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The study shows how ransomware attacks affect your health.
A new report from the British defense think tank RUSI (Royal United Services Institute) provides alarming data on the consequences of cyber attacks using ransomware for small business owners. It is noted that such attacks have a significant psychological impact on staff, up to the appearance of suicidal thoughts.
The study found that cyber attacks not only cause financial losses, but also lead to deep stress and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among employees. In one of the cases described in the report, an engineering company was forced to hire a support team to deal with PTSD after a cyberattack.
The results of the study, partly funded by the National Cybersecurity Center (NCSC) in the United Kingdom, are based on interviews with victims of cyber attacks from companies of various specializations (public sector, industry, finance, insurance, etc.). One of the respondents told about a case when a person experienced suicidal thoughts due to a previous cyber attack. While such cases remain relatively rare, they are a source of serious concern.
Small business owners are particularly vulnerable because their personal and professional lives are intertwined. Many of them believe that they are personally responsible for what happened and have questioned the correctness of their business management. The report also highlights that the stress caused by cyberattacks is often overlooked, even in large organizations. IT employees, especially those who feel responsible for causing problems, experience burnout and even take sick leave or quit.
Companies affected by data breaches are required to report them to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO). Organizations can be fined up to 4% of their global turnover for failing to report a violation. Despite the requirements to report a cyberattack, the NCSC and ICO expressed concern that ransomware victims often hide incidents from law enforcement and regulators.
A new report from the British defense think tank RUSI (Royal United Services Institute) provides alarming data on the consequences of cyber attacks using ransomware for small business owners. It is noted that such attacks have a significant psychological impact on staff, up to the appearance of suicidal thoughts.
The study found that cyber attacks not only cause financial losses, but also lead to deep stress and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among employees. In one of the cases described in the report, an engineering company was forced to hire a support team to deal with PTSD after a cyberattack.
The results of the study, partly funded by the National Cybersecurity Center (NCSC) in the United Kingdom, are based on interviews with victims of cyber attacks from companies of various specializations (public sector, industry, finance, insurance, etc.). One of the respondents told about a case when a person experienced suicidal thoughts due to a previous cyber attack. While such cases remain relatively rare, they are a source of serious concern.
Small business owners are particularly vulnerable because their personal and professional lives are intertwined. Many of them believe that they are personally responsible for what happened and have questioned the correctness of their business management. The report also highlights that the stress caused by cyberattacks is often overlooked, even in large organizations. IT employees, especially those who feel responsible for causing problems, experience burnout and even take sick leave or quit.
Companies affected by data breaches are required to report them to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO). Organizations can be fined up to 4% of their global turnover for failing to report a violation. Despite the requirements to report a cyberattack, the NCSC and ICO expressed concern that ransomware victims often hide incidents from law enforcement and regulators.
