14.10.2024 Law in media
Illusory Security. Small and Medium Enterprises Easy Targets for Cybercrime
KF
35% of micro, small, and medium enterprises (SMEs) fear the theft of their employees' personal data. This comes from research conducted on behalf of ChronPESEL.pl and the National Debt Register of Poland.
illustration: bing.com/createThe main reason for these fears is the increasing number of cyberattacks and the fact that these companies process large amounts of personal data, making them an attractive target for criminals.
Where Do These Fears Come From?
- 59% of companies point to frequent, successful cybercriminal attacks as a cause for concern.
- 29% highlight the processing of large amounts of personal data.
- 26% believe they are an attractive target for data thieves.
At the same time, as many as 65% of entrepreneurs claim they are not worried about data theft. The primary reason given is good computer security (50%). Some companies believe they do not process a large amount of personal data (39%) or that they are not an attractive target for hackers (35%).
Attractiveness of SMEs for Hackers
In Poland, the SME sector employs 7.3 million workers, providing hackers with just as many potential victims. The vast majority of these companies (83%) store personal data in digital form, and 50% exclusively in electronic form. This data includes names, surnames, PESEL numbers, phone numbers, and addresses. Meanwhile, 38% of micro-enterprises store employee data on the owner`s computer, while medium enterprises do so on accounting computers (44%).
It is surprising that 90% of companies in the SME sector declare that they properly protect their employees` data. The most confident are small (55%) and micro-enterprises (54%), which claim to have effective security measures. However, as many as 65% of the smallest companies do not regularly update their antivirus software. Medium enterprises also do not fare much better, as 44% of them neglect this basic principle of cybersecurity.
Data Protection Methods
Most companies in the SME sector secure their data using traditional methods:
- 51% limit access to documents only to authorized persons,
- 40% secure files with passwords,
- 36% have alarms or anti-burglary doors,
- 35% install up-to-date versions of antivirus programs.
Less popular methods include storing paper documents in safes (28%) and using remote locking in case external drives are lost (26%). The least frequently used methods involve default blocking of USB ports (19%) and requiring employees to regularly change their passwords (21%).
Experts warn that the lack of regular updates to antivirus software exposes companies to risk. Kamil Sztandera from ChronPESEL.pl, quoted by Newseria Biznes, notes that this illusory sense of security leads to underestimating threats, and SMEs may become easy prey for cybercriminals.
COMMERCIAL BREAK
New articles in section Law in media
How South Asian Governments Manipulate Media. IFJ Report
Krzysztof Fiedorek
South Asia faces significant challenges in maintaining democracy and press freedom. The latest report from the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), "Artificial Independence: The Fight To Save Media and Democracy," highlights the growing threats faced by journalists, including violence, financial pressures, and censorship.
Unsolved Journalist Murders: CPJ Report 2024
KFi
Haiti and Israel have topped the latest report by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) on impunity in journalist murders. Worldwide, 80% of cases remain unsolved. The report explores why those who kill journalists evade accountability, highlighting the countries leading this grim statistic and its impact on press freedom.
Online Hate in Numbers. What Do We Think About Offensive Comments?
KFi
Nearly 70% of adults have encountered online hate. The group most affected includes individuals aged 18–24, with 81% reporting exposure to hateful content - according to the report "Hate on the Internet," prepared by the polish Foundation "W zgodzie ze sobą" in cooperation with Maison&Partners and the Ariadna research panel.
See articles on a similar topic:
GDPR in Media. Regulations Complicate Campaign Planning and Execution
BARD
Most Polish news portals and online stores have adopted consent mechanisms designed in a way that makes it hard to refuse consent
Harassment of Female Journalists in Poland. Zamenhof Institute Report
RINF
Over half of female journalists have experienced harassment. The report and a dedicated website for the project, offtherecord.zamenhof.pl, present real, anonymous stories of harassed female journalists, along with numerical data documenting the scale of the issue.
Cyber Attack on a Corporate Smartphone. How to Protect Yourself
KrzysztoF
Internet-connected mobile devices are an attractive target for cybercriminals. The key to protecting sensitive business data is employee awareness, hardware solutions, and appropriate software. This mini-guide provides a quick overview of how to protect each of these areas.
Hate in the Polish Internet. IRCenter Study
Krzysztof Fiedorek
The proportion of hate speech victims is inversely proportional to the age of internet users. The study authors point out that this is directly influenced by the fact that older generations are instilled with the principles of respectful discussion and use the internet less frequently.
