UK charities are bigger cyber-attacks targets than they realise.
UK Charities are bigger cyber-attack targets than they realise
Many charities, especially the smaller ones, fail to realise the value of the data they possess, according to a report by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC). Unfortunately, cybercriminals do realise the value of this data, making charities vulnerable targets to a cyber-attack.
While the average person may find it unconscionable to steal from a charity, there are a number of perpetrators looking for some financial gain, besides the typical cyber-criminal. These include:
- Suppliers and third parties- It’s common for charities to outsource the responsibilities of running, maintaining and securing their data.
- Terrorists- Terrorist groups are likely to deface websites and publish victims’ personal details online, which is a process known as doxing.
- Nation states- Nation-states use cyber-crime to further their agendas.
- Insiders- Disgruntled staff with access to employer’s data may commit cyber-crimes seeking money or simply for revenge.
- Hacktivists- Hackers may target charities if they disagree with the charity’s purpose or are motivated by a specific cause.
In order to prevent cyber-criminals from accessing your charity’s valuable data, the NCSC Small Charity Guide recommends taking these precautions:
- Back up your data and protect it with strong passwords.
- Protect your organisation from malware.
- Keep your smartphones and tablets safe.
Use strong passwords to protect against cyber-threats
Here is an example of the small differences in passwords and how it can make a huge difference to would-be cyber-attackers.
| Password | Time to crack in 2018 |
| charity | 22 milliseconds |
| Charity | 18 hours, 58 minutes, 27 seconds |
| Charity1 | 5 months, 2 weeks, 3 days |
| CharityNo1 | 1 millennia, 7 centuries, 6 decades |
ThirdSectorProtect
For additional information on protecting your charity, read our past blog post, Is your charity doing enough to protect its trustees?
For more tips and tricks on all things third sector follow us on Facebook, Twitter & LinkedIn. Or for any enquires regarding a current or future insurance policy visit our website or give us a call on 0800 877 8277
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