The National Crime Agency (NCA), together with a range of partners from across law enforcement, industry and the public sector, is this week carrying out a range of activity to help individuals and businesses protect themselves against cyber crime.
The NCA has developed customised intelligence reports for internet hosting companies and service providers, acting on data provided by CERT-UK and the Shadowserver Foundation.
Current NCA analysis has identified that there are 5,531 compromises on servers in the UK - each of which can be used to send out spam email, launch attacks against websites/servers, or install phishing websites to gain access to sensitive information.
Combating phishing attacks
The NCA have said that phishing represents one of the most common cyber crime threats in the UK and they estimate that businesses acting on their advice could clean up approximately half of the estimated phishing attacks typically found in the UK each month.
Following a number of high profile malware threats to the UK, the NCA is conducting this activity to proactively assist network administrators who manage key parts of the UK internet infrastructure.
The customised intelligence reports will be issued by officers across the UK who will notify businesses of cyber crime threats on their systems and will also include information on how they can subscribe to customised live data feeds relating to threats on their networks.
This work is part of the NCA’s wider engagement with industry partners, including ISPs, banks and security firms to collaboratively tackle crime threats to the UK and help facilitate the cleanup of the UK’s internet infrastructure.
The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) has also worked with four police forces to hold cyber-security pop-up shops in London, Reading, Derby and Manchester this week for people to bring along their digital devices for a free health check and to get advice on online banking, virus protection and protecting yourself online. The pop-up shops enable people to get advice from a range of cyber experts from law enforcement bodies, banks, cyber security firms and information services such as Cyber Streetwise and Get Safe Online.
Action Fraud will also be attending the following pop-up shops providing reporting and protection advice to individuals and businesses:
- London – Westfield London shopping centre, Shepherds Bush – 05 March
- Manchester – Trafford Centre – 05 – 06 March
- Derby – Derby Theatre, Intu shopping centre – 06 – 07 March
- Reading – Broad Street Mall – 05 – 06 March
Pauline Smith, Head of Action Fraud said: “Action Fraud & the City of London Police is pleased to support the NCA’s cyber week of action which will help protect businesses and members of the public from cyber attacks. Representatives from Action Fraud and the City of London Police’s National Fraud Intelligence Bureau will be at all four of the cyber pop-up shops".
“Our team will be there, providing information on how to protect yourself and explaining how cyber crime can be reported nationally. Protection advice will be shared with our social media followers throughout this week and no matter what field you work or play in, it really is worth using this advice to avoid becoming a victim of cyber crime”.
For further information visit NCA website.
Please note that Action Fraud is not responsible for the content of external websites.
If you’ve lost money or information or your computer has been taken over by a phishing or malware attack report it to Action Fraud.
