On this episode, Babst Calland Attorneys Nicholas Faas, Ember Holmes and Audra Hutter discuss the different kinds of cybersecurity threats facing companies. 
All the key topics include:
- Ransomware – a kind of malware that targets sensitive information, encrypts the information so it cannot be accessed, then demands a ransom in exchange for decryption.
- Hacktivism – computer hacking done to further the goals of political or social activism.
- Malware – a malicious software designed to disrupt, damage, or gain unauthorized access to a system by exploiting its vulnerabilities.
- Phishing Scams – malicious emails or website links to infect a system. Phishing emails often appear to come from a legitimate organization or person, and they contain links or attachments that run malicious codes on the system, infecting it with malware.
In particular they look at how cyber threats are impacting the energy industry as detailed in the Babst Calland Report: https://reports.babstcalland.com/energy2022-2/
Listen to the podcast, here.
On March 21, 2022, President Biden issued a statement in response to evolving intelligence that Russia is exploring options for malicious cyberattacks against the United States. The statement highlights the measures taken by the Administration to strengthen cyber defenses within the federal government and, to the extent that it has authority, within critical infrastructure sectors. Additionally, President Biden called on private sector critical infrastructure owners and operators to accelerate and enhance their cybersecurity measures, urging them to take advantage of public-private partnerships and initiatives, including those administered by the Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). Appended to President Biden’s statement was a Fact Sheet, which outlines specific steps that companies can take to bolster cybersecurity across the nation, and refers readers to various resources compiled by CISA, as part of a cybersecurity campaign.
To read the full Alert, click here.
Small-business owners have many roles to fill–from managing payrolls and marketing to customer service. But one area many small-business owners fail to plan for is their company’s cybersecurity.
According to a recent Small Business Administration survey, 88% of small-business owners feel their business was vulnerable to a cyberattack. Experts warn that small businesses, including those in West Virginia, are under constant attack by cybercriminals, be it from local, national or global actors.
We don’t have to dig deep for a local example of this threat. In 2017 Princeton Community Hospital, in Mercer County, was a victim of the Petya attack, costing the health system $27 million.
Yet, many businesses can’t afford professional IT solutions, have limited time to devote to cybersecurity or simply don’t know where to begin.
Read more.
On this episode of the Emerging Tech Podcast Series, we talk to Justine Kasznica and Ashleigh Krick of Babst Calland’s Emerging Technologies Group about the latest cybersecurity threats centered on the energy industry.
Get more insights on the recent high-profile cyber-attacks, including Colonial Pipeline and JBS Foods and the aftermath of those. This discussion will reference Congressional and TSA action on pipeline cybersecurity. We will also talk about what steps businesses can be taking to address cybersecurity.
To listen to this podcast, click here.
To request a copy of The 2021 Babst Calland Report, click here.
Recent high-profile cybersecurity breaches have highlighted how vulnerable even the largest businesses are to disruption. But even the smallest of businesses face risks, says Ashleigh Krick.
“Organizations may think they are not at risk and do not have valuable information, but they should think again,” says Krick, an associate at Babst Calland. “It does not matter what information you have when a hacker just wants money. It’s not just about data; it’s also about shutting down your business to force you to pay a ransom.”
Read more.