Computer safe? Obviously, not quite...

So, yeah, what can you say about these cyber attacks now happening? The cyber attacks against M&S, the CO-OP as well as Harrods and perhaps more to come? I am an avid computer user and I know one thing, or perhaps two things, the weakest part of a computer is the human banging on the keyboard. When you start looking how all the big systems work together, the main frames, the servers, the companies subbing services then you begin to see how it is possible a seventeen year old geek can subvert a bonafide company. Although in the case of these big stores there can be more at the heart of the matter. As was mentioned before if companies use software sources, or services from third parties you will broaden the possible attack front. Even users of VPNs might be wondering how safe they really are? I use VPNs but I also know a lot of them sell data! Now for most of us beer-swillers that does not matter a lot but some of us, in fact an increasing number, use banking and purchase from giants like M&S and Amazon. Unsurprisingly, we hand out enormous amounts of personal data. Think about it, what do you have to do to buy items on the Net? Name, address, phone numbers, age, banking details (credit cards etc). Yes, use credit cards ONLY, never your proper bank card.

The problem is most of us do not think it matters, but our data also links us to many others. Use WhatsApp or similar, on social media perhaps? You trust their systems? Encrypted they say? Well, in the US the NSA knows which colour pants you are wearing. In the UK the GCHQ has pictures of you trying to look macho taking a selfie. There is a great Welsh equivalent word for a selfie – hunlun. Oh yeah, the Welsh know how to dance. Anyway, we get it, computer systems, all systems, are not particularly safe. Mostly because of us humans. If we as a large company are using services from foreign companies, data centres perhaps, we could be handing over our data to individuals who have a gambling addiction and are susceptible to offers of easy money. Some large hacking organisations are always on the lookout. They would always try first to take the easiest route and that is a human operative. Once an inroad has been obtained all hell will break loose.

Companies would be better off if they invested in their own systems and set-ups rather than outsourcing. Obviously it might be expensive, but even though they would still rely on human operatives checks can be made a heck of a lot more easier and thorough at that. In the meantime one question, were there any back-ups made or even anyone knowing how to recover? Or was it as per the usual, trusting it will all be OK? Now we know it was not.