Large corporations may be keeping cyberattacks a secret from investors and the public, according to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). In October of last year, the agency released documentation that outlined the necessary measures corporations must take if they have been the target of an attack. The document outlined reporting procedures for such events, but the agency suspects that companies have not taken these requirements to heart for the sake of their businesses. Since October, a scant few corporations have followed the reporting procedures outlined by the SEC, despite…
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Hackers steal source code from Symantec – cyber security again highlighted by insurers
Acclaimed Internet security company Symantec has announced that the source code for its popular pcAnywhere program has been stolen by hackers. The company has issued a warning encouraging consumers to discontinue use of all Norton Antivirus, Internet Security and SystemWorks programs including pcAnywhere while they are fixing the bugs. Earlier this month, fabled hacker group Anonymous claimed that the company’s source code for these security programs had been compromised. After investigating the matter, Symantec has acknowledged that this is, in fact, the case. The issue can quickly turn into an…
Read MoreDoes cyber insurance truly provide the peace of mind it implies?
Cyber insurance can provide important coverage against liability and data loss, but it does come with a cost and the form of coverage it provides is quite complex. The Ponemon Institute has released the results of its second annual Cost of Cyber Crime study, which indicated that the average yearly cost of identifying and coping with cyber crime, per organization, is $5.9 million. When compared to the average figures from the 2010 study, this was an increase of 56 percent. Cyber crime costs now range from $1.5 million to $36.5…
Read MoreA new insurance product to protect companies participating in cloud computing services
Cloud computing is becoming a major phenomenon in the world of technology. The concept is simple: A collaboration of computing resources, software and other technologies that are offered as a service rather than a product. This brand of service is becoming popular in a number of industries as it allows companies to make use of high-performance technologies without having to rely on their own computers or devices. Essentially, the computer servers that comprise the cloud provide all the power, through which computers at a home or office operate vicariously. As…
Read More2012 will begin a massive expansion in cyber attack insurance
This year, the world watched as many corporations – even those that are reputed to have the strongest security systems in place – experienced massive data breaches that were so extensive that their final damage total has yet to be calculated. For example, Sony experienced a tremendous breach to the personal account data stored within its network, and has yet to determine precisely how much the cyber attack has cost the company. The most recently published total was that 100 million customer accounts had been compromised, and that they predict…
Read MoreLawyers gain broadened professional liability coverage from OneBeacon
OneBeacon Insurance Group member, OneBeacon Professional Insurance (OBPI), has launched a broadened lawyers’ professional liability (LPL) coverage so that its protections will now include network security and privacy (NSP) liability. Lawyers can access this new offering in either of two possible ways, which are: 1. As an LPL policy endorsement 2. As its own standalone coverage According to the OBPI senior vice president of the LPL division, Kim Noble, these days, a law firm’s lifeblood is its information systems, and it is vital to protect those systems, as they may…
Read MoreCybersecurity a growing issue in the U.S.
According to U.S. cybersecurity analysts, 12 small groups of hackers from China are responsible for more than $1 billion worth of data from companies throughout the nation. These groups have been monitored by McAfee, a prestigious Internet security company, who drew upon information collected over time. Earlier this year, McAfee tracked intrusions into the U.S. energy grid back to China, where the hacker groups were finally identified after years of arduous investigation. Last month, U.S. intelligence officials formally rebuked China for its part in the intrusions, but no other action was…
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