Over a Quarter of Law Firm Websites Unsecure

Our research has shown that out of 100 law firms surveyed, 26% haven’t adopted Secure Sockets Layer (SSL), the standard technology for keeping an internet connection secure.

Law firms are failing in their efforts to tackle the rising risk of cyber crime. 

Even with £millions continuing to be fraudulently redirected, with the associated reputational impact and knock on effect on professional indemnity insurance premiums, most law firms have not implemented even the most basic security measures. 

The research has been undertaken by a leading provider of risk management tools to the legal sector, Lawyer Checker. 

In a series of articles, we’ll review how firms are failing to implement simple cyber strategies that will protect their business, protect client funds and communicate a cyber journey to PI insurers. 

In our first four articles we considered the low take up amongst law firms of cyber security products Cyber Essentials, DMARC, password hygiene, Account & Entity Screen and Consumer Bank Account Checker. 

In our final article, we look at how firms should secure their websites, ensuring that all data that is passed between the browser and the server remains private and integral. 

Our research has shown that out of 100 law firms surveyed, 26% haven’t adopted Secure Sockets Layer (SSL), the standard technology for keeping an internet connection secure.  

SSL is essential for protecting your website, even if it doesn't handle sensitive information like credit cards. SSL encrypts information sent across the internet as it is passed from computer to computer to get to the destination server. When SSL is used, the information is encrypted and it becomes unreadable to everyone except the destination server, which helps to protect from hackers and identity thieves. 

In addition to encryption SSL provides authentication which ensures the data is being sent to the correct server and not an imposter trying to steal your information. 

SSL provides trust signals to your clients and potential clients, as web browsers now give vital clues such as a padlock or green bar to make sure visitors know when their connection is secured. 

Having SSL can also act as an extra barrier for cyber criminals who are trying to get access to your data and sell it on the dark web. The dark web, is a cyber criminal’s black market, where they buy and sell valuable information to continually defraud people of money and additional information. 

SSL plays a vital part in the fight against cyber crime, and the fact that just over three quarters have law firms have implemented it, show its worth. Law firm sites that don’t have SSL risk information being hacked and sold on the Dark Web for criminals to use whichever way they see fit. 

Lawyer Checker offer weekly and monthly Dark Web Monitoring services which monitors your identity information on the dark web and notifies you if your information is found online. 

Dark Web Monitoring provides additional protection for law firms, another step in ensuring information security in the business. 

Start your cyber journey with Lawyer Checker today. Dark Web Monitoring is one of a number of cyber services provided by Lawyer Checker, including penetration testing, phishing test, email spoofing to help you understand the vulnerabilities in your law firm’s cyber infrastructure.  

Speak to us today about our cyber packages or click here to request a FREE risk report. You can also contact Lawyer Checker on 0800 133 7127.