With cybercrime costing the UK billions, experts say it is time to confront hackers head onHackers are winning the cyberwar and businesses are all too often simply hoping for the best, according to many security experts. Among them is professor John Walker, who lectures in cyber security at Nottingham Trent University and has advised the House of Lords on the issue. He says the government, police and business community are far behind in the battle to thwart hackers and that “cybercrime as a service” (Caas) is big business. His message for businesses is stark: “Assume you’ve been hacked,” he says. “There are people that have been and know it and people who think they haven’t, but have.”Figures for the cost of hacking to businesses vary from survey to survey. A 2013 National Audit Office report suggested the cost of cybercrime to the UK was between £18-27bn, though this has been disputed. But Walker says that cybercrime is often under-reported, both by the media and the police, as businesses fear a loss of reputation and credibility. Related: What you should do if your business is the victim of cybercrime BYOD is one of the biggest things that have played into the hands of criminals for years Related: Cyber surgery: how can you protect your business from online threats? Continue reading...