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 Aviva 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, 75% said it cost up to £1,000 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 target", adding that customers increasingly swayed by the protection of their information may go elsewhere if companies do not take security seriously.