TEESDALE business people witnessed first hand how easy it is for criminals to access their computers during a live police demonstration.
The breakfast event at The Hub, near Barnard Castle, saw officers from the North East Regional Cyber Operations Unit (NERCCU) hack into three different computers, specifically set up for the demonstration.
Through the attack, on Wednesday, April 18, regional cyber protection officer Jon Hudson was able to access files on the computers and access their cameras, using software that is freely available over the internet.
Training videos on how to use the free hacking software can be easily found on the internet, he said.
DCI Paul Colling of the unit added that many of those behind hacking attacks were young people “using a laptop in their bedroom” .
He said: “They are not in labs with white coats. I thought they were all high end individuals, they are not.”
He likened hackers to criminals who go from house to house checking for unlocked doors, only they go from computer to computer checking for vulnerabilities that will allow them into other people’s computers.
The DCI acknowledged it had been “a journey” for police to come to terms with cyber crime.
He added: “We are coming on leaps and bounds. We recognise we can’t do it with out you.”
The policeman said a team of 20 volunteers had been established to do free checks on the vulnerabilities of business systems.
Mr Hudson said: “We tell you guys where the vulnerabilities are, it is up to you to get that fixed.”
Daniel Dixon, of Digital Drive County Durham, which is associated with Business Durham, revealed there is a pot of funding that firms can access to improve their computer security.
The funding covers up to 40 per cent of the cost of making digital improvements, whether that is hardware, software or seeking advice from a digital consultant.
A minimum digital project of £2,500 can attract £1,000 funding, while a maximum size project of £24,999 can receive as much as £10,000, he said.
Those interested in the free computer network system scan can email cybervolunteers @northumbria.pnn.police.
uk.
Those interested in obtaining a grant to improve their IT systems can visit digitaldrivedurham.co.uk/funding.
DS Martin Wilson, also of the cyber operations unit, said he hoped to present a similar breakfast meeting with businesses in the near future to deal exclusively with phishing email scams.
