Cybercrime Predictions from The Jetsons and What Murfett Legal Does to Protect Your Information

02 Mar 2023

“The Jetsons” cartoon was created in 1962 and captured the optimism around technology at that time by projecting it 100 years into the future with the series being based on a prediction of 2062. George Jetson, the father figure in the cartoon series, was said to be 40 years old in 2062, which would mean that George Jetson was born last year in 2022!

What many may not realise is that the world of “The Jetsons” is actually quite similar to our own in terms of technology - and cybercrime.  In one episode, George Jetson was targeted by a hacker who attempted to steal his identity and use it for nefarious purposes. It seems in retrospect that the creators of “The Jetsons” were in fact futurists!

“Cyber security”, “threat protection” and “ransomware” are now common household phrases around the world.  From both a personal and a business perspective, never has anyone had to be so aware of what they say and do online, or telephonically. With more and more people relying on technology for their day-to-day activities, criminals have found ways to exploit these systems for their own gain. From identity theft to ransomware attacks, cybercriminals are constantly finding new ways to take advantage of unsuspecting victims.

Luckily for us, there are a number of strategies that can be implemented to minimise the risks of falling victim to cybercrime, so that we don’t end up like poor old George Jetson.

Educating ourselves about the latest threats and staying up to date on security measures can go a long way towards keeping us safe online. Additionally, using strong passwords and two-factor authentication can help keep our accounts secure from hackers.

Murfett Legal prioritises how we deal with your information, both in hard copy format and also in digital format.  We are constantly working with our suppliers to ensure our client’s data is safe.  As cybercrime evolves we too are committed to evolving the way we do business and how your information is protected.

Below is a list of some of the things we do to protect your data and privacy:

• Culture: we have implemented a process whereby we are constantly educating our staff through providing examples of what cybercrime attempts look like.  We encourage all of our staff to “stop and think” when they receive emails or a telephone call.  If unsure, then they are encouraged to speak to our General Manager or another member of the Leadership Team.

• Training: We provide annual in-house training that is mandatory for all staff to attend.  This training is conducted by our external IT Consultants who have a specialist cyber security team.  They provide actual examples of cybercrime and phishing emails.

• Testing: The Cyber security team at our IT Consultant also conducts testing on all staff by sending “false phishing” attacks and then providing a report back to management so we know who requires further training around cyber-attacks.  These results are also used to assist with the ongoing training to the wider team.

• Software: Whilst not cybercrime, the sending of your personal and private information to the wrong person by email is a breach of your privacy and may unintentionally put your data into the wrong hands.  To reduce the risk of this happening, we have implemented software that forces staff to verify the email address, and any attachments, that they are sending when an email is going external to our office.  This has greatly reduced the probability of an email going to the wrong person.

• Constant System Review: Alongside our external IT consultants, we are constantly reviewing what tools and software are on the market and determining which products best suit our needs.  This ongoing review is part of our service agreement with our IT provider and any updates or changes are included within that agreement which makes the changes easier and more palatable to make.

• Financial Data Flagging: Our email system is also set so that any financial information sent by email, such as bank account details etc, sends a notification to our General Manager so the email can be checked and verified that it is “safe”.

• Two Factor Authentication: Our on premises, cloud based and online software systems which contain personal information are set to enforce Multi-Factor Authentication.  This is also easily controlled from a management console on the departure of any employee.

• Password Manager: We are in the process of  deploying a password manager which can then be accessed by all staff such that no password used by anyone can be easily guessed and are all of certain complexity requirement.

• Accounts: Due to the nature of our business, we are often transferring large sums of money.  When dealing with any new bank account on behalf of our clients, or a change to existing bank accounts, the details are always confirmed through a phone call from our office, particularly when the bank account details were originally given over email.

• Encryption: all computers in our office are encrypted, as well as all emails leaving our office including the documents that may be attached to those emails.  This means that any interception of the email made on its route to the recipient will be unable to be opened as it is not the intended recipient.

• Microsoft 365: We use Microsoft 365 Business Premium which has been designed with cybersecurity in mind using advanced protection and other cyber security tools.

• Policies: the biggest risk area with cybercrime is people.  To assist as much as we can with ensuring that human error is limited, we have implemented strong policies and procedures throughout the office.

This list is not exhaustive and it will be ever-evolving as we do all we can to ensure that we take the necessary measure to reduce the risk of a cyber incident to our clients.

Our clients are important to us, so their data is important to us too.