Introduction
So far in 2023, there have already been a significant number of cyber attacks; a reminder that businesses of all kinds need to be proactive about their cybersecurity. We kept track of over 100 major events that affected over 41.9 million users. This included a bold attempt to hold Ferrari for ransom, an attack on a Central European broadcaster that was motivated by politics, and a cyber incident that messed up a big pharmaceutical supply chain in Spain. Below, see a recap from each of these major cyber attacks, and the lessons we should learn from these incidents.
Ferrari Does Not Give in to Cyber Pressure
Ferrari was just recently a target of a large-scale cyber attack. Several of their IT systems were hacked, and the names, addresses, emails, and phone numbers of customers were made public.
Even though it’s not clear how many people were affected, Ferrari’s CEO, Benedetto Vigna, tried to calm the situation by saying that no private financial information or information about who owned the cars was involved. Strangely, the attackers asked for a ransom, but there’s no proof that ransomware was used to encrypt Ferrari’s systems.
In a statement, Ferrari said, “We will not give in to such demands because we do not want to help criminals.” Ferrari did the right thing by letting its customers know about the possible data leak.
The way Ferrari handled this cyber event should be a model for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs): they didn’t give in to cyber threats and took steps to let customers know about the breach as soon as possible. It also shows how important it is to work with a reputable IT service company that focuses on security if you want to keep your systems strong.
Russian Hackers are Going After Skylink
A Russian hacker group used a DDoS attack against the Central European TV station Skylink. This caused problems with the website and online broadcasts, so customers couldn’t use its digital services.
A DDoS attack sends too many data packets to a computer, causing it to crash. Usually, this isn’t about stealing data, but rather about causing trouble, which is often done for political reasons. Given that Russia’s ties with the Czech Republic and Slovakia are tense, this attack could probably be seen as a cyber crime with a political goal.
Small and medium-sized businesses should see this as a clear sign that cyber risks can be caused by more than just money. This shows how important it is to protect all digital assets with thorough security steps, even when your systems aren’t holding financial or personal information.
Alliance Healthcare is Having Trouble With its Supply Chain
A cyber attack on Alliance Healthcare, a major pharmaceutical supply company, caused a lot of trouble for pharmacies all over Spain. This event showed that supply chain attacks on key sectors are becoming more likely.
The attack went on for more than two weeks and had a big impact on Alliance Healthcare’s supply systems, slowing down or even stopping some areas. Fortunately, patient’s personal information was not at risk, but the attack caused significant damage to Alliance Healthcare’s reputation, and cost them millions to correct the problem.
Conclusion
These events shows how important strong cybersecurity is, especially for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs). Having your business work with a cybersecurity consultant that puts security first can help protect it from these kinds of cyber threats.
Every year, we see new reminders that cyber dangers are getting bigger and smarter. It shows that companies, especially small and medium-sized ones, need to invest in a strong security infrastructure. To schedule a consultation or a security audit of your systems, contact us today.
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