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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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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Taylor Rose—Jessica Draganescu & Emily Hewlett

Taylor Rose—Jessica Draganescu & Emily Hewlett

Firm strengthens growth strategy and group litigation capability with senior hires

Farrer & Co—Richard Lane

Farrer & Co—Richard Lane

Londstanding London firm appoints new senior partner

Bird & Bird—Sue McLean

Bird & Bird—Sue McLean

Commercial team in London welcomes technology specialist as partner

NEWS
The legal profession’s claim to be a ‘guardian of fairness’ is under scrutiny after stark findings on gender imbalance and opaque progression. Writing in NLJ this week, Joshua Purser of No5 Barristers’ Chambers and Govindi Deerasinghe of Global 50/50 warn that leadership remains dominated by a narrow elite, with men holding 71% of top court roles
A legal challenge to police disclosure rules has failed, reinforcing a push for transparency in policing. In NLJ this week, Neil Parpworth examines a case where the Metropolitan Police required officers to declare membership of groups like the Freemasons
Bereavement leave is undergoing a quiet but profound transformation. Writing in NLJ this week, Robert Hargreaves of York St John University explains how the Employment Rights Act 2025 introduces a day-one right to leave for a wider range of losses, alongside new provisions for pregnancy loss and bereaved partners
Courts are beginning to grapple with whether AI-generated material is legally privileged—and the answers are mixed. In this week's issue of NLJ, Stacie Bourton, Tom Whittaker & Beata Kolodziej of Burges Salmon examine US rulings showing how easily privilege can be lost
New guidance seeks to bring order to the growing use of artificial intelligence (AI) in expert evidence. Writing in NLJ this week, Minesh Tanna and David Bridge of Simmons & Simmons set out a framework stressing ‘transparency’, ‘explainability’ and ‘reliability’
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