RENEWED THREAT OF CYBER-ATTACKS

Optus customer information hacked

This week Australians have been warned to stay vigilant as Optus continues to battle the aftermath of its major data leak. More than a third of Australians have had their personal details stolen by alleged hackers who gained access to passport numbers, drivers’ licences and even Medicare numbers.

The fallout from the Optus data breach continues, with thousands of customers now scrambling to get new identity documents, many at the expense of Optus, with the costs becoming eye-watering and a class-action lawsuit potentially looming.

While Optus is wearing the blame, and the costs, for this data breach, the widespread leak of details of customers’ private information has brought into focus data retention requirements for Australian companies, which experts say aren’t necessary and leave Aussies vulnerable.

Are clubs/pubs a target for cyber-attacks?

The main motivation for cyber-attacks remains money. On this score, many clubs and pubs believe they are not a high potential target, but the Australian Signals Directorate and the Australian Cyber Security Centre have highlighted that small and medium businesses are significant targets.

In USA gaming venues, Cyber security continues to grab headlines for both commercial and tribal casinos that have been hacked, had customer data stolen, and in some cases had to close temporarily. The problem for tribal casinos has gained prominence more recently, with the Indian Gaming Commission reporting in 2021 that cyberattacks jumped 1,000% since 2019.

While in Australia, Wrest Point Casino was closed for weeks due to a significant ransomware attack last year.

Safeguarding your business

In Australia, Secom Technology is a specialist IT company for the hospitality industry and uses the Untangle NG Firewall solution to protect its customers. NG Firewall is a solution that protects customer data in POS and gaming systems, includes intrusion protection that blocks hacking events such as ransomware and phishing attacks, allows for network wide usage policies even when staff and customers access the internet through your business Wi-Fi from their own devices, and is flexible enough to grow along with your hospitality business needs.

About the Untangle NG Firewall solution

Managing your network and ensuring every device is adequately protected can be a complex and costly task. Untangle’s NG Firewall simplifies network security with a single, modular, software platform designed specifically for businesses such as pubs and clubs with limited IT resources and budgets.

Untangle NG Firewall provides a browser-based, responsive, and intuitive interface enabling you to quickly gain visibility into the traffic on your network. This includes a dashboard that attaches the reports your business requires as widgets for fast visibility.  From content filtering to advanced threat protection, VPN connectivity to application-based shaping for bandwidth optimization, the Untangle NG Firewall delivers a comprehensive, enterprise-grade network security platform.

Some of Untangle’s NG Firewall features include:

Safe and secure Wi-Fi

Wi-Fi is now the top amenity customers want. With Untangle, customers will have the convenience to safely go online wherever they are located in your venue. Basic Internet access can be provided for free, and if higher bandwidth is needed, tiered service offerings can be made available. For back-office operations, the system can prioritise Internet traffic for administration tools, point-of-sale and more.

Protecting purchases and customer information

Mobile payments, such as Apple Pay have become increasingly popular but as a small/medium business, network security is crucial. Untangle’s security solution ensures that businesses can provide customers with streamlined and protected purchases both online and in person.

Ransomware and virus prevention

Intrusion prevention blocks hacking attempts before they reach internal servers and desktops. Untangle’s pre-configured signature-based IPS makes it easier for administrators to provide 24/7 network protection from hackers. Modern malware threats target servers, laptops, tablets, and even mobile phones. While it is important that all of these devices have end-point protection—with the latest versions of software and virus signatures—you may struggle with control over these devices as they connect offsite to unsecured networks, then return to your network with malware on board. You need a first line of defence.

Firewall

Drawing the line that separates internal and external networks, Firewall filters traffic based on IP address, protocol, and port, which enables administrators to designate which systems and services (HTTP, FTP, etc.) are publicly available. Firewall can be run as a transparent bridge to complement a pre-existing firewall and allows you to control inbound and/or outbound access to specific IPs and ports.

Phish blocker

Identity thieves are becoming increasingly sophisticated with email and website spoofs that are nearly impossible to discern from the real thing. Phish Blocker protects users from email phishing attacks and fraudulent pharming websites.

To investigate how Untangle NG Firewall can prevent these issues in your business contact:

 

Secom Technology Group – Phone:  1300 781 224