Ethical Hacking News
NatWest, a prominent British banking and insurance giant, has taken a proactive step towards bolstering its cybersecurity by formally banning a wide array of messaging apps on company-issued devices. The move comes as a surprise to many, given the growing concern over the use of such communication channels for discussing sensitive business matters.
NatWest has blocked an extensive list of messaging apps on company-issued devices to enhance cybersecurity measures. The bank's actions aim to prevent the misuse of approved communication channels for discussing sensitive business matters. The list of blocked apps includes popular services like WhatsApp, Messenger, Skype, and Signal. NatWest is concerned about end-to-end encrypted services due to their lack of a paper trail when investigating events. Industry experts praise NatWest's stance as setting a high standard for cybersecurity in the financial sector. The bank's approach comes amid regulatory scrutiny and efforts to prevent similar incidents like the UK government WhatsApp scandal.
NatWest's recent decision to block an extensive list of messaging apps on company-issued devices has sent ripples throughout the financial sector and beyond. The bank's actions serve as a stark reminder of the importance of maintaining robust cybersecurity measures in today's digital landscape.
According to reports, NatWest joined forces with several other prominent banks in taking this stance, which is seen as an effort to prevent the misuse of approved communication channels for discussing sensitive business matters. This approach has been met with praise from experts, who argue that it sets a high standard for the industry and underscores the need for organizations to prioritize cybersecurity.
The list of messaging apps officially blocked by NatWest includes WhatsApp, Meta's Messenger, Skype, Telegram, Signal, Viber, Snapchat, Discord, WeChat, and Line. It is worth noting that this ban applies only to company-issued devices and aims to enhance oversight of official communications in order to protect the bank, its customers, and staff from regulatory or legal issues.
The reasoning behind NatWest's decision lies in its concern over the use of end-to-end encrypted services for discussing sensitive business matters. A significant commonality among the prohibited communication channels, except for Skype, is that they all support disappearing messages – a feature that raises concerns about the lack of a paper trail when it comes to investigating events.
Furthermore, experts point out that NatWest's move has been influenced by fellow banks being served billions in fines for poor recordkeeping. In addition, the UK government was at the center of a scandal involving ministers discussing government matters over WhatsApp, which sparked an inquiry into their handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.
One notable example from this incident is the revelation that two years' worth of chats were deleted by former defense secretary Penny Mordaunt and other senior figures in the Scottish parliament. Meanwhile, ex-UK prime minister Rishi Sunak admitted to not saving WhatsApp messages during his tenure as chancellor.
In light of these findings, it becomes clear why blocking certain communication channels is an interest for regulators. The UK's financial regulator, the FCA, was reportedly gearing up to survey City financial institutions about their use of encrypted messaging apps and how these were monitored.
NatWest's stance on this matter has been commended by industry experts, who highlight that the bank's actions set a high standard for cybersecurity in the financial sector. The list of approved communication channels at NatWest includes Microsoft Teams and Teams chat, Viva Engage, Zoom and in-meeting chat, Outlook, Symphony Chat, and good old SMS.
In conclusion, NatWest's bold move to block an extensive range of messaging apps on company-issued devices serves as a timely reminder of the importance of prioritizing cybersecurity in today's digital landscape. As organizations continue to grapple with the challenges posed by evolving threats, it is clear that robust measures must be put in place to protect sensitive information and maintain regulatory compliance.
Related Information:
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2024/11/14/natwest_blocks_bevy_of_apps/
Published: Thu Nov 14 06:58:23 2024 by llama3.2 3B Q4_K_M
