Safer Internet Day 2017

Be the change: Unite for a better Internet

Coordinated in the UK by the UK Safer Internet Centre, this event sees hundreds of organisations across the UK get involved in promoting the safe, responsible and positive use of digital technology for children and young people.

The day is celebrated on a global scale involving a number of charities and organisations, who provide valuable resources to educate and inform the younger generation about online safety and security. This topic is growing rapidly and has recently hit mainstream media due to the rise of internet attacks aimed at both individuals and businesses.

Created as a means of exchanging information via the connection/linking of computers, the foundations of the internet were developed in the early 1970s by the United States Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency. Since then it has grown exponentially, from 16 million users in 1995 to an estimated 3.6 billion internet users as of September 2016. One thing is clear – it’s only getting bigger, as our lives become more tied to an internet connection, and increased connectivity.

Awareness and knowledge is paramount when it comes to online safety, and educating young people about the risks involved can in some cases be lifesaving. Being unaware of the security risks and where they come from can also be detrimental to businesses, in many cases ruining years of hard work and careers at the click of a button.

We recently wrote about a highly successful whaling attack that caused a CEO to lose their position of 17 years. The business suffered a reported €50 million loss and a 17% drop in share price. In this case, had key members of this organisation been aware of this form of cyber-attack the impact would not have been so grave. Educating colleagues, peers, friends and family enables more people to combat these malicious attacks.

The message for businesses, much like the message of Safer Internet Day 2017, is be the change in how you approach cyber security and educate your colleagues. Unite for a better internet by understanding the dangers and combatting them as a group. Communication is key.

Below we’ve compiled a list of IT security blogs with topics ranging from phone scams and CEO Fraud to Ransomware.

IT and Internet Security blog round up:

Phone Scams: Vishing, Smishing and Phishing
CEO Fraud and the Whaling attacks you must know about
Odin is the new Zepto
Sophos Intercept X: Welcome to a new realm of cops and robbers
Headline hacks of 2016
Locky and beyond: The biggest Ransomware threats of 2016

Is your business taking part in Safer Internet Day?