Temporarily Unavailable

Although some have already been claimed, for example by the Lapsus$ Group, we know little about the actual consequences of these attacks. For example, as of today, it is unknown: 

These are not minor issues given the possibility that the personal data of users registered with such services may have been exposed. 

Moreover, in the case of subscribers, there is always the possibility that their credit card information has been taken. 

Thus, it is recommended that users of these platforms be alert and at least change their access passwords.

 

Undoubtedly, we are facing complex and time-consuming processes, particularly in identifying the criminals, assuming, as expected, that the criminals are based in another country (ies). 

In addition, tracing the perpetrator(s) may require the cooperation of several legal systems. And even this may be made even more difficult if - as can be expected - it turns out that the perpetrators are located outside the European Union. Therefore, the task will not be foreseen to be easy and of immediate resolution.

However, these types of crimes are not new, but they have been gaining expression in Portugal. Much due to the increasing use of new technologies. 

In this context, it is important to remember the data released by the Cybersecurity Observatory which reported an increase in incidents of 23 per cent in the first six months of 2021 compared to the same period in 2020 and 124 per cent compared to 2019. 

A recent study by Check Point Research even points out that in Portugal, organizations in the education, health, public administration or military and utilities sectors recorded more than a thousand cyber-attacks per week in 2021. 

Truly impressive numbers and probably a result of the various periods of confinement, where we have naturally seen the significant growth of the digital world. 

At the same time, there is also a more sophisticated and daring strategy on the part of those who organize these attacks, taking advantage, above all, of the lack of security processes and policies for information and communication technologies on the part of companies. 

There have been several recent cyber-attacks all over the world: the second attack on the Brazilian Ministry of Health's system; the cyber-attack on Sainsbury's; the cyber-attack on the Irish health service system, the attack on Transnet in South Africa, among others, are examples demonstrating the size and scale of this new challenge we are facing. 

It is essential to recognize the impact of these incidents on businesses and the dangers they bring. The damage can be devastating to a business and even to a company's reputation and credibility, in addition, of course, to the inevitable financial losses. 

It is therefore essential that companies minimize this impact, either by implementing cybersecurity systems and policies in their organizations, or by adopting a preventive and risk mitigation attitude, otherwise they may become temporarily unavailable.