The European Union is preparing to propose new regulations concerning how corporations use the personal data of Internet users this week. The new rules could have a major impact on companies like Google and Facebook as they would put staunch limits on how they use the information of the people that use their services. Viciane Reading, vice president of the European Commission, a branch of the EU, claims that the new rules are needed to remove the grey areas that exist in Europe’s legal system. Europe is currently awash with…
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Does cyber insurance truly provide the peace of mind it implies?
Cyber insurance can provide important coverage against liability and data loss, but it does come with a cost and the form of coverage it provides is quite complex. The Ponemon Institute has released the results of its second annual Cost of Cyber Crime study, which indicated that the average yearly cost of identifying and coping with cyber crime, per organization, is $5.9 million. When compared to the average figures from the 2010 study, this was an increase of 56 percent. Cyber crime costs now range from $1.5 million to $36.5…
Read MoreA new insurance product to protect companies participating in cloud computing services
Cloud computing is becoming a major phenomenon in the world of technology. The concept is simple: A collaboration of computing resources, software and other technologies that are offered as a service rather than a product. This brand of service is becoming popular in a number of industries as it allows companies to make use of high-performance technologies without having to rely on their own computers or devices. Essentially, the computer servers that comprise the cloud provide all the power, through which computers at a home or office operate vicariously. As…
Read More2012 will begin a massive expansion in cyber attack insurance
This year, the world watched as many corporations – even those that are reputed to have the strongest security systems in place – experienced massive data breaches that were so extensive that their final damage total has yet to be calculated. For example, Sony experienced a tremendous breach to the personal account data stored within its network, and has yet to determine precisely how much the cyber attack has cost the company. The most recently published total was that 100 million customer accounts had been compromised, and that they predict…
Read MoreCybersecurity a growing issue in the U.S.
According to U.S. cybersecurity analysts, 12 small groups of hackers from China are responsible for more than $1 billion worth of data from companies throughout the nation. These groups have been monitored by McAfee, a prestigious Internet security company, who drew upon information collected over time. Earlier this year, McAfee tracked intrusions into the U.S. energy grid back to China, where the hacker groups were finally identified after years of arduous investigation. Last month, U.S. intelligence officials formally rebuked China for its part in the intrusions, but no other action was…
Read MoreMIT report highlights the importance of cyber insurance for the U.S. energy grid
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology has released a new report that highlights the U.S.’s need for a cybersecurity shield. MIT claims that the need for protection is most apparent with the country’s energy grid, which is susceptible to attack as it is governed by a myriad of federal agencies. The report notes that there is no single insurance policy that can accommodate the massive risk inherent with such a large energy infrastructure, but the government should take steps to procure multiple policies that augment one another to ensure safety. MIT’s…
Read MoreThe need for cyber insurance grows in light of recent attack on 48 chemical and defense companies in the U.S.
A new report from Symantec Corp., a leading security firm, highlights the dangers of cyber attacks and the value of cyber insurance. Late last month, approximately 48 chemical and defense companies in the U.S. were the targets of a large cyber attack that was traced back to one man in China. Symantec did not identify the companies in the report, but noted that few had any kind of insurance to protect against such an attack. The attack has been linked to industrial espionage, as the compromised information detailed chemicals, formulas…
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