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03 March 2023 / Kingsley Hayes
Issue: 8015 / Categories: Features , Profession , Cybercrime , Criminal , Cyber , Technology , Risk management
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Cybercrime: avoiding the unthinkable

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With cyberattacks presenting a growing threat to UK businesses, Kingsley Hayes offers practical advice to help law firms avoid falling victim to online criminals
  • Looks at the wider privacy implications of the ransomware attack at The Guardian in December 2022.
  • Considers similar phishing attacks where personal data has been seized by criminals.
  • Argues companies targeted by cybercriminals have a responsibility to safeguard staff and discourage complacency regarding these attacks.

Hackers struck the Guardian Media Group on 20 December 2022. The cyberattack caused serious disruption to the media outlet’s business operations and involved the theft of a large quantity of personal data.

Go phish

The cyberattack on The Guardian involved phishing. A ‘phishing’ attack can be initiated where, for example, a hacker sends an email or text message to an employee of an organisation. This may include an innocent-looking website link or invitation for the recipient to open an attachment. Once the link is clicked, or the attachment opened, however, malicious software, such as

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EIP—Stuart Malcolm

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Ellisons—Francesca Brown

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Shakespeare Martineau—Marie Bourke

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NEWS
A wide-ranging Civil Way column highlights developments from insolvency procedure to employment law, but one case stands out for its lessons on bankruptcy, family homes and digital communications
A sprawling Intellectual Property Office battle between House of Fraser and Frasers Property has delivered a masterclass in modern trade mark law
Courts in England and Wales and Singapore are increasingly confronting complex disputes over international child relocation as families become more globally mobile
The government’s long-awaited family law reform consultation could mark a turning point for domestic abuse victims navigating financial remedy proceedings, but significant challenges remain
A new commercial court pilot giving the public access to documents used in hearings, including expert reports, is raising difficult questions about transparency and privacy
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