ICO Hit by 2650% Rise in Email Attacks

The UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) knowledgeable an astonishing 2650% improve in email attacks throughout 2021, in accordance to official figures obtained by the Parliament Street feel tank pursuing a Flexibility of Facts request.

The figures unveiled that email attacks focusing on the UK’s privacy and data security regulator surged from 150,317 in January to an outstanding 4,135,075 in December. The information relates to the quantity of phishing emails detected, malware detected and blocked and spam detected and blocked by the ICO for each individual thirty day period past calendar year.

Spam e-mail represented the vast majority of the attacks, with scenarios surging by 2775% from January to December. Phishing e-mails also amplified significantly throughout this interval, by 20%, whilst malware soared by 423%.

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The facts confirmed a especially significant spike in email attacks in December, with 4,125,992 spam messages, 7886 phishing e-mails and 1197 malware circumstances. This surge is thought to be linked to the quick distribute of the Omicron variant in the UK at the end of previous yr, with menace actors equipped to leverage subjects like tests and vaccines as a entice. This is in addition to Xmas cons in the create-up to the holiday break time period.

Edward Blake, area vice president EMEA of Absolute Application, commented: “Cyber-attacks are concentrating on organizations throughout the globe at an alarming amount, once again reminding firms of the require to re-evaluate and revamp their security defense if it is not up to scratch.

“Cybersecurity is not just about guarding endpoints by way of anti-malware or email cybersecurity solutions. Even though these are significant, there are now a assortment of accessibility details for cyber-criminals to capitalize on that IT leaders need to be knowledgeable of. These incorporate susceptible unpatched programs and network vulnerabilities, stolen or illegally purchased log-in credentials or even by hacking unprotected intelligent devices.”

Steven Peake, supervisor for Barracuda Networks, shared the similar concerns, remarking: “The pandemic continues to be a catalyst for opportunistic cyber-criminals to try out and prey on unsuspecting, susceptible persons. Our recent research confirmed a 521% surge in COVID-19 test-related phishing attacks, so it is barely astonishing to see key corporations, this sort of as the ICO, hit by such a superior volume of threats as they characterize beneficial targets. Phishing email messages, malware and spam, in certain, account for a massive proportion of the threats these companies confront, so they need to have to implement actions to guard themselves. These cyber-attackers are not heading any where whenever shortly.”

Final year, the UK federal government declared plans to revamp the structure of the ICO as aspect of plans to reform the nation’s info sector.