Oviedo (EFE).- Asturias records an average of three “significant” computer cyberattacks every two days, according to the report carried out by the Castroalonso Chair of the University of Oviedo.
The study, presented this Thursday, highlights that between January 1, 2021 and October 5, 2022 there have been 1,108 cyber incidents, most of them corresponding to the exploitation of a known vulnerability, the infection of a system and access unauthorized information.
The report, which has analyzed the situation of more than 160 private companies, the regional administration, more than 40 town halls and the University of Oviedo, also notes that three out of four incidents are “high or very high” dangerous. , although “critical” cyberattacks do not reach 1 percent.
The analysis reflects, on the other hand, that the number of devices with security problems detected in the Principality between May and August 2022 was 19,403.
This figure places the region in what could be described as a medium-low position in the table for the set of autonomous communities.
“Substantial difference” between Oviedo and Gijón
Considering the distribution by localities, the data points to Oviedo, Gijón, Mieres, Pola de Siero, Avilés, Langreo, Noreña, Cangas del Narcea, Luanco and Piedras Blancas, as the ten most affected.
However, the general director of Castroalonso, Miguel García Menéndez, has indicated that there is a “substantial difference” between those registered in Oviedo and Gijón, since the capital of the Principality has accounted for more despite having a smaller population.
García explained that the report shows that companies have “a certain degree of maturity” in terms of cybersecurity, but there is still “much to do”, especially the smallest firms.
“There are two types of companies: those that have been cyber-attacked and those that do not know they have been,” he pointed out after maintaining that there is awareness about cyber dangers, although smaller companies tend to maintain that they have not suffered any attack.
García has stressed that acquiring technology is “absolutely necessary”, but it also depends on the “behavior” of people.
“If people skip the procedures, they are not going anywhere,” he stressed before indicating that one of the “weak points” is email, for which he has called for “caution.”
Great ecosystem of Asturias in terms of cybersecurity
The Secretary of State for Digitization and Artificial Intelligence, Carme Artigas, was present at the presentation of the report, who highlighted Asturias’s position on cybersecurity.
He added that the Principality cannot feel “disappointed” for not having been chosen as the headquarters of the Artificial Intelligence Agency, because this has valued its “great ecosystem” of science, technology and business and has been “determinant” for the community has been chosen to locate three regional technological development projects, for which it will receive an investment of twelve million.
“Agencies are important, but what is important are the investments, which are the ones that develop fabric in the long term,” he pointed out. EFE
