TfL Tube strike on 6 to 8 February 2016 is exposing London to cyber attacks
The upcoming Tube strike is exposing London to a heightened risk of cyber attacks, as thousands of Londoners prepare to work from home on Monday.
“It is crucial that employers are aware of the increased risk of cybercrime that comes with staff logging on from anywhere but the office,” warned Raj Samani, Intel Security’s chief technology officer in Europe, Middle East and Africa.
The 48-hour strike starting on Saturday evening is set to heavily disrupt Tube services, and TfL has warned it will put all other travel services under pressure as commuters seek alternative routes.
This means many firms will have no choice but to rely on remote technology, as employees work from home, and will therefore be exposing themselves to elevated risks.
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Unprotected wifi hotspots, unsecured home devices or unsanctioned apps all risk allowing corporate data to sail into the hands of cyber criminals.
Samani urges firms to prepare by educating staff on IT security policies, as well as offering advice on where not to access confidential data:
By investing this time now, companies can avoid suffering any more disruption than necessary during the Tube strike.
The financial industry is especially targeted by cyber attacks, which more than doubled in the last year. Several high-profile attacks against Carphone Warehouse, JD Wetherspoons and TalkTalk exposed hundreds of thousands of Britons’ personal data.