SUMMER 2021 CYBERCRIME A free new tool alerts businesses to suspicious activity on their internet connection Businesses and organisations in the West Midlands can now access a free tool to help them understand and monitor the threats they face from malicious cyber activity. All the regions police forces have opted into the government-funded Police CyberAlarm scheme, which was launched by the National Police Chiefs Council earlier this year. The system is designed to protect personal data, trade secrets and intellectual property, so does not see any content of the network traffic Credit: National Police Chiefs Council Image: iStock / peshkov Police CyberAlarm acts like a CCTV camera monitoring the traffic on a businesss connection to the internet. It does not interfere with normal network operations, but detects and reports on suspected malicious activity, enabling the firm to take steps to improve its cyber resilience. After signing up to the scheme, businesses receive a unique code that once added to the website allows them to access instructions on how to install the CyberAlarm Virtual Server. This collects and processes traffic logs to identify suspicious activity from their companys firewall. The system is designed to protect personal data, trade secrets and intellectual property, so does not see any content of the network traffic. Members receive regular reports of any suspicious and potentially malicious activity, detailing how their systems are being hacked and from where. As well as allowing businesses to remedy any weaknesses, the reports help the police identify current threats and to take action against cyber criminals. The more members the scheme has, the more data is produced to create a richer intelligence picture of potential threats. For more on cybercrime, see the News section. For further information, please contact your local Trading Standards Service