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Startups: Ignore cybercrime warnings at your peril

Hackers

Rebecca Ledingham, director of security monitoring and response at Mastercard, explains why tech startups need to pay close attention to impending cyber threats.

With so many data breaches falling beneath the glare of the mainstream media, those running startups could be forgiven for thinking this is something that only happens to the corporate giants. The sad reality is that thousands of British small businesses are getting attacked each year.

Despite this, half of all UK SMEs spend less than £1,000 on cyber defences, according to the insurance company, Zurich. Many spend nothing at all. And while tech startups are clearly savvier than to completely ignore the threat, to what extent are they aware of just how much they are a target?...