Following the news about the article regarding the thousands of Welsh NHS staff who had their personal data stolen in a third-party hack, Professor Richard Benham, a Leading UK Expert on Cybersecurity and Security Advisor at Online Service OwlDetect commented below.
Professor Richard Benham, Leading UK Expert on Cybersecurity and Security Advisor at OwlDetect:
“We should be wary about our personal information falling into the hands of hackers. If any of us lost our house keys or wallet, we would do something about it quickly – the same common-sense approach should apply when thinking about online security.
“If you’re an employee of the NHS, past or present, and suspect your National Insurance number, name or date of birth have been compromised, there are a number of steps you can take to reassure yourself and help safeguard your data.
“The first thing to do is contact HMRC and tell them that your National Insurance number may have been stolen. If you’re unsure whether your personal information has been leaked online, you can use services like OwlDetect to scan the Internet and help monitor sensitive details.
“It’s also good practice to change your online passwords regularly, especially if you’re worried about your online security. New passwords should include a strong alphanumeric code, including numbers, hashtags and punctuation. It’s also advisable to opt for Two-Factor Authentication whenever possible. This adds an extra layer of security, which is difficult for hackers to break.”
