Many people think that “cybersecurity” refers to computer crime, and that it is synonymous with internet security. In fact, the truth is a bit more complex than that. Cybersecurity is a rapidly evolving body of law dedicated to the protection of cyberspace, its many varied and often hidden sub-topics, and the many victims it can cause. Just as the US Department of Justice defines “cybersecurity” to mean “conduct of an activity affecting interstate commerce, the theft of information relating to the security of public services or systems, or private information used for commercial purposes,” to have been engaged in any of the above, you need to also understand what cybersecurity is when you consider the UK.
Just as there are different levels of federal crimes, there are different types of offenses that can be charged under UK laws. For instance, if a UK citizen knowingly breaks the law by disclosing any private data, such as credit card details, to a third party without authorization, then they could be charged with offenses related to computer crime or cybercrimes. Four out of five UK cybersecurity experts worry about violating the law because of outdated provisions of older UK laws. Many of these laws have been around since the nineties, and to this day do not have appropriate penalties that include prison time.
One of the things that many UK citizens do not realize, is that the UK is not part of the European Union. The EU has come into force since 2020 and is not recognized by the UK as a member. Similarly, the United States Federal Government agrees with this opinion, and does not wish to be drawn into any relationship with the EU on the basis of membership. That means that US companies may choose to operate in the UK based on trade agreements, rather than on the basis of membership of the EU.
Because of this, UK organizations need to work very closely with the U.S. federal government and share cybersecurity intelligence. This sharing is done not only between the U.S. and the uk, but between the uk government and other international partner nations. This is good for cybersecurity in the UK and around the world. Cybersecurity experts report that this level of collaboration makes the cybersecurity industry one of the most stable in the world.
Many international cooperation agencies are busy training UK organizations to combat cyber crime and vulnerabilities. One such agency is the UK Information Communication and Digital Agency (ICDA). The International Telecommunication Sector Association (ITSA) also works closely with the UK government to ensure that UK corporations are well-informed on combating Internet fraud and security. Another agency, the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA), has developed its own Cyber Crime Victims Center (CCVC) to help victims of cyber crimes and provide information to UK law enforcement authorities on cyber crime. Cybercrime impacts all sectors of business, from financial services to retailing to utilities.
It can be heartbreaking for victims to find out that their personal and business information have been compromised by cyber criminals, and many do not know where to turn for assistance. Cybersecurity awareness is increasing, but many UK organizations are still not aware of what they should do in the event of a cyber attack. For UK businesses that suffer a major data breach, it is essential to work closely with the U.S. government and other international partners to address the issue and take measures to mitigate the risk of further attacks. UK officials and private sector experts have developed a number of strategies to help UK organizations mitigate the threat of a data breach.
A UK Op Ed published in the Financial Times Magazine highlighted that UK authorities have been struggling to respond to the rising threat of malware called “Ransomware”. Ransomware attacks are conducted in the name of protecting intellectual property or confidential business information. In the case of a corporate data breach, attackers to access an infected computer and gain access to the personal information stored on that PC. UK officials believe that UK businesses will face a greater threat from external sources such as hackers if encryption in smart phones is cracked. Encryption is currently used in many popular messaging apps and has the potential to severely hinder the transfer of confidential data from one mobile device to another.
As the global average of data breaches grows each year, it is clear that businesses need to focus on issues that resonate with their target audience and create a sense of awareness. Cybersecurity is a growing concern for UK businesses, and security experts believe that more needs to be done to strengthen the weakest parts of the system. UK officials are urging businesses to take a holistic approach to addressing the issue of a data breach, which includes educating customers on the importance of updating regularly and implementing processes to mitigate the threat of data breaches. Experts also believe that the UK government should work more closely with international partner agencies to address cyber security threats to UK businesses.
