The solicitors Regulation Authority and the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) are urging law firms and their employees to remain vigilant during lockdown as cyber criminals increasingly target remote workers.
Given the lower levels of security in people’s homes and the increasing numbers of legal practitioners working in these perceived relaxed conditions, the SRA are receiving reports of more people being targeted.
In one example, the SRA claim cyber criminals attempted to set up a standing order for £4,000 a month with a law firm.
The NCSCs takedown service has revealed they have already removed over 2,000 online scams related to Covid-19, including 555 malware distribution sites and 200 phishing sites.
The SRA is providing extensive cyber security and homeworking advice to ensure that law firms and their employees are able to spot the warning signs and prevent attacks.
Since lockdown measures were introduced on 23 March 2020, the SRA has issued 16 scam alerts including 10 relating to email or website impersonation.
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.
“Criminals are always looking to take advantage and they know that security arrangements are likely to have changed as people move to homeworking. Several agencies have reported a spike in cyberattacks and we are beginning to get reports from firms that have been targeted.
“We have published information for law firms on the risks during lockdown, and I urge everyone to be particularly vigilant at this time.”
