Could the HummingBad hack create problems for your organization? There is currently an epidemic of Android device hacks, with the largest number coming from a highly organized Chinese cybercrime group that effectively controls some 85 million mobile devices around the world. This organization, which operates as a division of Chinese …
Shocking number of orgs have PR departments but are utterly unprepared to face a crisis Awareness of the need for crisis management is on the rise, but once in a while we see a stat that makes us realize just how far we have to go. In a recent Nasdaq/PR …
Prepare before trouble appears and reap the benefits Working for an organization that is, by its very nature, in the news every single day is a surefire way to learn a bit about PR. Add to that daily experience with high-level press releases and analytics that explore the latest in market …
Failing to protect customer data almost always results in a reputation hit that impacts the bottom line. The damage doesn’t stop there, though. Early this month Morgan Stanley was slapped with a $1 million fine by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission following security lapses that led to customer data being …
Average breach now costs $4 million Data breaches are more than just a reputation threat, they’re expensive. And that expense is rising. According to new research from IBM’s security division, the cost of a data breach has risen 29% since 2013, and now comes in at a staggering $4 million …
Are our K-12 schools prepared to face emergency situations? As we’ve all been made acutely aware in recent years, schools face the potential for emergencies that many are not equipped or prepared to handle on their own. Along with investigating how entities like the Department of Education, Department of Health …
[Editor’s note: Today’s guest post comes to us from the Philippines, where author Vlad de Ramos is working to raise awareness of IT and hacking-related issues.] With news of company data breaches circulating the internet for years, along with passwords and personal information posted online for sale without the company …
Dominoes continue to topple in the auto industry emissions mess When large crises break in one organization within an industry, it often follows that similar issues will be found within some number of their peers. Looking at recent events, the auto industry certainly seems to be following that pattern. First …
Evaluating the social network’s crisis messaging Data breach announcements aren’t the big news that they once were, in large part because just about all of us have received several by now. That said, people are still (quite understandably) concerned when they know their data has been exposed, and how you …
WARNING: While this post does not contain NSFW images there is NSFW text displayed in the screencaps below. Mike Webb is an independent candidate running for Congress in Virginia, and earlier this month he caused quite a stir when he posted a screenshot to Facebook that clearly displayed two tabs …
One high-credibility individual’s word against that of a low-credibility organization The departure of Domenico Scala appears to be evidence FIFA is set on continuing in ways that leave room for unethical behavior to creep in. Scala is well known as the head of auditing and compliance for soccer’s organizing body, but walked …
Virtual issues bring real-world ramifications The consequences of crises with a significant social media component are growing. Today you can expect to take a reputation hit, you shouldn’t be surprised if financial loss enters the equation, and more and more we’re seeing social media mishaps wind up creating legal issues …
Being ready in advance is key to mitigating damage Social media mishaps can turn into crises in the blink of an eye. The best way to prevent a single incident from turning into a costly crisis is to leap into action the minute you spot the warning signs. You can’t …
Saying “we’re sorry” and doing it well A quality apology is a beautiful thing. That’s why when we caught sight of this exquisitely executed, “We’re sorry” email from Cox’s Business branch to customers we had to share. Check it out, and maybe file it away as an example for the …
[Editor’s note: A big THANK YOU to colleague Phil Cogan for bringing this story to our attention! If you have a topic that might be a good fit for this blog we’d love to see it, drop an email to [email protected] any time.] Having less-than-ideal security in place to protect user …
