The different forms of cyber risk and its challenges for law firms
The threat obviously doesn't stop at the doors of law firms, and cybersecurity concerns are far from being limited to large corporations. A study conducted by the Village de la Justice (Justice Village) reveals the extent of the cyber threats facing law firms. The study shows that 25% of lawyers reported experiencing a direct attack in the past year . According to an Euler Hermes study , as many as 7 out of 10 firms were targeted by at least one attempted fraud in 2018. The threat is therefore far from virtual and is intensifying year after year.
These cyber threats can take different forms. Among the most virulent, it should be noted:
- Ransomware : very widespread today, this software blocks the computer system and encrypts your data which becomes unusable. In exchange for unblocking, you are asked for a ransom. The most famous ransomware attacks were crypto software attacks WannaCry or even NotPetya (the most expensive in history).
- Malware : behind this generic term hides a multitude of malicious software. We find worms and viruses carried by storage devices such as a USB key. They have the particularity of reproducing quickly and infecting everything in their path. There are also spywares that spy on your activity or Trojan horses that enter the system in a seemingly harmless form to manipulate data.
- Intrusions into the system or network : the most widespread is the denial of service attack (DDoS) which is designed to saturate the machine which becomes unusable.
- Attacks using email : phishing or phishing via a link sent by e-mail is in the lead. The film The Wolf on this subject will be broadcast during the morning show organized on 20 next June by Jarvis Legal et Xefi
- LPassword hijacking and identity theft : these attacks are the most difficult to detect and this is why they can be dangerous. Very devious, hackers have a boundless imagination in this area. You are not dealing here with a simple crude fraud such as a fake email from your bank full of spelling mistakes but with a more “intellectual” fraud.
Fearsome, a successful attack can lead to serious consequences.
Undue data loss can already lead to financial losses in the millions of zeros (some impressive figures here ) due in particular to a paralysis of activity.
But above all, for lawyers , it is a question of loss of trust from their clients… The repercussions on the image and reputation of the firm can prove truly devastating.
This is all the more the case as clients are increasingly aware of these security issues and are demanding solid guarantees, and not only in large business firms.
What solutions to protect your office effectively? Best practices to optimize your cyber security
In prevention, the union minimum within the firm to be put in place:
- Secure correctly his passwords. Automatic password management solutions, one of which, French, is particularly efficient and offers a free version without obligation: Dashlane.
- Refresh regularly your software and clean the computer.
- Use the entire range of possible secure tools: anti-virus and VPN. A VPN solution will allow you to take advantage of public wifi, a real data sieve, without exposing yourself. In fact, the VPN modifies your identity and protects you against malicious actions that would be targeted on your profile.
- To anticipate by setting up regular backups to avoid massive data loss in the event of an attack. These backups must be made on removable media which you will take care to disconnect from your network by alternating the media.
Generally speaking, it's essential to cultivate a culture of vigilance among employees. This can be achieved by investing in training, but also simply by raising awareness among those less tech-savvy about risks and best practices. This is particularly crucial regarding email attachments and anything downloaded to computers from the internet.
To address the root cause and minimize cyber risks, it can be beneficial to review some of your practices. Allocating a budget to IT security and investing in solutions to secure your business is clearly not a waste of time. For example, you can:
- To realise a security audit on the equipment used by the firm.
- Opt for a cloud solution and fully hosted like the one proposed by Jarvis Legal much safer than software hosted on your computer.
- Switch to practice management software with secure customer area hosted in France to interact with your customers.
A permanent, polymorphous, evolving and growing threat (in particular, attacks on connected objects and smartphones), the cyber risk of lawyers is very real and unfortunately does not only happen to others. As in this matter, prevention is better than cure, take your precautions and arm yourself against fraudsters and hackers!