Partner Article

Superpower calls in regional experts

THE Arab world’s biggest economic powerhouse has turned to a North East firm to help it in the fight against online fraudsters.

Newcastle-based internet security specialist Issertiv is working with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s government as it looks to steel itself against internet fraudsters and keep its internal workings confidential.

Issertiv, which has also worked in the Middle East with a number of financial organisations, is expecting to extend its current contract with the KSA’s Ministry of Interior from its expiry date this year to beyond 2011.

The Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange, Dubai International Investment Centre and Dubai-based Emirates Bank are among the other financial institutions in the Gulf to have enlisted the services of Issetiv.

KSA representatives are now making regular trips to Tyneside for expert training from Issertiv’s modest four-strong team in a range of areas such as securing wireless networks and protecting key data against computer hackers.

Meanwhile, here in the UK, the company is employing techniques akin to the tools of espionage to highlight the new threat to personal credit card and company data posed by hackers.

Viruses stored on USB sticks and disks can be used to compromise entire computer networks, allowing hackers to steal credit card details, security passwords and personal information.

To better protect firms against the emerging threat, Issertiv has a new test in which it leaves USBs and disks baring the branding of their client, in public areas such as canteens and car parks.

If any members of staff at the company being find the planted accessories and try to use them out of curiousity, Issertiv is able to show the firm how easily their data could potentially be stolen and what measures need to be taken to prevent it from happening.

Managing director Raza Sharif said: “What is highly disturbing is that, when we left random infected USB sticks in car parking lots and reception areas as well as on public transport, most people will actually plug the found USB sticks into their PCs at home or worse still on work Computers.

“Once this happens our specially crafted Viruses which ar e not detected by Anti-Virus Software fully compromise the PCs which have the infected USB connected even for a second.”

In recent years Issertiv has worked with Newcastle City Council to improve its security standards after a breach in 2007 saw it misplace 54,000 credit card numbers.

The company now aims to double its workforce to 10 and move into a larger premises on Tyneside than its current site on Mosley Street.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .