Brendan Duncan No Comments

Data Breach Leaves PSNI Officers ‘Incredibly Vulnerable’

Officers left ‘shocked and dismayed’ over unprecedented data breach

The Irish News has reported that a major data breach has exposed every serving officer’s personal data online. Almost 10,000 officers and staff members have been affected.

For almost three hours, several types of personal metadata were available for the general public to see. Authorities believe undercover officers could have been exposed, and may be unable to continue their work. In general, a rise in the risk of terrorist attacks against serving officers is feared to have increased.

The data breach happened after a freedom of information request led to an unfortunate, self-inflicted error. No foul play has been suspected, but the damage is major and widespread.

In all workplaces, the importance of data protection cannot be overstated. We all handle vast amounts of sensitive information on a daily basis. Steps can be taken to safeguard and protect information, but human error remains a significant vulnerability that can lead to data breaches.

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Shane Chambers No Comments

Human Error Is Still Greatest Security Threat Faced by Irish Businesses, According to Experts

New research from DataSolutions, an Irish IT solutions provider, has revealed that a majority (60%) of senior IT decision makers consider human error to be the greatest threat facing Irish businesses and organisations at the moment. This is consistent with results of similar surveys in other countries such as the US or UK, as cyber criminals evolve to target end-users and take advantage of improperly-trained staff instead of trying to bypass or hack complex technical security measures. The survey also revealed that 93% of respondents claim that they have a formal cyber security and defense strategy in place to help navigate today’s online threat environment, particularly in a post-GDPR world.


Cyber criminals are becoming increasingly smart and how they target organisations, targeting un-training staff instead of complex technological security measures

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