Fraud takes many shapes and forms, among them corporate fraud, consumer fraud, tax fraud, identity theft, and many others. According to ACFE (Association of Certified Fraud Examiners), organizations worldwide lose an estimated 5 percent of their annual revenues to fraud, costing the world $3.7 trillion each year.

International Fraud Awareness Week is a global movement to minimize the impact of fraud through awareness and education. ​

It's no secret that many companies rely heavily on consumer-generated data to inform many activities, from product development and strategic planning to targeted marketing campaigns. When the information is used effectively, however, it is the consumer who may ultimately benefit, as it can enable companies to enhance the customer experience and provide innovative products and services. But how willing are consumers to provide their information, and what concerns do they have about sharing and protecting it? 

Malicious software, also known as malware is a term that can be used for various viruses, spyware, worms and programs that attack your device or computer. The goal of malware is to target and retrieve protected data, remove confidential documents or add software without user consent or knowledge. Software is identified as malware based on its intended use, rather than a particular technique or technology used to build it.

A computer virus is a malicious software which self-replicates and attaches itself to other files/programs. It has the capability of executing secretly when the host program/file is activated. The different types of Computer virus are Memory-Resident Virus, Program File Virus, Boot Sector Virus, Stealth Virus, Macro Virus, and Email Virus.

With the number of data breaches increasing every year, it’s not a question of if your business will suffer a breach, but when. The threat affects companies of all sizes and in every industry, including manufacturers.

In fact, manufacturers are one of the most susceptible to cyber threats. According to a Kaspersky Labs report, manufacturers’ computers accounted for about one-third of all attacks as sophisticated attackers are after intellectual property.

Findings from an analysis of 2017 cyber claims data revealed that negligence was the most common cause of loss for the healthcare industry and a hacking attack the most common for non-healthcare organizations. However, ransomware was the second most common cause of loss for all industries.

Ransomware is a cyber-related threat with a monetary demand. The threat is typically to divulge or destroy information, to insert malicious code into a computer system, or to damage, destroy or prevent access to a computer system. According to the report, “2018 Cyber Claims Digest,” by NAS Insurance, there was a 152 percent increase in ransomware as a cause of loss in the healthcare industry between 2016 and 2017.