Hackers target poorly secured media companies

Media and telecoms companies are juicy targets for hackers but still aren't doing enough to protect their IT systems.

Over half of technology, media and telecoms companies have suffered a security breach in the last year, with a third leading to "significant financial losses", according to research by consultancy Deloitte.

It claimed many companies are underestimating the need for security. Only four per cent of the 150 companies in the survey believe they do enough to address security issues, with 54 per cent blaming budget constraints and lack of management support as the main challenges.

Half of companies were attacked from within, with Deloitte pointing to memory sticks as making data theft easier. Few companies said they were confident in the security of their internal IT infrastructure, with 83 per cent concerned about employee misconduct involving information systems.

Less than half (48 per cent) said they had an enterprise-wide business continuity programme - way below the level of readiness in other industries, with the average in the US running at 83 per cent.

Deloitte technology director James Alexander said technology, media and telecoms companies must recognise that they represent an increasingly attractive target.

He said in a statement: "Media companies' content represents the basis of a global market in illegal downloads and counterfeit goods; telecommunications operators increasingly represent the gateway into the digital home and office."