Law Society admits beating cyber threat is a challenge

CYBER security is one of the biggest issues facing solicitors according to new research.

Almost half (42 per cent) of the 672 lawyers who responded to the Ipsos/Mori poll said maintaining cyber security was a challenge.

The Law Society of Scotland, which commissioned the survey, said it was concerned that 35 per cent of those who took part in the poll admitted to experiencing a security issue but not reporting it to anyone.

The poll also found that almost one-quarter (24 per cent) of lawyers who responded to the questionnaire had experienced a virus or other computer infection.

And 21 per cent said they had been redirected to a fake website in order to dupe them into sharing personal details.

But the overwhelming majority, at 81 per cent, had a very or fairly positive view of technology, with solicitors recognising its importance to improving processes and increasing efficiency.

It found 92 per cent of solicitors used the internet on a daily basis for business, with 59 per cent also using their smartphones for work.

Helena Brown, of HBJ Gateley, a member of the Law Society’s technology law and practice committee, said of the lack of reporting of cybercrime: “It may be some of this relates to scam emails from fraudsters most of us would simply delete, but it perhaps indicates there is an issue in what and how cyber security issues should be dealt with.”