Colette Weston 🏊🏻‍♀️🚴🏼‍♀️🏃‍♀️🇬🇧

Heightened Cybersecurity Risks Amid Escalating Middle East Conflict The United States' military campaign in Iran, and the Iranian regime's retaliatory attacks throughout the Middle East, have prompted both cyber authorities and private-sector experts to warn of height...

Escalations in the Middle East have increased the threat of nation-state #CyberAttacks targeting #CNI & private sectors. Organizations must prioritize defensive measures as geopolitical tensions spill into the digital realm.
#CyberSecurity

Chatbot data harvesting yields sensitive personal info : AI conversations for sale include sensitive health and legal details

New research highlights how #AI #chatbots can be manipulated to extract personal data from users. This discovery reveals the methods used to gather sensitive information through standard conversational interactions.
#CyberSecurity #DataPrivacy

Businesses told to harden defenses amid Iran conflict risk : NCSC urges all to review posture as escalating tensions increase risk of indirect digital spillover

The @NCSC is warning of a rise in targeted #CyberAttack’s from Iranian-linked groups focusing on critical infrastructure & government entities. Organizations are urged to bolster defenses against evolving persistent threats.
#CyberSecurity #NCSC #Iran

Employee habits like weak #passwords & clicking suspicious links remain top causes of data breaches. Understanding these common risks is the first step toward securing your business & protecting sensitive information.
#CyberSecurity #DataPrivacy #InfoSec

It’s #5pmFriday time & the best way to spend the weekend is outgrowing the versions of yourself that others were comfortable with. Disappointing people who want you to stay small is actually a sign of progress.
Keep growing & have a great weekend.

UK small firms lag on cyber breach & ID fraud defences Fewer than half of UK small firms can spot cyber breaches, as identity fraud and supplier scams expose gaps in remote and hybrid working.

UK small businesses are failing to keep pace with evolving #cyber threats, particularly in breach identification & identity fraud prevention. New data highlights a widening #security gap that leaves SMEs vulnerable to attacks.
#CyberSecurity #SME

Reddit fined £14.5m in UK over use of under-13s’ data Information Commissioner’s Office imposes largest fine yet for a breach of children’s privacy

#Reddit has been fined in the UK for failing to prevent children under 13 from using its platform & for mishandling their data. The IOC found that the site did not do enough to verify ages or protect young users' #Privacy.
#CyberSecurity

Cyber association launches code of conduct for security pros | Comp... ISC2’s Code of Professional Conduct will supposedly establish a worldwide framework dedicated to principled and ethical practices in the security trade

A new code of conduct for #CyberSecurity professionals aims to set higher ethical standards & further professionalize the global workforce. The #CIISec initiative focuses on integrity & public trust in the digital age.

Cyber risk now the defining test for UK insurance CROs - survey Findings suggest gaps in skills, data quality and responsible AI amid plans to invest in risk technology

New survey reveals #cyber #risk is now the defining test for UK #Insurance Chief Risk Officers. As digital threats evolve, #CROs face increasing pressure to bolster resilience & manage complex systemic vulnerabilities across the sector.
#CyberSecurity

Agreed it does feel like a drum that many of us have been banging for years. 🙄
Perhaps the CoA ruling for the ICO will sharpen the boards focus.

Cybersecurity not just technical concern, needs to be Board-level business priority, says Elastic chief Cybersecurity is now a top business concern due to AI and digital growth. Mandy Andress highlights digitisation, data expansion, and AI adoption as key risk factors. AI's power comes from data, and autonomous...

#CyberSecurity is no longer just a technical concern; it must be a board-level business priority. #Security must be integrated into core strategy to ensure resilience in the digital age.
#InfoSec #BusinessStrategy #TechNews

#dataprotection #ico #cybersecurity #sme #macminngould #compliance #uklaw | MacMinn-Gould Consulting & Coaching The "Security Duty" is absolute. No ifs, buts, or maybes. The Court of Appeal just released a landmark ruling that every business leader needs to understand. The ICO has successfully appealed the DSG...

Here are my thoughts on the ICO/DSG CoA ruling. There are no "ifs," "buts," or "maybes" you have to take appropriate security measures to protect personal data, regardless of whether hackers can identify individuals.
LMK your thoughts!
#CyberSecurity

It’s #5pmFriday time & I’m leaning into being "weird." People call me bonkers for how hard I push my body, but that grit is exactly what sparks my most innovative solutions. We don’t change the world by being normal. Stay weird, keep innovating.

ICO wins Court of Appeal case in DSG Retail ruling We welcome the Court of Appeal’s (CoA) ruling that we has succeeded in its appeal against the decision of the Upper Tribunal on DSG Retail Limited (DSG). 

ICO wins appeal. "The CoA… confirms that DSG was required to take appropriate security measures to protect #PersonalData from unauthorised access, regardless of whether people could be identified from the data exfiltrated by the hackers."
#CyberSecurity

AI-driven phishing surge dominates 2025 cyberattacks AI-powered phishing drives a sharp 2025 surge in email and chat attacks, as Acronis warns of a new era of automated cybercrime at scale.

#AI driven #Phishing attacks surged in 2025, using sophisticated automation to bypass defenses. Organizations must adapt to this evolving threat landscape as high-volume, personalized scams become the standard for #cybercriminals.
#CyberSecurity

A new report reveals that one-third of UK consumers were victims of #CyberCrime over the past year. As digital threats evolve, protecting personal data is more critical than ever for shoppers.
#CyberSecurity #UKNews #TechSafety

SMEs Wrong to Assume They Won’t Be Hit by Cyber-Attacks: NCSC Boss NCSC’s Richard Horne has warned that cybercriminals do not care about business size and called for SMEs to act now to secure their organizations

The @NCSC warns SMEs that no business is too small to be a target. As #cyber threats rise, small business owners must take proactive steps to defend their operations & stop assuming they are safe from attack.
#CyberSecurity #SME #NCSC #CyberAware

#cni #supplychain #cyberresilience #macminngould #uktech #smeadvice | MacMinn-Gould Consulting & Coaching The Unlocked Window in Critical National Infrastructure… My recent post about the NCSC urging UK Critical National Infrastructure to tighten defences generated significant engagement. It is clear to...

A jotted down a few thoughts on the NCSC urging UK Critical National Infrastructure to tighten defenses. Read it here & let me know your thoughts!

www.linkedin.com/posts/macmin...?

Alliance of tech giants pledges clearer security standards between mobile and Cloud – Mobile News Alliance of tech giants pledges clearer security standards between mobile and Cloud

Tech giants have formed an alliance to create clearer #security standards bridging the gap between mobile devices & cloud infrastructure. This initiative aims to harmonize safety protocols & protect user data across diverse platforms.
#CyberSecurity

Currently swimming my way through my fifth winter open water season. Temperatures are currently 5 to 6°C but have been as low as 4°C. The sheer mental & physical endurance needed to do this is found in the moment you override the body's natural "flight" response to the cold. It’s a 3 x a week practice of discipline that proves age is just a number & that the 1% mindset is built one icy stroke at a time.

#5pmFriday & here’s the truth… Only 1% of women push themselves physically to the edge like I do. Most call it insane, I call it necessary. Age doesn't define my ceiling, my work ethic does. I’m ready to take this intensity to a whole new level. Who’s coming with me? 🔥

What are the top five UK data protection and cyber security developments for 2026? How prepared is your organisation for the major data protection, cyber security and AI changes landing in 2026? Read our latest insight to understand the top five developments and the steps you…

The UK's data protection landscape is shifting. From #AI regulation, to updated security frameworks, this is a good summary of five major developments businesses must prepare for in 2026.
#CyberSecurity #DataPrivacy #UKCompliance

gowlingwlg.com/en-gb/insigh...

NCSC Warns Critical National Infrastructure to Strengthen Cyber Defences A NCSC director is urgening critical national infrastructure (CNI) providers to protect against severe emerging cyber threats.

The @NCSC is urging UK critical national infrastructure to tighten cyber defences against an "enduring & significant" threat from state-aligned groups. Organizations are advised to act to protect essential services.
#CyberSecurity #infosec #UKTech #CNI

www.digit.fyi/ncsc-warns-c...

Over 65% of UK healthcare data is leaked in meagre data security incidents AI is evolving at a rapid pace, and the uptake of Generative AI (GenAI) is revolutionising the way humans interact and leverage this technology. GenAI is

Over 65% of UK healthcare data has been leaked due to poor security measures. This alarming trend highlights critical vulnerabilities in patient privacy & the urgent need for robust infrastructure.
#CyberSecurity #DataBreach #NHS #InfoSec

I can appreciate the frustration. I think it is shared by very many folks including myself. But that not be a reason to not keep banging the drums.

UK economic growth on ‘shaky ground’ without cyber resilience A new report from the Royal United Services Institute warns that Westminster must adopt a far more interventionist approach to cyber security

UK economic growth is at risk without stronger #CyberResilience. A new report from #RUSI warns that the country’s digital infrastructure requires urgent protection to secure long-term financial stability & national security.
#CyberSecurity #UKTech

‘I fell into it’: ex-criminal hackers urge Manchester pupils to use web skills for good Initiative aims to identify proficient gamers and coders who can help companies identify flaws in their cybersecurity

Ex-criminal #hackers are visiting #Manchester schools to steer tech-savvy pupils away from #CyberCrime. They are urging students to use their coding skills for ethical careers instead of falling into illegal activity.
#CyberSecurity #TechEthics

Yes the water is cold right now but being in that water makes me feel alive & that I could conquer anything. There really is nothing else like being in the open water, with the fish, the ducks, geese & other birds & sometimes other humans. I mean I wouldn’t complain if it was a bit warmer but getting through a 27 min swim in 4 or 5°C water reminds me that if I can do that I can do anything! 💪

#5pmFriday & a reminder that it’s ok if "getting through" was your only achievement this week. This time of year is draining, so be gentle with yourself. Take a breath, log off, & remember that better days (& better weather) are coming.
Pic of my swim spot that keeps me going!

UK government must get its hands dirty on security, report says | C... As the UK government develops its new National Cyber Action Plan, a report from the Rusi think tank urges Westminster to take a more interventionist approach.

The UK government must take a more active role in #NationalSecurity & "get its hands dirty" to protect critical infrastructure from evolving digital threats, according to a new report.
#CyberSecurity #CNI

Italy has successfully thwarted a series of Russia-linked #CyberAttacks targeting various embassies & Olympic venues. The government reports that these threats were neutralized before sensitive data or infrastructure could be compromised.
#CyberSecurity

Stealthy Cyber Espionage Campaign Hits Notepad++ Users A stealthy supply chain cyberattack targeting Notepad++ users has been linked to a Chinese state-backed hacking group, exposing a complex malware campaign

Security researchers have identified a new #cyberattack, dubbed Lotus Blossom, targeting Notepad++ users to deploy #Malware. The sophisticated operation uses DLL sideloading to compromise systems & steal sensitive data.
#CyberSecurity #Infosec