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Czechs lost 357 million on the Internet
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- Significant cases of cyber attacks with damages calculated
- Ransomware attack on a hospital in Benešov (Czech Republic, 2019)
- Ransomware attack on OKD (Czech Republic, 2020)
- Marriott Hotel Data Breach (Global, 2018)
- Maersk attack using NotPetya malware (Global, 2017)
- Theft of data from Target Corporation (USA, 2013)
- Attack on Garmin (Global, 2020)
- Equifax data breach (US, 2017)
- Attack on the Constitutional Court of the Czech Republic (Czech Republic, 2020)
- Phishing attack on Czech Post (Czech Republic, 2017)
- Attack on a hospital in Brno (Czech Republic, 2020)
- Losses of Czech citizens on the Internet (Czech Republic, 2024)
- VPN protection
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- Protection against theft of personal data
- Security of financial transactions
- Hiding your IP address and location
- Secure connection to public Wi-Fi networks
- Protection against tracking and targeted advertising
- Access to geo-restricted content
- Protection against phishing attacks
- Safe sharing and downloading of data
- Prevention of internet connection speed throttling
- Increasing the overall security of the device
- Disadvantages of using VPN on iPhone / ANDROID
- Conclusion + EVENTS TODAY 75% OFF + 3 months free
1. INTRODUCTION
In today's digital era, the security of personal data and protection of privacy are crucial. Cyber-attacks are becoming more sophisticated and frequent, putting individuals and companies worldwide at risk. In this article, we will focus on specific cases of cyber attacks that affected individuals or specific companies and show the damage they caused. This underlines the importance of using a VPN on your iPhone as one of the effective protection tools.
2. Significant cases of cyber-attacks with damages calculated
Ransomware attack on a hospital in Benešov (Czech Republic, 2019)
In December 2019, ransomware hit the Rudolf and Stefania hospital in Benešov. The attack crippled the hospital's IT systems, leading to the suspension of operations and the postponement of planned operations. The cost of restoring the systems and the losses caused by the outage reached an estimated 50 million CZK (approx. 2 million USD) ❶ .
Ransomware attack on OKD (Czech Republic, 2020)
In 2020, the Czech company OKD, the only black coal producer in the Czech Republic, was attacked by ransomware. The attack halted mining for several days. Although the company did not disclose the exact financial losses, it is estimated that daily losses could reach up to CZK 10 million (approx. USD 400) ❷ .
Marriott Hotel Data Breach (Global, 2018)
In 2018, there was a massive data breach from the Marriott International hotel chain. Hackers gained access to the personal data of up to 500 million guests, including names, addresses, phone numbers and passport numbers. The company faced a £123 million (approx. US$160 million) fine from the UK's Data Protection Authority ❸ .
Maersk attack using NotPetya malware (Global, 2017)
The Danish shipping company Maersk was hit by a NotPetya malware attack in 2017. The attack brought down IT systems and crippled global shipping operations. Total damages were estimated at USD 300 million ❹ .
Theft of data from Target Corporation (USA, 2013)
In 2013, the American retail company Target was the victim of a massive cyberattack in which hackers gained access to data on 40 milliononeThe payment card and personal data of 70 million customers were compromised. The costs of resolving the incident and legal settlements reached more than $200 million ❺ .
Attack on Garmin (Global, 2020)
Navigation equipment manufacturer Garmin faced a ransomware attack in 2020 that disrupted its services for several days. The company reportedly paid a ransom of US$10 million on the 6th.
Equifax data breach (US, 2017)
In 2017, the credit company Equifax announced the breach of 147 million people's personal information, including social security numbers and driver's license numbers. Costs associated with the attack exceeded $1,4 billion, including fines and security costs.
Attack on the Constitutional Court of the Czech Republic (Czech Republic, 2020)
In 2020, the Constitutional Court of the Czech Republic was attacked by a cyber attack that disrupted its e-mail system. Although the exact damage was not disclosed, the attack showed the vulnerability of important institutions in the country 8.
Phishing attack on Czech Post (Czech Republic, 2017)
The Czech Post warned against fake e-mails that pretended to be its official communications. Many users have been scammed and become victims of data theft. The exact financial damage is unknown, but the attack affected thousands of customers on the 9th.
Attack on a hospital in Brno (Czech Republic, 2020)
The Brno University Hospital was hit by a cyber attack in March 2020, which caused IT systems to fail and led to the postponement of planned operations. The hospital had to switch to paper documentation. Estimated damages reached over 100 million CZK (approx. 4 million USD) 10.
Losses of Czech citizens on the Internet (Czech Republic, 2024)
According to the report for the first quarter of 2024, Czechs lost CZK 357 million on the Internet as a result of cyber fraud. A total of 20 clients of domestic banks fell victim to fraudsters, which shows the growing threat in the field of online security on the 723th.
These cases show that cyber attacks can have a devastating impact on individuals and companies, both financially and operationally. Protection through a VPN can be one step to reduce the risk of such attacks.
3. Protection through VPN
1. Protection against theft of personal data
Story:
Alena, the owner of a small e-commerce store, was connecting to a public Wi-Fi network at a coffee shop to place orders. She was unknowingly exposed to a man-in-the-middle attack, in which a hacker captured her login details for the ad.ministrace store. He subsequently stole sensitive data from its customers, which led to reputational damage and financial losses worth over CZK 200.
How a VPN solves this:
A VPN (Virtual Private Network) encrypts your internet connection, so even if you're connecting over an unsecured network, your data is protected. This makes it difficult for hackers to capture and misuse your sensitive information.
2. Security of financial transactions
Case from practice:
In 2016, a Czech film producer was robbed of 1,5 million CZK when hackers intercepted his communications with a supplier and forged false payment instructions on the 12th.
How a VPN solves this:
Using a VPN when conducting financial transactions secures communication and reduces the risk of eavesdropping or data manipulation. Your financial data will thus remain safe.
3. Hiding your IP address and location
Story:
Jan published critical articles on his blog about the corporate practices of a large company. Without using a VPN, his IP address was traced and he faced intimidation and legal threats.
How a VPN solves this:
A VPN masks your real IP address and replaces it with the VPN server address. This protects your identity and location from tracking and potential threats.
4. Secure connection to public Wi-Fi networks
Case from practice:
In 2017, a group of hackers in Prague was revealed to have created fake public Wi-Fi networks in shopping malls. By connecting to these networks, users were exposed to the risk of data theft 13.
How a VPN solves this:
A VPN encrypts your connection, which means that even if you connect to a fake or unsecured Wi-Fi network, your data will remain protected from attacks.
5. Protection against tracking and targeted advertising
Story:
Petra noticed that after visiting several websites, she started receiving spam emails and was bombarded with targeted advertising. Her online activities were monitored without her knowledge.
How a VPN solves this:
A VPN hides your online activity from ISPs and advertising agencies. This protects your privacy and reduces the amount of unsolicited advertising.
6. Access to geo-restricted content
Case from practice:
Many students in the Czech Republic experience limited access to some foreign educational materials and services due to geographic restrictions.
How a VPN solves this:
A VPN allows you to change your virtual location by connecting to a server in another country. This gives you access to content that would otherwise be unavailable for your location.
7. Protection against phishing attacks
Story:
Marek received an email that looked like a message from his bank. After clicking on the link and entering login details, CZK 50 disappeared from his account. It turned out to be a phishing attack.
How a VPN solves this:
Some VPN services include features that block malicious websites and phishing domains. This protects users from fraudulent attacks and data theft.
8. Safe sharing and downloading of data
Case from practice:
In 2020, a Czech company was fined for leaking sensitive data while transferring files over unsecured channels. The damage to the company's reputation was incalculable.
How a VPN solves this:
A VPN encrypts your data in transit, preventing it from being intercepted or stolen. This is especially important when sharing sensitive documents and files.
9. Prevention of Internet connection speed limitation
Story:
Tomáš has noticed that his Internet provider limits the speed when using certain services, such as video streaming. By using a VPN, he bypassed these restrictions and enjoyed a smooth connection.
How a VPN solves this:
A VPN hides your internet activity from the provider, who cannot target the speed of your connection based on the services you use.
10. Increasing the overall security of the device
Case from practice:
Mobile device employedancThe company was attacked by spyware that intercepted communications and stole data. This led to the leakage of trade secrets and financial losses of CZK 5 million.
How a VPN solves this:
By using a VPN on your mobile device, you add another layer of security that protects against various types of cyber threats, including spyware and malware.
4. Disadvantages of using VPN on iPhone / Android
- Reducing connection speed: Encrypting and redirecting data through a VPN can slightly slow down your internet connection.
- Cost of service: Quality VPN services often require a subscription. However, investing in security can pay off in preventing potential damage.
- Possible problems with some services: Some websites and applications may block access via VPN servers.
5. Conclusion
Cyber-attacks can have a devastating impact on individuals and companies, as evidenced by the examples with quantified damages.
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