Less than half of businesses surveyed were aware of ransom demands (43 per cent) being made to them by criminals to get information or access back, pharming (46 per cent) where internet users are directed to a bogus website mocked up to look like a genuine one, or cyber attacks that prevent access to a business’ systems (38 per cent) and yet, these are also real threats to online safety. New study by Google reveals that only 24 % of businesses in the UK are taking steps to protect themselves from cyber attacks , despite over a third confirming that they have been victims of cyber - crimes , such as hacking . 44 % believe they are unlikely to be a target of cyber crime , while 23 % admitted not knowing how to protect themselves from a security breach . For those small companies that suffered a cyber crime , 40 % said it cost up to £ ##500 to resolve . This report comes just a week after it was revealed that over half of small businesses are at " high risk " of a security breach . Aviva 's Angus Eaton warned " these criminals operate in ever more sophisticated ways using malicious codes to search out vulnerabilities online , so anyone could become a victim " , adding that customers increasingly swayed by the protection of their information may go elsewhere if companies do not take security seriously .
New study by Google reveals that only 24 % of businesses in the UK are taking steps to protect themselves from cyber attacks , despite over a third confirming that they have been victims of cyber - crimes , such as hacking . 44 % believe they are unlikely to be a target of cyber crime , while 23 % admitted not knowing how to protect themselves from a security breach . For those small companies that suffered a cyber crime , 40 % said it cost up to £ ##500 to resolve . This report comes just a week after it was revealed that over half of small businesses are at " high risk " of a security breach . Aviva 's Angus Eaton warned " these criminals operate in ever more sophisticated ways using malicious codes to search out vulnerabilities online , so anyone could become a victim " , adding that customers increasingly swayed by the protection of their information may go elsewhere if companies do not take security seriously .