Security measures need to improve

Firms need to have a layered information security solution to be able to protect their data from the growing threat posed by cyber criminals.

Installing a firewall and antivirus system are no longer enough, as all they take is for someone to click on a malicious link or open a compromised attachment to be breached.

Graeme Batsman, director of Data Defender, said that implementing user accounts is a beneficial step, as should a computer become compromised, the hacker would have less success if the user's privileges were lower.

"Run a vulnerability scanner, which looks for holes in your system and suggests fixes. Be careful what you open - malware infections are often a result of clicking on a dodgy website or email. Finally, choose a strong password and do not use the same for every login," Mr Batsman advised.

He warned that taking action sooner rather than later is essential as the threat is only likely to increase.

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