Cybercrime with Chris Neilson

by | Jul 16, 2020 | Cyber Security

Cybercrime

There are many different types of cybercrime, with new methods constantly being used. Some of the most popular cybercrime examples include phishing, malware attacks, The Big Boss Scam, as well as exploitation. These cybercrimes are organised by groups of criminals and are affecting more and more businesses across the UK, leading to IT companies such as Hero educating as many enterprises as possible.

Who is Chris Neilson?

A short while back, Ragnar (Director) and Serena (IT Technician) had the opportunity to discuss the effects of Cybercrime on businesses across Sussex and the whole of the UK, with Chris Neilson. He is the Lead Chief for Sussex Police in Strategic Business Crime.

Chris joined us in the office to talk about our role as a managed IT services provider, in not just educating our clients, but preventing and protecting them from the vast range of evolving cybercrime. It is easier and easier to access tools that can compromise a business,” he warned. “Businesses who have not made the necessary steps to secure themselves are at an increased threat”

Chris mainly works directly for the Chief Constable, as well as on investigation work. His main role is to manage the cybercrime projects in Sussex as well as engage and liaise with businesses of all sizes about cybercrime and other fraud. Chris also helps to ‘raise what the vulnerabilities are as well as work with companies to create resilience in Sussex.’

Chris’ top tips to keep your business safe

  • Grow your cyber security as your business grows and stay up to date with the latest technology, which is something IT support services can assist with. Read more about this on the Sussex Police website
  • Keep your assets safe – have an inventory of your digital assets and an additional backup of them. This is important so in the event of having your data wiped from the system, or you being a victim of ransomware, you know your data is safe
  • If your business does fall victim to any cybercrime report to Action Fraud, however, it is clearly advantageous for a business to look ahead by engaging with suitable expertise and taking (often) simple steps to prevent this. Once you have been in contact with action fraud, your incident is recorded and assessed for potential lines of enquiry. If suitable, the information will be passed to the local police force for further investigation

What else can you do to protect your business?

Businesses become most vulnerable when they don’t take the necessary precautions to prevent themselves from becoming victims. Here are a few simple areas in which your business can help to prevent an attack:

  • Updates- ensure that you regularly update all software and devices. Larger companies such as Microsoft and Apple, release updates weekly to keep their operating systems up to date
  • Passwords – you and your employees should have strong passwords which ideally are changed roughly every three months. Never write these passwords down otherwise they could get into the wrong hands. Don’t use names or phone numbers as the password as these can be easily guessed. Check our passwords guide for more advice on creating and storing passwords
  • System monitoring – if you monitor your computer systems, you reduce the risk of unwanted malware or viruses from spreading. Monitoring also enables you to check antivirus is running on all devices. Keep an eye out for any updates
  • Knowledge – if employees and employers are kept up to date with the latest cybercrime scams and techniques, they can learn how to spot and prevent attacks. Give staff access to guides and policies on the small changes they can make to prevent these cybercrimes from affecting your business

Action Fraud have now launched a 24/7 helpline, supporting businesses, charities and organisations to combat against cyber attacks.

Do you have a company in Sussex that could be in danger from cyber criminals? Book a free consultation with Hero IT Support today for a demonstration of the best IT support Sussex has to offer.

0800 680 00 88