The lockdown has prompted a surge in scams, cybercrimes and horrific pranks such as Zoom bombers who anonymously join calls then use the sharescreen facility to post disturbing content. The SRA has received specific reports about law firms being targeted, for example, criminals attempted to create a standing order for £4,000 a month from one firm’s client account.
Action Fraud has reported a spike in attacks on smaller businesses, flagging that criminals are sending through emails designed to look like official government coronavirus advice, while the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) reported a 400% increase in cyberattacks across all businesses in the country during the first two weeks of lockdown.
The Law Society this week launched a cybersecurity campaign to help solicitors protect clients. It includes revised guidance on preventing frauds and scams, advice on the safe delivery of legal services online, and how to effectively use legal technology during the crisis.
‘Cybercriminals and fraudsters are circling like vultures to exploit any and all vulnerabilities,’ said Simon Davis, Law Society president.
‘It is important we are equipped to protect against these threats. We will be advising on the safe delivery of legal services from home, including the use of video-conferencing platforms such as Zoom.
‘Protecting clients’ data will rightly be a priority for many firms. We have a dedicated in-house team who will be on-hand to provide bespoke support to members, field queries, and facilitate thought leadership.’
The SRA published information at the start of the month advising firms on key cybersecurity issues. See: www.sra.org.uk/sra/news/cyber-security-qa.
It has provided wider information for law firms during the lockdown at: www.sra.org.uk/sra/news/coronavirus-update.
Paul Philip, SRA chief executive, said: ‘Cybercrime is a priority risk for the legal sector and it’s not going away during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The NCSC is also running a Cyber Aware campaign to help keep workers and the public safe. See: www.ncsc.gov.uk/cyberaware.
