Tag: cyber attack

Cyber Breach / Data Privacy

2019 Verizon Data Breach Report: Updating Consumers On How to Protect Themselves Again

The 2019 Verizon Data Breach Investigation Report (DBIR) was released at the end of May. This report provides an overview of data and statistical research relating to cyber threats as well as potential defenses to counteract them. The overall goal of the DBIR is to provide potential information and suggestions relating to protection as well as cyberattack recovery.  This year’s report proved to be the most extensive review yet conducted, tracking 41,686 security incidents around the world, including 2,013 data breaches from 86 countries and… Continue Reading
Cyber Risk

Yearly Cyber Report Reveals Large Increases in Cyberattacks and Costs

The third Hiscox Cyber Readiness Report, which was published in April 2019, highlights the increased cyber risks that businesses are facing. The report, which drew data from seven countries (Belgium, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States), noted the marked rise in both the amount of attacks and the overall costs stemming from cyber losses. Turning first to the increase in cyberattacks, 61 percent of respondents reported a cyber incident, up from 45 percent last year across the seven… Continue Reading
Cyber Attacks / Cybersecurity / Emerging Issues

In Pennsylvania, Employers (and Others) may be Liable for Failing to Protect Personal Information that They Collect

On November 21, 2018 Pennsylvania’s highest court ruled that employers in Pennsylvania have an affirmative legal duty to protect workers’ sensitive data from possible hacking.  This ruling has profound implications for employers, which may now be subject to liability for failing to take reasonable precautions to protect their employees from cyber attacks. In a proposed class action, employees of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center sought damages after a data breach exposed the personal information – including names, dates of birth, addresses, Social Security numbers,… Continue Reading
Cyber Attacks

Consumers Have Standing for Data Breach Claims against Barnes & Noble

The Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit has issued its second decision in favor of consumers bringing claims against retailers for injuries following cyber attacks exposing sensitive consumer information in Diefenbach v. Barnes & Noble, Inc. On April 11, 2018 the court resurrected the class action brought against the book retailer by consumers whose debit card information was hacked in 2012. Specifically, the court ruled that the named plaintiffs properly alleged an injury under state consumer protection laws, including lost time, cost of… Continue Reading
Cyber Attacks / Cyber Breach / Cybersecurity

Cyber Attack Immobilizes Dutch Government Websites

As reported by the BBC, most of the Dutch government’s websites were rendered inoperable after a successful distributed denial of service (DDoS) cyber-attack on Tuesday, when servers were flooded with traffic, rendering the sites virtually inoperable.  A number of private sites were also breached, and the attack also affected communications provider Telford.  As the BBC noted, these attacks “highlighted the vulnerability of public infrastructure.” An official from the Dutch Government Information Service, Rimbert Kloosterman, remarked that the complexity and size of the government’s websites had… Continue Reading
Cyber Attacks / Cyber Breach / Cybersecurity

Department of Homeland Security Must Assess Cyber Risks to Building Access and Control Systems

The U.S. Government Accounting Office (GAO) issued a report this month calling on the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and General Services Administration (GSA) to develop and implement a strategy to address cyber risks to building and access control systems, including the computers that monitor and control building operations such as elevators, electrical power, and heating, ventilation, and air conditioning.  As these systems are increasingly connected to other information systems and the Internet, there is greater vulnerability to cyber attacks, which, the report explains, “could… Continue Reading