Almost half of Irish businesses in survey targeted by cyber attack

A new awareness campaign is being rolled out to encourage people and businesses to protect their mobile devices.

An Garda Síochána is supporting Europol in the Pan-European Mobile Awareness Campaign - as part of European Cyber Security Month.

At least 70% of Irish people use smartphones - the equivalent of around 2.3 million devices, while a further 1.7 million people here have access a tablet device.

The Garda Cyber Crime Bureau is alerting people to the fact that passwords for online bank accounts may be at risk, if a mobile device is subjected to a malware attack.

The CEO of Magnet Networks Mark Kellett said that businesses need to be aware of the potential risks.

"Businesses who have been hacked in Ireland typically, and this is according to the ISME research, last no more than six months after they've been breached," he said.

"Now, 44% of Irish businesses that we've surveyed, that's over 600 businesses surveyed, have been attacked in the last year.

"They have to look at their own security in terms of in terms of passwords and strength."