The war in Ukraine is a reality. A war that can have a major impact and in which cyber-attacks are also used as a weapon, affecting not only Ukraine, but also European companies and organisations. Our cyber-security experts issue a warning for an increased cyber risk which is also of great importance for your company.
Aim shifts from making money to malice
Ukraine is facing cyber attacks of unprecedented magnitude against its government, its critical infrastructures and other crucial services and businesses. The country has been struggling with major cyber-attacks since 2015, but now there is literally digital warfare with a malicious purpose. Here's how: Cybercriminals use malware to infiltrate computer networks and encrypt files. In classic ransomware attacks, victims can pay to get a key to get everything back. However, Ukraine is now facing a so-called wiper malware that infects computers and irreparably damages files. Neither the computer nor the files can be used after that. This malware is spreading across national borders. Experts have already identified this wiper in Latvia and Lithuania and warn that the infection may spread to other European companies and organisations.
Reality check: how prepared are you?
Recently, it was in the news that Dutch companies had been hacked. The National Coordinator for Counterterrorism and Security indicates that there are no specific threats at the moment, but due to the rapid development of the war, things could escalate at any moment. To what extent our chains will be affected by the wiper infection we do not know, but cyber-security experts advise to assume a serious scenario. A good defence is more important than ever. For you too! Cyber security is still not high enough on the agenda in the Dutch business world. Make sure that the basic measures for your cyber defences are in order, such as the use of strong passwords, timely installation of security updates, up-to-date antivirus software, firewalls and awareness among employees). Below are some quickwins that you can apply right now.
- Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) on all digital accounts.
- Make sure you know which data is essential for your business operations and validate whether the security measures are adequate.
- Make sure you have good back-ups and test them regularly.
- Be alert to abnormal behavior on your computer system, such as slow response or unavailability of programs.
- Make use of a password manager with a complex master password (by means of a passphrase).
- Set up your mail server to notify you of any mail received from an external sender and ensure that your employees remain alert to this notification.
- Make sure your contact lists are available offline. Think also of external contacts, such as service providers.
On our website you will find more information on making your company cyber-secure, including our monitoring tool CyberHunter. Customers who use CyberHunter are well protected against attacks. We continuously monitor anomalous behavior on systems and in internet traffic and provide information about possible threats.
It is certainly not our intention to scare you, but we are concerned about the developments and find it important to inform you clearly. Of course, we will be by your side if you need help to increase your cyber resilience. And do you have to deal with a cyber incident? Then don't hesitate to call us 24/7 at +31 (0)88 676 9999. Then we will help you to get back to normal operations as soon as possible.
