Cyberattacks Involving Data Theft Coupled with Ransom Demand Are Becoming Common

Cyberattacks Involving Data Theft Coupled with Ransom Demand Are Becoming Common

Information Security
Cyberattacks Involving Data Theft Coupled with Ransom Demand Are Becoming Common Cyberattacks involving the theft of personal information coupled with ransom demand are becoming prevalent. The cyberattack on LifeLabs exemplifies the trend of data theft coupled with ransom demand. In November 2019, LifeLabs informed the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario and the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner for British Columbia that cybercriminals penetrated the company’s systems, extracted data and demanded a ransom. LifeLabs is Canada's largest provider of general and specialty laboratory testing services. The company reported that it supports 20 million patient visits each year and conducts more than 100 million laboratory tests each year. In December last year, Charles Brown, president and CEO of LifeLabs, said in a statement that information relating…
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Why SMEs Are Big Targets for Cyberattacks

Why SMEs Are Big Targets for Cyberattacks

Information Security
Why SMEs Are Big Targets for Cyberattacks Reports by mainstream media often highlight cyberattacks against large corporations. These reports lead to the belief that cybercriminals target only large companies. The truth is far from this belief. Cost of Cyberattacks on SMEs According to StaySafeOnline.org, a site maintained by the National Cyber Security Alliance, 71% of security breaches target small businesses and nearly half of all small businesses have been victims of cyberattacks. Despite these high number of security breach attempts on small businesses and high number of cyberattack victims, StaySafeOnline.org said that “many SMBs believe they are not vulnerable to cyber attacks because of their small size and limited assets.” Visa Inc. estimated that nearly 95% of the credit-card data breaches it discovered were from its smallest business customers. Data…
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