UK Cyber Crime on the Rise: Businesses, Charities, and More Targeted

Cyber crime in the UK has significantly grown in 2024, with businesses being the most common target. The recent Cyber Security Breaches Survey found that a cyber attack has hit half of UK businesses in the past year.

UK Cyber Crime on the Rise: Businesses, Charities, and More Targeted

Posted: 22nd June 2024 - Reading Time: 3 minutes

Cyber crime in the UK has significantly grown in 2024, with businesses being the most common target. The recent Cyber Security Breaches Survey found that a cyber attack has hit half of UK businesses in the past year.

Phishing scams are the most prevalent attack method, affecting 84% of businesses. These scams involve emails or websites that trick victims into revealing personal information or clicking malicious links.

Ransomware attacks have also seen a concerning surge compared to the previous year. In these attacks, criminals encrypt critical data and demand a ransom payment for decryption. The financial impact of cybercrime is significant. The estimated annual cost to UK businesses is a staggering £27 billion. However, businesses are not the only ones at risk.

Charities, healthcare providers, financial institutions, and even industrial control systems are all becoming increasingly targeted by cyber criminals. These attacks can have a devastating impact, disrupting critical services and causing financial losses.

 

Rising Cyber Threats to Watch Out For

  • Increased targeting of non-business sectors: As cyber criminals become more sophisticated, they are likely to continue to target a wider range of sectors, including charities, healthcare, finance, and industrial control systems.
  • Supply chain attacks: These attacks target a company’s vendors or suppliers to gain access to the company’s systems.
  • Internet of Things (IoT) vulnerabilities: The growing number of IoT devices connected to the Internet creates new opportunities for cyber criminals to launch attacks.

 

Recent Examples of Cyber Attacks

  • June 2024: A cyber attack hit Synnovis, a pathology lab processing blood tests for the NHS, potentially compromising patient and staff data.
  • May 2024: A cyber attack believed to be from China targeted a Ministry of Defence contractor called Shared Services Connected Ltd, potentially exposing sensitive information on current and former armed forces personnel.
  • April 2024: CVS Group has told regulators about a possible breach of personal information after a cyber-attack where hackers had gained unauthorised external access to a limited number of its IT systems.

 

What can be done to improve cyber security?

There are several steps that businesses and individuals can take to protect themselves from cyber crime:

  • Implement strong cyber security measures: This includes using firewalls, and antivirus software, and keeping software up to date.
  • Educate employees about cyber threats: Employees should be aware of the latest phishing scams and other cyber attacks.
  • Have a cyber incident response plan: This plan should outline how the organisation will respond to a cyber attack.

By following these steps, businesses and individuals can help to reduce the risk of falling victim to cyber crime.

About the Author

Christopher Hill

Christopher Hill

With over 15 years of experience crafting websites here in the UK, I'm passionate about finding solutions to business problems using my computer and engineering skills. As a web developer with a background in electronic and electrical engineering, I am now embarking on a new journey to enhance my skills by learning cyber security.

The field of cyber security intersects significantly with both engineering and web development, making it a natural extension of my existing expertise. In an era of rising threats to organisations, learning cyber security not only increases my knowledge but also equips me to better support my clients by safeguarding their digital assets.

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