UK Businesses Hit by Data Breaches

KEMETIC MINDS
Cybersecurity & Scam Daily Briefing — August 03, 2026

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Photo: Gustavo Fring via Pexels (source)

• 43% of UK businesses report being hacked (The London Economic, 2026)
• Phishing is the most common type of attack (The London Economic, 2026)
• Ransomware attacks are on the rise (Cybersecurity Insiders, 2026)
• Small businesses are vulnerable to data breaches (The London Economic, 2026)
• Staff training is crucial to prevent breaches (The London Economic, 2026)
• Average cost of data breach for small businesses is in four figures (The London Economic, 2026)

1. Today’s Key Headlines

The UK government’s 2025/2026 cyber threat research found that 43% of UK businesses reported being hacked or attacked, with phishing being the most common type of attack (The London Economic, 2026).

In a separate incident, American Bank trusted ransomware hackers’ claims of data deletion (Cybersecurity Insiders, 2026).

2. Data Breach Incidents

A recent data breach incident involved ShinyHunters obtaining internal system credentials (teiss, 2026).

This incident highlights the importance of securing internal systems and credentials to prevent data breaches.

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3. Ransomware Attacks

Ransomware attacks are becoming increasingly common, with attackers demanding payment in exchange for restoring access to encrypted data (Tiu & Zolkipli, 2021, Journal of IT in Asia).

These attacks can have significant financial and reputational consequences for businesses.

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What the Research Actually Says

According to Tiu and Zolkipli (2021, Journal of IT in Asia), ransomware attacks often occur due to vulnerabilities in systems and weaknesses in security knowledge.

Mishra and Soni (2023, Neural Computing and Applications) developed a system to detect smishing SMS, highlighting the importance of detecting and preventing phishing attacks.

Chen, Beaudoin, and Hong (2017, Computers in Human Behavior) found that online privacy concerns and privacy protection behaviors can help prevent internet scam victimization.

How to Protect Yourself and Your Family

• Be cautious when clicking on links or opening attachments from unknown sources to prevent phishing attacks (The London Economic, 2026)
• Use strong passwords and enable two-factor authentication to secure internal systems and credentials (Tiu & Zolkipli, 2021, Journal of IT in Asia)
• Regularly back up important data to prevent losses in case of a ransomware attack (Tiu & Zolkipli, 2021, Journal of IT in Asia)
• Use anti-virus software and keep systems up to date to prevent vulnerabilities (Mishra & Soni, 2023, Neural Computing and Applications)
• Be aware of online privacy concerns and take steps to protect your online privacy (Chen et al., 2017, Computers in Human Behavior)

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References

1. Bing News. (2026, August 2). Latest Data Breach Scales at 43% of UK Businesses. thelondoneconomic.com
2. Cybersecurity Insiders. (2026, August 3). American Bank trusts Ransomware Hackers claims of Data Deletion – Cybersecurity Insiders. news.google.com
3. teiss. (2026, August 3). News – ShinyHunters claims EY breach after obtaining internal system credentials – teiss. news.google.com
4. Tiu, Zolkipli (2021). Study on Prevention and Solution of Ransomware Attack. Journal of IT in Asia. doi.org/10.33736/jita.3402.2021
5. Mishra, Soni (2023). DSmishSMS-A System to Detect Smishing SMS. Neural Computing and Applications. doi.org/10.1007/s00521-021-06305-y
6. Chen, Beaudoin, Hong (2017). Securing online privacy: An empirical test on Internet scam victimization, online privacy concerns, and privacy protection behaviors. Computers in Human Behavior. doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2017.01.003

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