The Guru's World

The UK’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) recently reported a significant increase in cyber threats. The number of suspicious emails and websites reported in 2022 reached 7.1 million, almost 20,000 daily reports, or one every five seconds. Internet users have eliminated thousands of malicious links due to these reports.

The Vital Role of Suspicious Email Reporting Service (SERS)

Suspicious Email Reporting Service (SERS), the NCSC’s initiative launched in April 2020, has played a crucial role in detecting and eliminating these threats. With approximately 235,000 malicious links removed since its inception, SERS has been a pioneering service globally and has become a free and easy-to-use tool.

Furthermore, the NCSC thwarts millions of cyberattacks against UK organizations and citizens every year with its “whole-of-society” methodology. This integrated strategy has empowered Individuals and businesses to defend themselves against cybercrime.

The Crucial Part Small Businesses Play

The NCSC Director for National Resilience and Future Technology, Jonathan Ellison, stressed the importance of small businesses, which account for 99% of the UK’s business ecosystem. It is often difficult for them to implement robust cybersecurity measures due to a lack of financial resources and expertise.

A new tool was launched by the NCSC in 2022 to bridge this gap – Email Security Check and Check Your Cyber Security. A scalable vulnerability check tool designed for small organizations is available through the former, which provides insights into email security. Consequently, 39% more organizations enlisted Active Cyber Defence (ACD) to enhance cyber resilience.

Addressing the Prevalence of Phishing Scams

Despite reducing the number of scams, phishing scams remain a problem, according to the ACD report. While the number of global phishing campaigns hosted in the UK has declined, it remains the most prevalent type of attack. Furthermore, in 2022, UK government targets were attacked regularly by 17% fewer opportunistic attacks.

The war in Ukraine was also a common pretext for yearly cryptocurrency scams.

The Challenge of Constantly Emerging Cyber Threats

Despite its successes, the NCSC faces many challenges. It is not uncommon to see one cyber attack disappear to be replaced by another following the defeat of one. Jonathon Ellison explains this. Even so, the Active Cyber Defence program is doing a great job at safeguarding the country. Tech specialists will be equipped with the necessary tools, but companies will also be involved in addressing cyber threats.

We are making it even easier for small businesses to shore up their defenses with free, accessible tools to make it safer to work and live online, Ellison added. Additionally, he spoke about the upcoming integrated MyNCSC platform, which will make managing these tools easier for small businesses.

Praise from the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB)

The NCSC’s approach to serving small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) and its services tailored to them is highly praised by Martin McTague, National Chair of the FSB. These measures are essential because cybercrime is the most impactful crime in terms of cost and disruption to one-fifth of small businesses.

As Commander Nik Adams of the City of London Police pointed out, cybercrime is a part of everyday life in the UK. We must combat threats and continuously invent solutions to stay ahead as threats emerge. By partnering with organizations like the NCSC, businesses, individuals, and government can tackle cybercrime together.

References

Flinders, K. (2023, July 7). The suspicious email reported every five seconds in UK. ComputerWeekly.com. https://rb.gy/oz8c7

Vainilavičius, J. (2023, July 7). Online scams reported every five seconds in UK. Cybernews. https://cybernews.com/security/scams-reported-every-five-seconds/