Data security concerns and solutions
Spencer Livingston, COO of Global Guardian, discussed cyber threats and how they can affect travelling employees at ITIC Global 2019.
Spencer Livingston focused specifically on the communications aspect of cyber security, referencing the ways in which a business can be exploited by hackers through company email accounts. Spencer cited that the cost of responding to a cyber threat has risen by 60 per cent year on year over the past five years.
He detailed a case study in which a cyber-attack on a Dubai-based manufacturing company took place. Hackers who had been monitoring the emails of the accounting department sent a payment request for around $800,000 – which ended up being transferred across.
Travellers should be wary of public Wi-Fi networks and instead use phone data wherever possible
He concluded his presentation with an ABC of what travellers can do to protect their phones when travelling abroad. A good VPN is key, he said, as this helps monitor and prevent phishing. He advised that travellers should be wary of public Wi-Fi networks and instead use phone data wherever possible. Finally, turning off location settings and being aware of how search history is tracked can also help deter cyber-crime. With these measures, he insisted, 60 to 70 per cent of these forms of cyber-attacks can be thwarted at the onset.
December 2019
Issue
ITIJ’s full review of the recent ITIC Global 2019 in Malta, which brought together over 1,000 representatives from all sectors of the global travel and health insurance industry.
Catch up on all the topics covered across the agenda, find out what went down in between conference sessions, and see how the exhibition area and networking events provided the perfect platform for business meetings and getting to know more about the industry and those working in it.
Editorial Team
The Editorial Team updates the ITIJ website daily, and works on features for the print edition. With expert industry knowledge and years of experience in writing about complex travel insurance issues, the Editorial Team is ready to investigate and report on the topics that matter most to ITIJ's readers.