Criminal hackers are regularly targeting smaller law firms as well as larger ones.
The ten-lawyer firm of Cohen Cleary was hit with litigation by clients that alleges:
You are not safe enough if you rely solely on your firewall, computer passwords and antivirus software to protect sensitive client information.
Cyber criminals struck the fourteen-lawyer firm of Spear Wilderman, specialists in representing labor unions. Their stolen client information includes:
- Social Security numbers
- Dates of birth
- Driver’s license numbers
- Credit card numbers
- Bank Routing numbers
- and more.
How can you protect against the compromise of your clients' sensitive infomation?
The best defenses are shields that stop criminals from connecting to your computers in the first place. Antivirus software simply is not enough. It acts to quarantine malicious code after it is downloaded to one of your computers.
You need antivirus protection, but it is porous. Additional shields can block access to the infected links and webpages before malware even starts its trip down to your computers.
Large firms have the resources to pay for and maintain expensive technologies such as:
- Secure Web Gateway
- Intrusion Detection and Prevention
- Security Information and Event Management
- Network Access Control
- Email Security Gateway
Small law firms have options, too, but they are harder to find.
Today's increasingly widespread, automated attacks continue to raise the risks for firms of all sizes. You owe it to your clients and your firm to match your defenses with these threats.
No one wants to be in the position of having to explain to clients that their private information has been stolen, let alone face the litigation filed against the small firms, Spear Wilderman, and Cohen and Cleary.
Do you have questions about how to protect your firm? Let us know! Contact us...
Wells H. Anderson, J.D.