Here are seven benefits that having offline data backups can provide.

At iStorage, we have a wide range of products that can suit those on a budget, with some of our hardware encrypted products starting at only £49, to desktop drives holding up to 24 TB to store your institution’s most vital data in an ultra-secure, offline device.

If you are looking to take control of and protect your data, and how our products can help, speak to one of our company representatives now to see what would be best for you.

Here are six best practices to creating and maintaining your data back up strategy.

At iStorage, we have a wide range of products that can suit those on a budget, with some of our hardware encrypted products starting at only £49, to desktop drives holding up to 24 TB to store your institution’s most vital data in an ultra-secure, offline device.

If you are looking to take control of and protect your data, and how our products can help, speak to one of our company representatives now to see what would be best for you.

Cyberattacks continue to rise year on year, making it a necessary priority for all businesses regardless of size. This is becoming a growing concern for SMEs, as they are increasingly becoming the target for cybercriminals. In 2024, 43% of cyber attacks were targeted at SMEs, with 60% of those that fell victim having to close their doors within six months as a result. It has been recently uncovered that employees of small businesses receive a 350% higher rate of social engineered attacks than their large corporation counterparts. In today's increasingly hostile digital world, all businesses are fair game to hackers, and they know that historically SMEs have failed to prioritise cybersecurity measures. But organisations of all sizes are waking up to the reality that cyber security measures, including offline data back ups, need to take priority sooner rather than later or everything could come crashing down. As in the case of the Knights of Old, were one mistake lead to the company's dissolution in just 3 months.

“My company thrived for 150 years – then Russian hackers brought it down in 3 months. No business can ignore this threat, no matter how big or small.” - Paul Abbott, Former Group Director and Co-owner of Knights of Old.

The company was founded by William Knight in the English village of Old in 1865 as a horse and cart delivery service. Over the years and evolving with the times, the company grew into a fleet of over 400 trucks and seven depots across the UK, acquiring other logistics companies along the way and trading under the name KNP Group. Around the time of the attack, the company was considered the largest logistics company in the country, bringing in around £100 million annual revenue and employing around 900 staff across the country. KNP Group had continued plans for expansion in 2023, looking to acquire space in various parts of London.

The Day of Reckoning

“If you’re reading this, it means the internal infrastructure of your company is fully or partially dead. For now, let’s keep all the tears and resentment to ourselves and try to build a constructive dialogue. We’re fully aware of what damage we caused by locking your internal source."

In June 2023, a Russian linked hacking gang Akira managed to infiltrate Knights' systems by simply guessing an employees password. What happened next can only be described as pure chaos. The network for managing truck deployment went down, access to their payment and booking system was compromised and their financial records were wiped clean. The gang then threatened to publish online its confidential internal data, unless they paid a ransom to receive a decryption key to release the data back. Former Group Director Paul Abbot stated that they decided not to negotiate or pay the ransom as there was no guarantee that it would be fully recovered. The hackers then published more 10,000 internal documents containing customer information, payroll and other financial information online.

The team had experienced computer failures in the past and because of this, they had already adopted an alternative way to work if another instance occurred again. Knights' temporarily reverted to writing paper tickets and job sheets along with their mobile phones and Gmail accounts while the company rebuild their systems in the background. However, the crucial financial information surrounding the business' financial records were completely wiped clean, including the back ups because the company had them stored within reach of Akira. Whilst Knights of Old had cybersecurity insurance for such an occurrence, the pay out would not of been enough to keep the company's doors open. Abbott searched for other options such as loans and a buyer to keep the company afloat. But without any record of their financial history records or performance reports, these options were no longer available to them.

The Devastating Consequences

Akira had managed to not only wipe Knights' original financial records, but also their back ups. Without this critical information to secure the necessary funding to keep the company running, there was no other alternative. After 158 years in business, KNP Group entered into administration in September 2023, only three months after the ransomware attack. This not only created a huge disruption to the logistics industry, but over 700 people lost their jobs and had their livelihoods suddenly disrupted. The overall impact was felt across the country.

William Wright, CEO of Scottish cybersecurity specialist Closed Door Security has this to say on the incident:

"It is devastating to see a ransomware attack shatter an organisation in this way, putting a renowned and decade-old business out of operation, while impacting hundreds of families across the UK because of job losses. When thinking about the threat of cybercrime, very few people understand just how bad things can be, but this is an example of the harsh, yet very real, consequences of attacks. Sometimes the financial and data losses, and business downtime are irreparable. In response to the news about KNP Logistics, it is essential other organisations take action to improve their defences against attacks to prevent ever being placed in this devastating position. These defences must be layered and proactive – reaction is not the goal. Organisations must constantly test and update their systems for vulnerabilities and actively patch them, they must train staff on attacker techniques, and they must implement tools which stop intruders reaching corporate assets or spreading through their networks."

The case of the Knights of Old is a cautionary tale for all businesses, no matter your size, on the importance of cyber security and keeping back ups of your data that can not fall into the hands of cyber criminals. With World Backup Day fast approaching on March 31st we are reminded of the critical importance of securing our digital life and the perils associated with failing to back up our data. The top causes of data loss are commonly human error, hardware failure, malware, and other forms of cyberattacks. Having a plan in place to back up your data is one of the most important ways to protect information and keep data safe. Backing up ensures that even if it falls into the wrong hands, a copy of the data is retained, secure and instantly accessible.

We have a wide range of products that can suit those on a budget, with some of our hardware encrypted products starting at only £49, to desktop drives holding up to 24 TB to store both your personal and company’s most vital data in an ultra-secure, offline device.

Our datAshur PRO+C flash drive holds the distinction of being the world’s sole flash drive that has received the FIPS 140-3 Level 3 certification! It is a user-friendly USB 3.2 (Gen 1) Type-C flash drive (Type-C to Type-A adapter included) that combines ease of use with top-level security measures. It employs PIN protection and hardware encryption to safeguard your data to military-grade standards. Available in various capacities ranging from 32GB to 512GB, this innovative device ensures your information remains secure.

Our diskAshur3 range boasts the most advanced security features, recently passed the CAVP (Cryptographic Algorithm Validation Program) testing as part of the FIPS 140-3 Level 3 validation scheme that the products are currently being evaluated against. This includes three encryption modes (patent pending), and user-configurable PINs ranging from 8 to 64 digits. The new range incorporates all the essential features of other iStorage products such as ease of use, platform independence and tamper-proof sleek designs.

And our unique and patented iStorage cloudAshur hardware security module is the perfect solution for anyone wanting to securely store, share and manage data in the cloud. cloudAshur can also be used to encrypt data stored on a network drive, on a local PC/MAC and to send encrypted email attachments or data via file sharing software applications eliminating all the security vulnerabilities that exist with cloud platforms, such as lack of control, unauthorised access and human error.

Our latest products from Kanguru deliver a wide range of flash drives, hard drives, SSDs, NVMe and other ideal data storage products. Whether you are looking for the best military grade, FIPS Certified, TAA Compliant, GDPR hardware encryption products and remote management for your high security organisation, or just a simple data storage solution for the home, Kanguru has many flexible options to choose from. Kanguru also specialises in duplicators for Hard Drives, SSD, NVMe, DVD, Blu-ray and USB duplication for all types of cloning jobs whether extensive, simple one-offs, or with secure erase for meeting GDPR standards.

If you are looking to take control of your data and keep it out of the hands of cybercriminals year-round, speak to one of our company representatives now to see what would be best for you.

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This week is an extension of Data Privacy Day, which commemorates the signing of EU Convention 108 on January 28, 1981. Known as the Convention for the Protection of Individuals with regard to Automatic Processing of Personal Data, it was one of the first legally binding international treaties on data protection, focusing on protecting the privacy rights of individuals and how their data is accessed. It has been 44 years since the convention was signed, and while the digital landscape has drastically changed since, the importance of data privacy has become more important now more than ever.

More and more of our lives are conducted online, creating a plethora of data about every aspects of our lives. While we may not have control on how our data is collected through the websites and apps we interact with, all consumers have a right to data privacy and a say in how their data is managed. In the ever increasing digital frontier we find our lives intertwined in, here are some steps you can take to regain control of who has access to and how your personal data is used.

Update your Privacy Settings

The app, websites and smart devices we use daily are constantly collecting data on us to build up a profile of who we are. However, every touch point we interact with online has privacy and security settings that we have the ability to take control of to limit the amount of data collected and processed. Take the time to look over these settings on all of your devices and adjust the settings to your comfort level. The National Cybersecurity Alliance has created a resource where you can find information on how to adjust the privacy settings of popular apps and platforms.

Understand the Privacy and Convenience Tradeoff

The apps we download are aimed at making our daily lives easier. However, in order to access them many will require some personal information exchange and gain full access to other information on your device (photos, contacts, location, etc.) Collecting this information is very valuable for these businesses, but what is the tradeoff? How much information are they are asking for? Is it relevant to the nature of the app? Are you able to control the settings of the app? If you have not used it in months, is the app worth keeping around? These are the tradeoff questions you should ask yourself when using new and existing apps on your devices and if the data exchange in order to use them is worth it in the end.

Follow Basic Cybersecurity Tips

Taking simple cybersecurity steps such as creating complex passwords, multi-factor authentication, setting automatic software updates and learning how to spot phishing activities can help to protect your data privacy. We have provided more in-depth information in our previous blogs on how to set these up and remain cybersafe while online.

Know Your Data Rights

With over 160 data privacy regulations worldwide, chances are your data is protected by legislation with the jurisdiction that you live in. In many cases, there are multiple data protection laws at work that you can utilise for your benefit of protecting your data. Understanding these laws and how they regulate how personal data can be collected, used, and stored is a powerful step in controlling and protecting your own data. Resources such as the UN Trade and Development website are a great start to knowing which legislation your data is protected by and taking steps to ensure your information is being upheld to the standards set out in these laws.

Back Up Your Data

Make this a regular habit to ensurie you have multiple encrypted backups of your data and important files. This is an important is an important safeguard in the event of a cyberattack, helping you to save time and money in regaining access to critical information. Using a hardware encryption module to encrypt data stored in the cloud and/or an offline encrypted backup is an important option to include in your data hygiene practices, as it can provide that extra level of reassurance and security. Taking that critical extra step, in protecting your data by storing it offline in an encrypted flash drive or portable HDD/SSD, out of the hands of criminals, can act as an essentially unbreakable safe and can make the world of difference in protecting your valuable data.

- Globally, 85% of adults want to do more to protect their online privacy. (Norton)

- 91.1% of businesses would prioritise data privacy if they knew it could increase customer trust and loyalty. (Termly)

- 33% of consumers would lose trust in an organisation that uses their data to offer them products or services from another organisation. (International Association of Privacy Professionals)

- 84% of users are more loyal to companies with strong security controls. (Salesforce)

- 120 countries around the globe have established privacy and security regulations that protect residents’ data privacy and security. (Securiti)

- Organisations strongly support privacy laws around the world, with 80% indicating legislation has had a positive impact on them (Cisco)

- 62% of business leaders say their company should do more to strengthen existing data protection measures. (KPMG)

- Companies process 56% more deletion requests than access requests. (HelpNet Security and DataGrail)

- 50% of consumers believe governments should take the lead in data privacy initiatives, while 21% said organisations should. (Cisco)

- 25% of employees feel their workplace doesn’t prioritise data privacy and security. (Zipdo)

We have a wide range of products that can suit those on a budget, with some of our hardware encrypted products starting at only £49, to desktop drives holding up to 24 TB to store both your personal and company’s most vital data in an ultra-secure, offline device.

Our datAshur PRO+C flash drive holds the distinction of being the world’s sole flash drive that has received the FIPS 140-3 Level 3 certification! It is a user-friendly USB 3.2 (Gen 1) Type-C flash drive (Type-C to Type-A adapter included) that combines ease of use with top-level security measures. It employs PIN protection and hardware encryption to safeguard your data to military-grade standards. Available in various capacities ranging from 32GB to 512GB, this innovative device ensures your information remains secure.

Our diskAshur3 range boasts the most advanced security features, recently passed the CAVP (Cryptographic Algorithm Validation Program) testing as part of the FIPS 140-3 Level 3 validation scheme that the products are currently being evaluated against. This includes three encryption modes (patent pending), and user-configurable PINs ranging from 8 to 64 digits. The new range incorporates all the essential features of other iStorage products such as ease of use, platform independence and tamper-proof sleek designs.

And our unique and patented iStorage cloudAshur hardware security module is the perfect solution for anyone wanting to securely store, share and manage data in the cloud. cloudAshur can also be used to encrypt data stored on a network drive, on a local PC/MAC and to send encrypted email attachments or data via file sharing software applications eliminating all the security vulnerabilities that exist with cloud platforms, such as lack of control, unauthorised access and human error.

Our latest products from Kanguru deliver a wide range of flash drives, hard drives, SSDs, NVMe and other ideal data storage products. Whether you are looking for the best military grade, FIPS Certified, TAA Compliant, GDPR hardware encryption products and remote management for your high security organisation, or just a simple data storage solution for the home, Kanguru has many flexible options to choose from. Kanguru also specialises in duplicators for Hard Drives, SSD, NVMe, DVD, Blu-ray and USB duplication for all types of cloning jobs whether extensive, simple one-offs, or with secure erase for meeting GDPR standards.

If you are looking to take control of your data and keep it out of the hands of cybercriminals year-round, speak to one of our company representatives now to see what would be best for you.

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Since 1988, National Computer Security Day brings attention to our safety when navigating the World Wide Web. As our lives have become increasingly online, so have criminals migrated to the digital era. With the holidays around the corner and busiest online shopping days ahead of us, it important to remain vigilant of cybercriminal tactics and remain cyber safe. Cybercrime is only on the rise and the statistics of 2024 only confirm these findings. We have provided 10 cybersecurity statistics from this year, alone with some resources to help you remain safe not just during this holiday season, but throughout the year.

- 2,200 cyber attacks happen per day, with a cyber attack happening every 39 seconds on average (Astra)

- 88 percent of cybersecurity breaches are caused by human error (Stanford)

- MyDoom was the worst email virus in history, causing $38.5 billion in damage (National Today)

- In a 2024 breach, over 560 million Ticketmaster customers had their information stolen (BBC)

- Around 300,000 Android users have downloaded banking trojan apps via the Google Play Store (Threat Fabric)

- $2.73 million is the average cost of a ransomware recovery in 2024 (Sophos)

- Phishing attacks account for more than 80 percent of reported security incidents (CSO Online)

- DDoS-Attack-as-a-Service is being advertised on the dark web for $20 per day to $10,000 per month (Kaspersky)

- In the first half of 2024, data breaches exposed over 7 billion records (IT Governance)

- It is predicted that over the next two years, 45% of global organisations will be impacted in some way by a supply chain attack (Gartner)

We have created a number of resources with tips and tricks to help you stay cyber safe. Visit our links below to learn more.

3-2-1 Back Up Strategy

Catching the Phish

Cyberattack Preparedness Plan

5 C's of Cybersecurity

Have a Holly Jolly Cyber Safe Holiday

We have a wide range of products that can suit those on a budget, with some of our hardware encrypted products starting at only £49, to desktop drives holding up to 24 TB to store both your personal and company’s most vital data in an ultra-secure, offline device.

Our diskAshur3 range boasts the most advanced security features, recently passed the CAVP (Cryptographic Algorithm Validation Program) testing as part of the FIPS 140-3 Level 3 validation scheme that the products are currently being evaluated against. This includes three encryption modes (patent pending), and user-configurable PINs ranging from 8 to 64 digits. The new range incorporates all the essential features of other iStorage products such as ease of use, platform independence and tamper-proof sleek designs.

And our unique and patented iStorage cloudAshur hardware security module is the perfect solution for anyone wanting to securely store, share and manage data in the cloud. cloudAshur can also be used to encrypt data stored on a network drive, on a local PC/MAC and to send encrypted email attachments or data via file sharing software applications eliminating all the security vulnerabilities that exist with cloud platforms, such as lack of control, unauthorised access and human error.

Our latest products from Kanguru deliver a wide range of flash drives, hard drives, SSDs, NVMe and other ideal data storage products. Whether you are looking for the best military grade, FIPS Certified, TAA Compliant, GDPR hardware encryption products and remote management for your high security organisation, or just a simple data storage solution for the home, Kanguru has many flexible options to choose from. Kanguru also specialises in duplicators for Hard Drives, SSD, NVMe, DVD, Blu-ray and USB duplication for all types of cloning jobs whether extensive, simple one-offs, or with secure erase for meeting GDPR standards.

If you are looking to take control of your data and keep it out of the hands of cybercriminals not just during the holidays, but year-round, speak to one of our company representatives now to see what would be best for you.

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E-commerce has grown significantly in the last 5 years. In 2023, it accounted for 19% of global sales and it is estimated to grow to more than 25% by 2027. This trend intensifies during the holidays season, as consumers look for the best deals to finish of their shopping lists. However, in the frenzy that surrounds the holiday season and end of the year, so follows are the rise in cyberattacks for both consumers and businesses.

The heightened emotions of the holidays, especially with consumers, is what cybercriminals are banking on. Alongside this, a large portion of staff members take holiday or WFH during this time of year, leaving businesses more vulnerable to attacks and with less staff to act in a timely manner. These combinations make not only companies, but individuals more vulnerable and less responsive to cyberattacks.

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency has stated that “Cyber criminals may view holidays and weekends – especially holiday weekends – as attractive timeframes to target potential victims, including small and large businesses.”

Just because it is the holidays does not mean cybercriminals are taking a day off, they are working 24/7/365. So how can you keep both yourself and your business safe so you can enjoy the holiday season? Alongside adopting good cybersecurity practices, here are some other threats to keep an eye out for to remain safe.

Phishing and ransomware increases

Malicious emails drastically increase around this time of year, with reports finding around at least 150% above average. An increase in ‘too good to be true’ emails and typosquatting (the use of commonly mistyped domains to impersonate retailers) lure in unsuspecting consumers who are looking for a good bargain. Cybercriminals like to take advantage of both time sensitive offers and the emotions of the holidays, so be sure to double check the source of the email, especially if it is too good to be true.

Malicious gift cards

Gift cards are a common gift during the holidays, but they are also an increasingly common way cybercriminals gain access to their victims’ data. Cybercriminals will likely impersonate a colleague or family member, either giving them a gift card or requesting them to make a gift purchase.

Fake charities

In the season of giving, many people will make generous charitable donations and cybercriminals exploit this. Before making any donation, double check both the link and the website to ensure your money is going to a credible charity organisation. If you are a still unsure, it is always best to contact the charity directly to discuss the correct links to make your donations through.

Stay vigilant and check the source.

Remember that cybercriminals feed off the emotions and fast-paced environment that surround this time of the year. With phishing and ransomware on the rise alongside ecommerce trends, it is important to take a step back and double check what you might be interacting with. Best rule of thumb - if it looks suspicious, you do not recognise the sender, or the offer looks too good to be true, do not click on the link or provide your information. Read our blog on phishing to learn more.

Practice good cyber hygiene.

Ensuring you are using strong and complex passwords, multi-factor authentication, and regularly updating your systems are the first wall of armour against cybercriminals. Your systems and data are only as strong as your defensives, so make you are making your systems as safe as possible from being attacked by cybercriminals.

Review your Cybersecurity Preparedness Plan

You might already have a plan in place and have run through practice scenarios of how to respond to specific incidents. But what do you do with less staff or more distracted staff during the holiday season? This would be a great time to review your Incident Response Plan (IRP) and decide on alternative measures that could be put in place during this time of year. This could be a temporary restricted access to sensitive information, increase in security patches, etc. Your business and your employees should enjoy the holiday season and not worry about cybercriminals taking advantages of these vulnerabilities, so updating your IRP to help have scenarios for the holiday season can help reduce the stress.

Back up your data!

Don’t skip out on regularly (aka daily) backing up your data. Following the 3-2-1 Back Up Strategy, ensuring you have multiple encrypted backups of your data and important files is an important safeguard in the event of a cyberattack. In an already stressful time of year, having data back-ups will help you save time and money in regaining access to critical information. A hardware encryption module to encrypt data stored in the cloud and/or an offline encrypted backup is an important option to include in your data hygiene practices, as it can provide that extra level of reassurance and security. Taking that critical extra step, in protecting your data by storing it offline in an encrypted flash drive or portable HDD/SSD, out of the hands of criminals, can act as an essentially unbreakable safe and can make the world of difference when you need to restore your data following a cyber or ransomware attack, especially during the holidays.

At iStorage, have a wide range of products that can suit those on a budget, with some of our hardware encrypted products starting at only £49, to desktop drives holding up to 24 TB to store both your personal and company’s most vital data in an ultra-secure, offline device.

Our diskAshur3 range boasts the most advanced security features, recently passed the CAVP (Cryptographic Algorithm Validation Program) testing as part of the FIPS 140-3 Level 3 validation scheme that the products are currently being evaluated against. This includes three encryption modes (patent pending), and user-configurable PINs ranging from 8 to 64 digits. The new range incorporates all the essential features of other iStorage products such as ease of use, platform independence and tamper-proof sleek designs.

And our unique and patented iStorage cloudAshur hardware security module is the perfect solution for anyone wanting to securely store, share and manage data in the cloud. cloudAshur can also be used to encrypt data stored on a network drive, on a local PC/MAC and to send encrypted email attachments or data via file sharing software applications eliminating all the security vulnerabilities that exist with cloud platforms, such as lack of control, unauthorised access and human error.

If you are looking to take control of your data and keep it out of the hands of cybercriminals not just during the holidays, but year-round, speak to one of our company representatives now to see what would be best for you.

Cybercriminals are becoming more sophisticated and determined with their attacks to gain access to your data. This makes having a robust security framework a top priority in order to protect your valuable data. From start-ups to large corporations, and even the everyday consumer, following the 5 Cs of cybersecurity - Change, Compliance, Cost, Continuity, and Coverage – can give you the best defence in creating a strong safeguard against cyber threats.

As technology and industry trends change, cybercriminals do so right alongside them. Being able to accept and respond to these changes has proven to not only give businesses a leg up in staying competitive in the market, but also against the evolving cyber threats they face. Routine software updates and network monitoring should be standard, along with conducting regular risk assessments in order to detect and protect from threats. Staying up to date with recent cybersecurity trends, and regularly training your employees will keep you one step ahead of cyberthreats.

Several laws and regulations have been enacted with strict guidelines to ensure data security in recent years. GDPR, CCPA, NIS2 and DORA are just a few to mention, and there is the likelihood of more to come. Remaining compliant with all of the laws and regulation that apply to you is vital in showing not only your commitment to data protection, but can help to maintain brand reputation and customer trust. There is also a cost, as failing to comply can lead to hefty fines and other consequences that can negatively impact your business.

This covers both the investment in cybersecurity protection and the impact of a potential breach. It is all about finding the balance between the two, regardless of the size of your business. The questions you need to ask yourself is: what are you willing to pay - the cost of a breach that could reach in the millions, or invest a fraction of that to implement the correct infrastructure to protect yourself? Being proactive in your security measures can help mitigate the potential of breach and the financial repercussions that come along with it. It is important to not let the cost of cybersecurity measures sway you into making shortcuts, as this could cost you more down the line.

Cyberattacks and data breaches are always a possibility, regardless of how many measure you put in place. Human error is the leading cause of a data breach, and even with the proper ongoing training, the potential of a breach is always lingering. Making sure that you can continue business operations in the event of a cyber attach is paramount. Having a proactive plan, such as a Cyberattack Preparedness Plan, can help you prepare for, protect against and minimise the impact of a cyber event.

Ensuring you have multiple encrypted backups of your data and important files is an important safeguard in the event of a cyberattack. These will inevitably help you to save time and money in regaining access to critical information and continuing business operations.

Using a hardware encryption module to encrypt data stored in the cloud and/or an offline encrypted backup is an important option to include in your business continuity plan, as it can provide that extra level of reassurance and security. Taking that critical extra step, in protecting your data by storing it offline in an encrypted flash drive or portable HDD/SSD, out of the hands of criminals, can act as an essentially unbreakable safe and can make the world of difference when you need to restore your data following a cyber or ransomware attack.

This should be a comprehensive protection of all your assets, both digital and physical. Having cybersecurity insurance coverage will protect your business from the financial repercussions that can caused by potential breach. Deciding on the right coverage for your business should come from the risk assessment conducted, which will find which options are applicable to you. And as your business changes, this will need to adapt those ongoing changes.

We have a wide range of products that can suit those on a budget, with some of our hardware encrypted products starting at only £49, to desktop drives holding up to 24 TB to store your company’s most vital data in an ultra-secure, offline device.

Our diskAshur3 range boasts the most advanced security features, recently passed the CAVP (Cryptographic Algorithm Validation Program) testing as part of the FIPS 140-3 Level 3 validation scheme that the products are currently being evaluated against. This includes three encryption modes (patent pending), and user-configurable PINs ranging from 8 to 64 digits. The new range incorporates all the essential features of other iStorage products such as ease of use, platform independence and tamper-proof sleek designs.

And our unique and patented iStorage cloudAshur hardware security module is the perfect solution for anyone wanting to securely store, share and manage data in the cloud. cloudAshur can also be used to encrypt data stored on a network drive, on a local PC/MAC and to send encrypted email attachments or data via file sharing software applications eliminating all the security vulnerabilities that exist with cloud platforms, such as lack of control, unauthorised access and human error.

If you are looking to take control of your data and keep it out of the hands of cybercriminals, speak to one of our company representatives now to see what would be best for you.

Cyberattacks are a digital natural disaster that can strike at any time. Having a proactive plan in place can help protect and minimise the impact of a cyber event. Download our infographic to help you put together your own before, during and after plan.

At iStorage, we have a wide range of products that can suit those on a budget, with some of our hardware encrypted products starting at only £49, to desktop drives holding up to 24 TB to store your institution’s most vital data in an ultra-secure, offline device.

If you are looking to take control of and protect your data, and how our products can help, speak to one of our company representatives now to see what would be best for you.

Keeping safe from cybercriminals is something we must do on the daily, as they are constantly looking for vulnerabilities to exploit to gain access to our data. Phishing is the most common form of cybercrime, which is explained as a social engineering scam where cybercriminals pose as a reputable source to get the victim to reveal important data. While phishing has predominately been related to emails and been easy to spot in the past (we all remember the Nigerian Prince), cybercriminals have grown more sophisticated alongside our technology. And the growth of gen-AI has evolved phishing into becoming more sophisticated attempts that can are growing at a rapid rate.

So as cybercriminals evolving their phishing tactics, how can you spot an attempt, keeping yourself and organisation safe? We will go through each form and the signs to look out for to avoid becoming a victim to their schemes.

Email phishing remains the most common form of cybercrime, with 75% of cybersecurity threats arriving through this channel and an estimated 3.4 billion spam emails sent out each day. This makes spam emails the biggest cybersecurity risk to both businesses and consumers. But despite how much we believe we know about these emails; they still manage to catch out millions of people each year. Aside from the traditional poor grammar and spelling, here are some other ways to spot a phishing email:

Check the email domain

Double check the domain of the sender. Spam emails will have a clue hidden within the domain. Sending from a popular used domain (@gmail.com) is a strong giveaway that the email is spam, as legitimate businesses will have their own domain. But the harder one to find are spammers who grab hold of a similar domain. Check for small spelling errors, as they will try to get the domain as close as possible to the legitimate one. When in doubt, don’t respond or interact with the email.

Watch for suspicious links and/or attachments

If there link or attachment that does not match the context of the body of the email, this is most likely a scam. One-way scammers get around this is by hiding the link in a button so you can’t see its full destination, so hovering over the button to view the link can help to verify if the link is legitimate. And if you are not expecting an attachment to be sent, or verify the sender, best not to leave it unopened.

Sense of urgency, especially from an executive

Acting on your emotions in the sense of a perceived emergency is what scammers want, especially if they can convince you it is from someone of high importance like a company executive. While getting an email stating there is an emergency, either from ‘family member’ or ‘boss,’ will make you want to take immediate action to help, it does go a long way to take pause and access the situation. Is there another way to get hold of that individual to check the validity of the situation? Is the email domain legitimate? Taking pause to double check these few aspects can help you from becoming a victim to their scam.

It’s too good to be true

Just like feeding into your emotions with a sense of urgency, scammers also play on our emotions of the euphoria of winning a of type of reward. Unless you are familiar with the recipient, remember entering in a legitimate content/giveaway, there is a high likelihood of this being a scam.

With around 3.5 billion smartphones being used worldwide and growing each year, cybercriminals have evolved in their attempts to exploit their users through their devices. This has evolved to Smishing (SMS phishing) and Vishing (voice phishing, considered the modern spin on the traditional telephone scam). Similar to their email counterparts, both forms often impersonate a trusted source to deploy social engineering tactics to trick the receiver into clicking on the link to install malware or answering questions that divulge personal information that they can use and exploit.

The move towards utilising smartphones seems practical from the cybercriminal’s point of view, as SMS has around an average 98% open rate (with email only having an average of 20%) and around 60% of people reading text messages within 5 minutes of receiving them. The tactics they deploy are similar email scams, here are a few more things to look out for.

Don’t recognise the number(s)

Unfortunately, these scammers can be relentless in their constant calling and texting. Many times, they will call from different, yet slightly similar, numbers in the hopes of getting you to pick up the phone. If you don’t recognise the number, do not answer the phone or respond to the messages they send, and block the numbers if you can. It can be obnoxious with the number of calls and messages they send, but not responding will likely make them move on in the long run.

Claim to be from an official source

This most common scams pretend to be a bank, phone or energy provider, but the list of who they claim to be are endless. However, some companies have policies in place where they will never directly ring or text their customers, so it is important to understand what these are. If you are unsure, you can call up the official numbers on the company’s website and ask them directly how they will directly contact their customers. Many companies now have strict policies about never directly calling their customers under any circumstance, so having this knowledge will help keep you safe from these scams.

Asking for confirmation of details

While legitimate establishments that will ask you to confirm your identity in order to discuss your accounts, scammers will also use this tactic to gain your personal information to manipulate. But this information will be very specific to the company you are calling and even then, this will have all been discussed when creating your account. A big red flag is if they call you and then ask you to confirm your information, this is highly likely a criminal trying to gain your information.

Use of an intimidating or forceful tone or language

This form of scare tactic has been most often associated with people being tricked into thinking they owe a payment and some sort of legal action, or severe consequences will be taken towards them. The criminals are feeding off your fears and emotions into tricking their victims into ‘paying a fine’, giving them not only access to their financial information, but other personal information they can exploit. They can also be very pushy into trying to perform a task in a quick manner. Most people will feel uneasy during these exchanges, trust those instincts, disconnect the call and report the number to the correct officials.

Quishing is the use of QR codes to instigate a cyberattack by taking their victims to a malicious website to download malware and/or gain sensitive information. QR codes have become increasingly popular since the pandemic as a contactless way for individuals to consume information and purchase goods. Many restaurants, bars and pubs used QR codes to allow guests to load their menus to help with social distancing and have since kept them as part of the customer experience. But they have also grown in popularity for cybercriminals to manipulate from their unsuspecting victims. These codes can be found out in public or sent via post or email. So how can you keep safe from a QR code scam? Here are some things to consider before scanning.

Only scan QR codes from trusted sources

If the code seems out of place or context, maybe give it a pass. Most of the time companies will also give tell you the web address so, if you're unsure, type that into your browser instead of scanning the code. Something to consider with QR codes in public is to check that something hasn’t been placed over the original code. For example, a criminal might place a similar looking QR code on top of the code at a restaurant table, where guests could be expecting to scan to order, and no one would think any different. Double checking that the code has not been tampered with can help keep you safe from a potential cybercrime.

If in doubt, use an app instead

Depending on where the code is, some establishments might also have an app that can accomplish the exact same goal intended. Using the app or directly going to their website can help to keep you safe and prevent your information from being stolen.

Keep your mobile devices up to date

Smartphones and their apps will have regular updates to help not only with their usability, but to help with updating the security features on the device. Just like with your main computer, do not put off updating your device features, as it can be that extra layer of protection against malicious actors.

Unfortunately, phishing is growing and becoming more sophisticated with cybercriminals. But staying vigilant, keeping up to date with cybercrime statistics, and practicing good digital hygiene will help to keep you safe from being the potential victim of a cybercrime.

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