As companies had to quickly pivot and implement a remote work plan (a lot of them did not have such a plan in place) due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, they became more at risk for a cyber attack and/or breach due to the vulnerabilities they did not even know they had. As a result of this there has been an uptick in the success rate of cyber attacks in the United States.

Coalition Inc., a cyber insurance provider, recently released their H1 2020 Cyber Insurance Claims report that noted a decrease in the frequency of ransomware claims however, its policyholders have experienced a 100% increase in average demands from 2019 to the first quarter of 2020, then an increase of 47% from the first quarter to the second.¹

Topics: Cyber Risk, Cyber Security, Ransomware, cyber attacks, COVID-19

Most companies have been forced to quickly implement a remote work solution that suited essential employees or even the entire firm’s staff. This has exposed many companies network to new risks as everyone has a different set up at home. Some are using MACs, some using PCs, some have outdated operating systems and software while others are already infected with viruses or malware. 

Topics: Cyber Risk, Cyber Security, cyber attacks, COVID-19, remote work, work from home

During every national emergency situation, there are always scammers who look to capitalize on people during times of distress. Scammers have already begun to take advantage of the current state of emergency due to the Coronavirus pandemic. Similar to Hurricane Sandy in 2012, phishing scams have begun to plague our inboxes. Coronavirus phishing scams may come in the form of a statement or request from someone impersonating a Centers for Disease Control (CDC), World Health Organization (WHO), or similar agency official. They may even use domain names similar to those of the CDC and WHO.

Topics: Phishing Scam, Ransomware, cyber attacks, pandemics, hacking,, social media, COVID-19, risk management consultant, remote work

 

Over the last decade, social media has quickly become a prominent way for businesses to advertise, communicate, and educate. On the flip side, it can be a huge risk for those businesses that cannot keep up with the ever changing tools and trends in privacy, security, and marketing. We often see businesses and even public figures falling prey to social engineering scams, ransomware, hacking, and a multitude of other cyber risks. Luckily, with some planning and diligence, mitigating these risks can be quite simple. Below are examples of some threats as well as solutions you can implement now that will help protect your business from some of the most prevalent social media threats.  

Topics: Risk management, cyber attacks, social media for businesses, social media, social media risks

Given the widespread awareness of Cyber Risk and the increasing trend for companies to consider insurance around this exposure, a company’s preparedness for a Cyber risk related event should be a part of their risk management plan.  Unfortunately, for most organizations, this part of the plan has not been matured. That’s a mistake…

Topics: Crisis Risk Management, Cyber Breach, Cyber Insurance, Cyber Risk, cyber attacks

The construction industry is changing rapidly and more and more projects are relying on emerging technologies for management and completion. There are now major cyber related concerns regarding “smart” equipment such as cranes and drones and SAAS/IAAS systems used for project planning and management. ‘Connected’ systems utilized by third-parties (general contractors and subcontractors) to share and centralize sensitive data may also expose a project to cyber risks.

Topics: Construction, Construction Project Risk, Manage Construction Risk, Risk management, cyber attacks

A new development has occurred in the FACC cyber “fake-president fraud” case.

Topics: Cyber Insurance, Cyber Risk Mitigation, Cyber Security, Phishing Scam, Risk management, Risk Mitigation, Total Cost of Risk (TCoR), cyber attacks, what is total cost of risk, ceo scams, cfo scams, ceo fraud, what is risk management

The cyber security world evolves at a breakneck pace. For those not following closely, new developments can be unexpected and downright scary.

Topics: Cyber Liability, Cyber Risk, Cyber Risk Mitigation, Cyber Security, cyber attacks

Multiple sources reported yesterday that hackers encrypted files on computers belonging to the city of Newark and have demanded $30,000 worth of Bitcoin to restore them.

Topics: Cyber Breach, Cyber Insurance, Cyber Security, Ransomware, cyber attacks

The healthcare sector is without a doubt one of the most targeted industries for cyber hackers. Different industries have different types and degrees of cyber risk exposure. But hackers and malicious campaigns take aim at the healthcare sector in particular due to the private nature and black market value of the data.

Topics: Cyber Breach, Cyber Liability, Cyber Risk, Healthcare, Healthcare Data Breach, Healthcare Risk Management, cyber attacks