DEALERS could see record levels of cybercrime this year as the cost of living crisis deepens.
Automotive technology firm Mad Devs is warning dealers to be on high alert and work closely with their suppliers to ensure that security measures are in place and followed.
A recent study by security experts CyberEdge found that in the UK, 81.4% of organisations had experienced at least one cyber attack in the year before the survey, compared to 71.1% in the previous annual findings.
The Cyber Security Breaches Survey 2022, published by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, found that the most common threat was phishing attempts, which were experienced by 83 per cent of firms reporting breaches.
David Boyce, Chief Executive of Mad Devs, said: “The cost-of-living crisis is driving a rise in cyber attacks on UK businesses. Dealers face a myriad of dangers, with ransomware attacks, data breaches, and online fraud all having the potential to impact operations significantly. We advise the industry to act by contacting their supply chain partners to assess what security measures they have in place and understand what steps are being taken to constantly enhance security.”
Reports in January highlighted the dangers as Arnold Clark experienced a cyber attack over Christmas, which saw the retailer temporarily axe internet access to protect its customer data.
Boyce added: “With the challenges of rising business costs, there is always the temptation to find cost savings in cyber security. But cutting corners in this area is a false economy and could have far-reaching implications for the viability of the business.”
Mad Devs supports over 600 dealers across the UK and has international partners that resell its technology in Australia.
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