There is a common misconception that cyber criminals are people in a room somewhere working out passwords but the Law Society’s latest blog post by Graham Murphy, product manager for the Law Society’s Conveyancing Quality Scheme, highlights that this is not the case. Cyber criminals are becoming increasingly common and are targeting public transport. Many professionals have to work on trains everyday, however there are certain tasks and phone calls that should be left until later.
In his report, he recounts witnessing two lawyers (for which he uses the fake names Sam and Jess) on a train discussing a ‘100 million transaction’ and with a few clicks from googling the logo of their law firm seen on documents out on the table, he could then find out their names, linkedIn profiles and other social media profiles. Sam and Jess then left their laptops unlocked for ‘eight minutes’ when they went to get some refreshments from the buffet. Murphy comments on how dangerous this could have been even in the most common fraudster’s hands:
“In this time, any enterprising person sitting in that carriage could have walked off with that laptop. Or imagine what a common-or-garden fraudster could have done with all that information. But had that person had a few extra skills, they could also have hacked Sam’s passwords or installed ransomware. It doesn't take very long to do – a few seconds, maybe a minute or two at most. With the luxury of eight whole minutes, it would have been so easy to install something very nasty on that laptop, and surely paying a few bitcoins as a ransom to get back access would have been a small price to pay for Sam to close his £100m deal. We’ve recently seen the devastation that the fairly rudimentary ransomware attack on the NHS has had (netting the fraudsters nearly £87,342 at the current estimate). What would Sam have been willing to pay?”.
Like Graham Murphy, Courtyard Solicitors do not want to see any more ransoms like the one the NHS experienced or to see cybercrime on any kind of scale. It is clear that it is necessary to raise the awareness on the importance of cyber security. Graham Murphy, highlights how common this issue is “I have met so many firms who had been the victims of cybercrime at our recent Conveyancing Quality Scheme roadshows on cybercrime.”. We must stay vigilant at all times to cyber criminals, especially when out and about. Courtyard Solicitors will remain vigilant with cyber security and encourages their clients to do the same.
Graham Murphy concludes that we must be aware of The code of Conduct (attached below).
“Of course, everybody has to work, and sadly that often means working while we travel. But have you ever wondered who might be listening, learning and taking advantage of the information we let slip on those journeys, through over-exuberance, indiscretion or just plain lack of awareness? How many viral quizzes do you complete on Facebook, and where do you think that data goes? How many times have you logged in to a wifi hotspot at the train station or airport without really thinking? How many conversations have you had on trains that perhaps, in hindsight, could and should have been saved for later? And when last did you read O (4.1) and O (4.5) of the Code of Conduct? Perhaps when you embark on your next journey you should start with a quick look at IB (4.1).”
Here is the code of conduct which Courtyard Solicitors abides by and we recommend you all to familiarise yourself with it and do the same:
The Code of Conduct
O(4.1)
you keep the affairs of clients confidential unless disclosure is required or permitted by law or the client consents;
O(4.5)
you have effective systems and controls in place to enable you to identify risks to client confidentiality and to mitigate those risks.
IB(4.1)
your systems and controls for identifying risks to client confidentiality are appropriate to the size and complexity of the firm or in-house practice and the nature of the work undertaken, and enable you to assess all the relevant circumstances
If you would like to read more about cyber security and cyber criminals or are undertaking a property transaction we recommend you read our blog, A new report reveals that Cyber Criminals are targeting property transactions and talk to one of our experienced conveyancing solicitors.
