More than Half of British Consumers Endured a Data Breach in 2019

Globally, data breaches are increasing in both frequency and scope, a reality that is acutely felt by users in the United Kingdom. According to a new study, 58% of UK citizens experienced a data breach in the past twelve months. While today’s cyber threats are complicated and multifaceted, the study attributed the rise of increasingly complicated phishing attacks as a primary vector for data compromise. 

Not too long ago, we reported on four phishing attack trends that were impacting the data security landscape, and it’s clear that those methodologies were astonishingly effective at compromising user data in the past year.

However, the report didn’t just identify the troubling trend. It recommends that users ditch their redundant, simplistic, and overly-personal passwords for strong, unique passwords across all of their accounts. Also, it encouraged users to adopt two-factor authentication as an effective way to prevent cybercriminals from gaining account access.

While business email compromise is enabling data breaches with stunning frequency, companies and consumers are not powerless. Contact ID Agent today to learn about our industry-leading tools for repelling phishing scams and protecting account integrity with two-factor authentication.

https://www.techradar.com/news/over-half-of-british-consumers-faced-a-data-breach-last-year

Bit by bit helps client networks run smooth and secure.. visit our website at www.bitxbit.com/texas 877.860.5831

Phishing Scam Invokes Executive to Trick Employees

An employee of Village Care Rehabilitation and Nursing Center (VCRN), a non-profit healthcare provider, fell for a complicated phishing scam that compromised patients’ protected health information. The fraudulent message was purportedly sent from a company executive, a scenario that inherently elicited the employee’s trust to provide authority for sharing data via email.

The episode is indicative of how phishing scams have evolved to become more personal and difficult to detect. With data breaches only becoming more expensive and consequential, every business should review and update its security awareness training to ensure that it accounts for the latest threats and trends.

In other words, identifying unsophisticated spear phishing emails with a spam filter won’t be enough to combat today’s phishing scam trends. However, comprehensive employee awareness training, like that offered by ID Agent, can ensure that your company is protecting against phishing scams.
https://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/news/fake-exec-tricks-new-york-city/


Bit by bit helps client networks run smooth and secure.. visit our website at www.bitxbit.com/texas 877.860.5831

Dark Web Trends

Ransomware erodes productivity, a malware attack permanently destroys patient data, and a new study reveals the extent of data breaches in the UK.  

Dark Web ID Trends:

Top Source Hits: ID Theft Forums 
Top Compromise Type: Domain 
Top Industry: Education & Research
Top Employee Count: 251 - 500 Employees 

Bit by bit helps client networks run smooth and secure.. visit our website at www.bitxbit.com/texas 877.860.5831

Data Breach Lists by State:

There are a lot of U.S. state agencies that publish lists of reported data breaches in their respective states. We created a chart of published lists and will keep this updated:

STATE	BREACHES
California	1,806 (2012-present)
Delaware	47 (2018-present)
Hawaii	61 (2007-present)
Indiana	5,207 (2014-present)
Iowa	223 (2011-present)
Maine	2,653 (2010-present)
Maryland	4,487 (2015-present)
Massachusetts	14,298 (2007-present)
Montana	1,695 (2015-present)
New Hampshire	2,786 (2007-present)
New Jersey	152 (2017-present)
North Carolina	6,230 (2005-present)
North Dakota	56
Oregon	377 (2015-present)
South Carolina	568
Vermont	536 (2017-2020)
Virginia	3,244 (2012-2018)
Washington	342 (2015-2019)
Wisconsin	166 (2012-2019)

Bit by bit helps client networks run smooth and secure.. visit our website at www.bitxbit.com/texas 877.860.5831

Data Privacy Fines Reach $126 Million

It’s been just over a year and a half since GDPR’s implementation, and the fines are starting to add up. According to the latest report, the expansive data privacy regulation has levied $126 million in penalties on companies throughout Europe. To some, the fines are relatively modest, a reminder that regulatory oversight can be slow to impact businesses’ bottom lines. However, others see the figure as an ominous reminder that data privacy failures won’t come without consequences. 

At the same time, Europe isn’t the only place imposing financial penalties on companies that can’t protect customer data. California's Consumer Privacy Act and New York’s SHIELD Act both carry monetary penalties. In 2020, it’s clear that regulation is going to become more normative, not less, and businesses need to prepare. Contact ID Agent today to improve your defensive posture and avoid regulatory fines resulting from a breach.
https://www.cnbc.com/amp/2020/01/19/eu-gdpr-privacy-law-led-to-over-100-million-in-fines.html


Bit by bit helps client networks run smooth and secure.. visit our website at www.bitxbit.com/texas 877.860.5831

Phishing Tops UK Cyber Threat Landscape

Today’s companies face a litany of cybersecurity threats, but, according to the results of a new study, none are more prevalent than phishing attacks. The study, which surveyed UK ICO reports, found that there were 1,080 phishing-related beaches in 2019, a significant increase from 877 the year before. In total, phishing attacks caused 45% of all data breaches. While other notable causes like unauthorized access, ransomware, and brute force password attacks run rampant, none are even close to as prominent as phishing attacks. 

This trend reflects cybercriminals’ desire to target employees and individuals who may not be prepared to identify and respond to the innocent-looking messages that frequently arrive in their inboxes. In response, companies can focus their defense initiatives to combat this trend. Employee awareness training is a proven way for companies to transform their employees from a potent risk to a proven line of defense against cybercrime.

To get help implementing comprehensive employee awareness training, contact ID Agent to learn more about how our simulated phishing attacks can equip your employees to respond to this prominent threat. 

https://www.bmmagazine.co.uk/news/phishing-dominates-uk-cyber-threat-landscape/

Bit by bit helps client networks run smooth and secure.. visit our website at www.bitxbit.com/texas 877.860.5831

Dark Web Trends!

malware compromises online stores, accidents lead to expensive data breaches, and phishing scams top the UK’s threat list.  

Dark Web ID Trends:

Top Source Hits: ID Theft Forums 
Top Compromise Type: Domain 
Top Industry: High-Tech & IT
Top Employee Count: 1 - 10 Employees 

Bit by bit helps client networks run smooth and secure.. visit our website at www.bitxbit.com/texas 877.860.5831