Why is cyber security relevant?

The threat posed by hackers and cyber criminals to citizens, businesses, and governments has become very real, and digital attacks are becoming more numerous and increasingly sophisticated. As Denmark is at the forefront of digital developments, this also makes us vulnerable to digital threats and necessitates safety requirements to protect ourselves adequately. It is therefore important that you have a good grasp on cyber security and know how to protect yourself against a possible attack.

The open networks.

You can now access an open Wi-Fi network in most public places, such as trains, buses, cafés, hotels, and airports. Of course, it’s nice to be able to work on the move or to work somewhere other than your familiar surroundings, but with an open network you need to be careful about which sites you visit. After all, anyone within range can connect and access the information on your mobile, tablet, or computer fairly easily. You can tell that the Wi-Fi connection is open, if it doesn’t have a padlock in front of the Wi-Fi name, and you don’t need a code to log in.

There are a number of tips you can use to be more secure when using open networks. For example, it’s a good idea to use the public networks where you need a password. It’s also a good idea to use software that encrypts your communications or use a VPN connection that establishes a secure connection between you and the internet. You can make sure that your firewall is active and that you have antivirus software. And you can set your phone not to automatically connect to networks that are not secure.

What is ransomware?

More and more people are being attacked with a so-called ransomware. Ransomware is a virus that encrypts your files so you can’t see your contents and you lose all your data. The only way you can get your data back is often by paying a ransom. The word is an amalgamation of the words ransom and software.

As a general rule, you should never pay the ransom and, if possible, you should investigate whether there are other ways to get your data back.

A global study by Ransomware: The True Cost to Business shows that as many as 73% of respondents experienced at least 1 ransomware attack in their company in 2022, up from 55% reported in 2021. A whopping 80% of those who end up paying the ransom are attacked again, and for 68% of them, it happens within a month. In addition, 70% experience an increase in the ransom on the second attack.

64% of affected companies estimate that the hackers got in through suppliers, and the survey also shows that hackers are often in your network for a while before they strike. Here, 60% admit that the hackers were in their network for up to six months before the attack.