.
In a letter sent to a group of hundreds of 23andMe users who are now suing the company, 23andMe said that “users negligently recycled and failed to update their passwords following these past security incidents, which are unrelated to 23andMe.” This story is developing.
As always, it’s important that business leaders stay ahead of the latest cybersecurity developments. Informed leaders are better equipped to make strategic decisions, proactively integrate security measures, and fortify their organisations sufficiently against cyber threats.
Crucially, maintaining a vigilant mindset, adhering to best practices, and the adoption of the latest technology are all integral parts of constructing a secure digital future. Embracing these principles protects us today and sets us up for a safer future.