Make sure your company data is safe

BUSINESSES in Hinckley are being warned to check their data is safe and can’t be stolen, after the recent massive Uber hack.

The taxi firm admitted details of 57 million customers and drivers worldwide, including in the UK, were stolen by hackers, last year

Now local data security expert Andy Viner– owner of local IT support company iNTALECT– says all local businesses must check their data is not at any risk.

He said: “Uber’s reputation and profit is going to suffer as a result of this hack – and I would hate any local businesses to suffer the same fate.

“All Hinckley businesses should get an urgent technical audit of their systems to check there is no chance for hackers to get in, and steal data. It only takes one out-of- date system to create a hacking opportunity.

“The UK’s Information Commissioner is going to ask some difficult questions.

“Uber admits that names, email address and mobile numbers were among the data stolen.

“This is people’s most valuable data. Once a hacker knows these kind of details it makes it a lot easier for them to get into your email. Once there, they can often start accessing sensitive data, such as bank records.”

Andy added: “If a business the size of Uber can fall foul of hackers, then small businesses here in Hinckley without lots of IT resource are definitely at risk.”

Penalties for this kind of data breach will become more severe from May next year, when the new General Data Protection Regulation – GDPR – comes into effect.

The main aim is to give individuals a greater level of control over their personal data. Which means that all companies who hold any customer information will be subject to strict rules.