As hard as the good guys try to stay ahead of them, cybercriminals are getting increasingly sophisticated by the day. With more and more brazen attacks, cyber security incidents are on the rise around the world. Recent cyber breaches, like the Colonial Pipeline attack, only serve to highlight the urgent need for a robust, fully integrated cyber security program. Let’s look below at some recent attacks and how the cyber security pipeline incident is changing the landscape of cyber security.
Recent Cyber Security Incidents
The last several years have seen an increase in cyber attacks by a considerable margin. And it’s not just small businesses that need to worry. Let’s take a look at some major companies that have suffered cyber security incidents in the last few years.
- In 2017 American credit bureau giant Equifax reported that over 147 million of its users’ information was stolen, though they were slow to report it. Hackers gained access to customers’ Social Security Numbers, Dates of Birth, Addresses, and drivers’ license numbers.
- The international software company Adobe suffered its own cyber security incident in 2013. The company lost the credit card numbers, logins, and passwords of around 153 million users.
- In 2014 the global online auction site eBay was attacked and remained breached for 229 days. Names, Addresses, Dates of Birth, and passwords of 153 million of the site’s customers were stolen.
Cyber Security Incidents are Prompting Action
The attack that halted the flow of gas and nearly shut down the east coast would cost Colonial Pipeline nearly $5 million in ransom money. The effect of the incident and Colonial Pipeline’s slow response reporting the attack has spurred the U.S. Government into action.
The Department of Justice has recently revealed that they were able to recover around $2.3 million of cryptocurrency that was paid as ransom. The failure of companies to report cyber security incidents has the Department of Homeland Security stepping in and providing tighter regulation of the country’s pipeline infrastructure.
For years, the FBI has recommended and encouraged companies not to comply with any ransom demands, believing that it will encourage more attacks. However, after the latest cyber security incident, a mandate has been released that forces the pipeline industry to report any attack on their systems. Other policies are set to follow in the coming days and months designed to increase the cyber security of the industry’s networks.
It’s a scary world out there, and you have a business to run. As important as it is, you shouldn’t be worrying about cyber security incidents all the time. And with the government beginning to draft new policies and enacting tighter regulations, things are getting even more complicated. Luckily, if you’re in the Long Island area, you have someone that can take that worry off your shoulders. Hi-Tek Data can provide your company with around-the-clock cyber protection and ensure you remain compliant with all regulations. Don’t find yourself on a “recently hacked list,” give us a call today!
