PCC encourages organisations to use free tool to improve their cyber security

MERSEYSIDE'S Police Commissioner is urging businesses, educational organisations and charities to improve their cyber security by signing up to the Police's CyberAlarm tool. Emily Spurrell is trying to increase awareness of the free tool to mark Safer Internet Day, that was on 8 February 2022, which aims to promote safer use of online technology.

CyberAlarm is available to every business and organisation across Merseyside. It's designed to help you understand and monitor any cyber threats facing your organisation by providing regular reports of any suspected malicious activity, enabling businesses to take steps to improve their online resilience.

Once a business or organisation becomes a Police CyberAlarm member, they will be able to install the:- 'CyberAlarm Virtual Server' which will then collect and process traffic logs identifying suspicious activity from the firewall.

CyberAlarm does not see the content of any activity. Instead, it monitors metadata in the logs relating to the traffic to identify suspicious activity and is designed to protect personal data, trade secrets and intellectual property.

Merseyside's Police Commissioner Emily Spurrell said:- "CyberAlarm is a fantastic free tool available to business, local Government, educational establishments and charities and even individuals to help them to improve their security online. This tool does not give the Police access to your websites or data. It cannot see content. Instead, it passively monitors for suspicious activity and alerts you, so you can take action if your organisation is on danger online. With the average cost of a cyber attack now costing a small business an average of ₤11,000, this is a valuable tool to help protect you and your employees. There's no catch to signing up. It's free and it's Police led. As we mark Safer Internet Day, there's no better time to sign up and keep your organisation safe online."

The CyberAlarm tool, which is funded by the Home Office, has also been welcomed by Merseyside Police's Cyber Dependent Crime Unit, Detective Inspector John Black. He said:- "Police CyberAlarm can benefit any organisation with a computer network including:- SMEs, public and private sector, charities, education and local Government. We want to get as many businesses as possible signed up to the growing network of Police CyberAlarm members as possible. The more members we have, the more data we get which will provide law enforcement with a much richer intelligence picture about the current and emerging threats businesses are facing. As a Police CyberAlarm member, organisations will benefit from regular reports detailing suspicious and potentially malicious attack activity on their firewall / internet gateway. It will show them how they are being attacked, and where from so they can improve their cyber resilience. It will also help law enforcement identify current threats and take enforcement action against cyber criminals."

Businesses can sign up, and obtain  further information, on the CyberAlarm website. They will then receive a unique code and when this is added to their website, it will provide access to full instructions and how to install Police CyberAlarm.  Should any organisations require, they can obtain more information from Cyber Protect Officers at Merseyside Police, by emailing them on:- Cybercrime.Protect@Merseyside.Police.UK
 

Wallasey Woman Who Beat Cancer Launches 1st All Day:- 'Life Shift' Wellness Retreat

ELLEN Cullen, a Mum and Nan, from Wallasey, Wirral, is excited to launch her very first full day wellness event; that was focused on yoga, mindfulness and meditation. Ellen launched Life Shift during lockdown, with the aim of combining mind body wellness, and 5 years after beating breast cancer herself.

Ellen found that after her cancer diagnosis and treatment, she suffered with fatigue, depressed mood, disturbed sleep, hypothyroidism, lack of mobility and pain. But, after starting a yoga class, she saw her mood and sleep drastically improve, her immune system, her mobility; and she also felt physically and mentally stronger.

As BreastCancer.Org states:- "Practicing Yoga really does heal and can help reduce our stress levels. It improves feelings of relaxation and wellbeing, and research shows that people with breast cancer who do Yoga feel less fatigued or stressed and enjoy a better quality of life."

Ellen is hoping that the event on 6 March 2022, at Leasowe Castle Hotel, will help others to gain various mental and physical health benefits; and perhaps start them on a whole new journey and mindshift, as she herself has been on. The day will include:-

► Learning yoga practices.

► Practicing mindfulness techniques 🌟 Listening to speaker, expert nutritionist Rachel Philpotts of @re_nutrition who will reveal all about the impact of 'food and mood.'

► How to improve your mental wellbeing.

► And become a healthier version of you.

► Enjoy a delicious lunch included as part of the ticket.

Ellen credits yoga with redirecting her whole life down a different path after helping her to gain strength physically and mentally to beat cancer. She now combines yoga with mindfulness and counselling as the three arms of Life Shift, inspired to help others.

She has already helped many people through Life Shift and in her various past roles in mental health within the NHS and private sector. She has helped those affected by the Pandemic suffering with Covid19 anxiety syndrome, grief, trauma, loss, depression and anxiety, amongst other issues.

Ellen not only has the training to help others learn skills to ease their pain, but she also has a great deal of empathy due to her own personal experiences. For more information, please visit:- LifeShift.Org.UK.