The Viral AI Caricature Trend: Why You Should Think Twice | Fortitude Cyber

The Hidden Cost of “We’ll Fix It Later” Cybersecurity “We’ll fix it later” is one of the most expensive phrases in cybersecurity. It often sounds reasonable.Budgets are tight.Time is limited.Nothing bad has happened yet. However, delaying cybersecurity fixes creates hidden costs.And those costs usually appear at the worst possible time. Why “We’ll Fix It Later” Feels Safe Many cyber issues do not cause immediate problems. For example: As a result, risk feels theoretical rather than real. Unfortunately, cyber risk does not work that way. The Real Costs Are Often Invisible at First Delayed cybersecurity rarely shows up as a clear… Read more: The Hidden Cost of “We’ll Fix It Later” Cybersecurity

TL;DR: Scammers are exploiting Facebook’s “@highlight” feature to boost post reach and trick users. They post enticing images of prizes, prompting users to comment “@highlight,” which increases the post’s visibility. Once the post gains traction, scammers may edit it to include malicious links, leading to data harvesting, account takeover, or malware distribution. If you’ve been on Facebook lately, you’ve likely seen your friends tagging “@highlight” in the comment section of posts promising luxury SUVs, motorhomes, or massive cash prizes. The pitch is simple: “Type @, click the highlight, and if it turns blue, you’re entered.” At Fortitude Cyber, we believe that awareness… Read more: The “@highlight” Giveaway: Why Your Chance to Win a Free Car is Actually a Scam

Why Cyber Insurance Claims Are Being Rejected Cyber insurance is often seen as a safety net.However, many UK businesses are discovering that it does not always pay out. In recent years, insurers have rejected a growing number of cyber insurance claims.This has left directors exposed to serious financial and legal risk. So why is this happening?And more importantly, how can your business avoid it? Cyber Insurance Is Not a Guaranteed Payout Many business owners assume cyber insurance works like car or home insurance.Unfortunately, cyber insurance is very different. Insurers expect you to meet strict security requirements.If you fail to meet… Read more: Why Cyber Insurance Claims Are Being Rejected

What Directors Get Personally Liable for Under UK Cyber Regulations Many UK directors think cyber security is an IT problem, which can create a risk. UK cyber regulations place clear duties on directors. Because of this, cyber security is now a board-level issue. While regulators often fine companies, they still examine director behaviour. As a result, directors must understand where personal liability begins. A Common Misunderstanding First, directors do not need technical skills. However, the law expects leadership and oversight. In simple terms, directors must: If directors fail to do this, regulators may challenge them. Where Personal Liability Can Arise… Read more: What Directors Get Personally Liable for Under UK Cyber Regulations

Most SMEs Don’t Need Expensive Security Tooling — They Need Clarity and Prioritisation Many SMEs believe cyber security means buying more tools. As a result, they invest in more software, more dashboards, and more alerts. However, this approach rarely improves security. In practice, most small businesses are not breached because they lack tools.Instead, they are breached because they lack clarity. Because of this, cyber security problems in SMEs are usually caused by poor decisions, not weak technology. The Common SME Mistake In many cases, an SME security setup looks like this: On the surface, everything looks fine. In reality, risk is… Read more: Most SMEs Don’t Need Expensive Security Tooling — They Need Clarity and Prioritisation

Cyber Essentials for UK Law Firms: What Actually Breaks Audits Security compliance is more than just a box-ticking exercise for UK law firms. With the rise in cybercrime and stricter regulations around client data, failing a Cyber Essentials audit can be costly—not just in fines, but in reputation. But what actually breaks audits? Here’s a simple guide. What is Cyber Essentials? Cyber Essentials is a government-backed scheme designed to help organisations protect themselves against common cyber threats. It’s especially important for law firms handling sensitive client information. Passing the audit shows clients, regulators, and insurers that your firm takes cyber security seriously. Top Reasons… Read more: Cyber Essentials for UK Law Firms: What Actually Breaks Audits

Vendor & Supply Chain Cyber Risk: How to Vet Third Parties Safely Cybersecurity isn’t just about protecting your own computers and systems anymore. Even if your business has good security in place, a supplier with weak cyber defences can become an easy way in for attackers. This is why vendor and supply chain cyber attacks are increasing rapidly, especially against small and medium-sized businesses in the UK. The reassuring news is that you don’t need to be a cybersecurity expert to reduce this risk. With a few sensible checks, you can protect your business from becoming the weakest link — or being… Read more: Vendor & Supply Chain Cyber Risk: How to Vet Third Parties Safely

Vendor & Supply Chain Cyber Risk: How to Vet Third Parties Safely Cyber attacks don’t always start with your organisation. Increasingly, they begin with a supplier, vendor, or third party that has weaker security controls — and attackers use that access to move sideways into larger or better-protected businesses. This type of attack is now one of the fastest-growing cyber risks facing UK organisations of all sizes. In this article, we explain: All in plain English. Why Supply Chain Cyber Attacks Are Increasing Modern businesses rely on dozens — sometimes hundreds — of third parties, including: Attackers target suppliers because: For cyber criminals, supply… Read more: vendor cyber risk

Cyber Security on a Budget: What £1k Actually Buys an SME Cyber security often feels expensive, especially for small and medium-sized businesses. But you don’t need a huge budget to make a meaningful difference. In fact, £1,000 can go a long way if you spend it wisely. Here’s a practical guide for SMEs who want to stay secure without overspending. Why SMEs Struggle with Cyber Security Many SMEs assume that cyber security requires big investments in expensive tools and consultancy. In reality, most breaches happen because of basic gaps: weak passwords, unpatched software, untrained staff, or unsecured devices. Spending a little money strategically… Read more: Cyber Security on a Budget: What £1k Actually Buys an SME

Secure Your Supply Chain with Cyber Essentials Cyber attacks don’t always start with your organisation Increasingly, they begin somewhere in your supply chain — a supplier, contractor, or partner with weaker security controls that attackers use as a stepping stone into your business. This is why Cyber Essentials has become a key tool for UK organisations looking to reduce supply chain cyber risk and demonstrate due diligence. Why Supply Chain Cyber Risk Matters Modern businesses rely on: If just one supplier is compromised, attackers can: A cyber breach in your supply chain can have devastating operational, financial, and reputational consequences — even if your own internal security is strong.… Read more: Cyber Essentials supply chain

Cyber Essentials vs ISO 27001: Which is right for you? In a nutshell: Cyber Essentials (CE) covers the most common risks and asks how you address them. ISO27001 asks you to figure out what your risks are and address them in the right place within the framework … a bit like a blank journal with journal prompts. ISO27001 and often overkill for SMEs, but not always. ISO27001 is always more expensive. If you’re a UK small or medium-sized business trying to improve your cybersecurity, you’ve probably come across Cyber Essentials and ISO/IEC 27001. Both are respected frameworks. Both improve trust.But they are not the same… Read more: Cyber Essentials vs ISO 27001

ISO 27001 for Financial SMEs: What You Don’t Need (and What You Do) ISO 27001 is the gold standard for information security, but for financial SMEs, the full certification process can feel overwhelming. The good news? You don’t need to implement every single clause to be effective. Knowing what is essential—and what isn’t—can save time, money, and stress. Here’s a practical guide tailored for financial SMEs. What is ISO 27001? ISO 27001 is an international standard that specifies requirements for establishing, implementing, maintaining, and continually improving an information security management system (ISMS). For financial SMEs, it demonstrates to clients, regulators,… Read more: ISO 27001 for Financial SMEs: What You Don’t Need (and What You Do)

Cyber Essentials Cyber Insurance: Free £25,000 Cyber Liability Insurance What UK SMEs Need to Know Many UK small and medium-sized businesses are surprised to learn that Cyber Essentials certification includes free cyber liability insurance — up to £25,000 — for eligible organisations. While this built-in cover is not a replacement for full cyber insurance, it can play a valuable role in helping businesses respond to incidents such as ransomware attacks and data breaches. This article explains: All in plain English. What Is the Cyber Essentials Free Cyber Insurance? When an eligible UK organisation becomes Cyber Essentials certified, it can opt in to receive £25,000 of cyber liability… Read more: Cyber Essentials cyber insurance

Cyber Liability Insurance for UK SMEs: Why Cyber Essentials Matters More Than Ever Cyber attacks are no longer a problem just for large enterprises. In fact, UK small and medium-sized businesses are now one of the most targeted groups by cyber criminals. As a result, more insurers are tightening their requirements — and cyber liability insurance is becoming harder to obtain without proven cybersecurity controls in place. This article explains: All in plain English. What Is Cyber Liability Insurance? Cyber liability insurance is designed to help businesses recover financially after a cyber incident. Policies typically help cover: For many SMEs, cyber insurance is now as… Read more: cyber liability insurance for UK

For UK small and medium-sized businesses, Cyber Essentials is no longer a “nice to have” — it’s quickly becoming a baseline requirement for winning contracts, reducing cyber risk, and proving you take security seriously. This step-by-step guide explains: All explained in plain English. What Is Cyber Essentials? Cyber Essentials is a UK government-backed cybersecurity certification scheme designed to protect organisations against the most common cyber threats. It focuses on five core technical controls: The scheme is specifically designed for SMEs and non-technical business owners. Cyber Essentials vs Cyber Essentials Plus: What’s the Difference? Cyber Essentials Cyber Essentials Plus Self-assessment Independent technical audit Questionnaire-based Real-world testing Lower cost Higher… Read more: A Step-by-Step Guide to Achieving Cyber Essentials Certification

Running a small or medium-sized business in the UK has never been more challenging. Between rising costs, regulatory pressures and competition, cybersecurity is often pushed to the bottom of the priority list. Unfortunately, cyber criminals know this — and they actively target UK SMEs because they are often less protected than larger organisations. This beginner-friendly guide explains the most common cyber threats, why cybersecurity matters, and simple first steps every UK business owner can take today. What Is Cybersecurity (In Plain English)? Cybersecurity is simply about protecting your business systems, data and people from digital attacks. That includes: If your business uses email or the internet —… Read more: Cybersecurity for UK SMEs: What Every Business Owner Needs to Know

Cyber Essentials: Are You Really Ready for Certification? For many UK small and medium-sized businesses, Cyber Essentials certification has become a commercial necessity — not just a “nice to have”. Whether you’re bidding for public sector work, onboarding new suppliers, or trying to reassure customers that you take cybersecurity seriously, Cyber Essentials is often the minimum requirement. But here’s the problem:👉 Many businesses think they’re ready — until they fail the assessment. At Fortitude Cyber, we regularly speak to organisations that underestimate the gaps in their security controls. That’s why we’ve created a Cyber Essentials Review — a simple way to check where you stand before you apply.… Read more: Cyber Essentials certification review

Ransomware: Prevention, Response and Recovery Ransomware is no longer a threat aimed solely at large enterprises. Small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) in the UK are now one of the primary targets for ransomware attacks — and the consequences can be devastating. From encrypted files and operational downtime to regulatory fines and reputational damage, ransomware incidents often cost far more than the ransom itself. This article explains what ransomware is, why UK SMEs are at risk, and how to prevent, respond to, and recover from an attack. What Is Ransomware? Ransomware is a form of malicious software (malware) that encrypts your data or locks you out of… Read more: Ransomware Risk for UK SMEs

Cyber Essentials: Building Trust, Winning Business, and Reducing Risk Cyber attacks are no longer a problem just for large enterprises. In fact, small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) are now one of the most common targets for cyber criminals in the UK. For many SMEs, a single successful cyber incident can result in: This is where Cyber Essentials certification comes in. Cyber Essentials is a UK government-backed cybersecurity certification scheme designed to help organisations protect themselves against the most common cyber threats — and to demonstrate to customers, suppliers, and partners that cybersecurity is taken seriously. What Is Cyber Essentials? Cyber Essentials is a certification scheme supported… Read more: Why Cyber Essentials Certification Is Essential for UK SMEs