OneSearch Direct becomes first search provider to help solicitors fight back against cybercrime

OneSearch Direct becomes first search provider to help solicitors fight back against cybercrime

OneSearch Direct, one of the UK’s leading property search firms, is proud to announce that it will be joining forces with Fresh Skies to offer mkryptor email encryption, winner of the IFSEC Awards Cyber Security Solution of the Year. In an exclusive arrangement, OneSearch Direct will become the first search provider to offer solicitors a solution to ensure any confidential and private emails with their clients can be exchanged securely, and protect firms against cyber-attacks.

mkryptor protects the exchange of confidential email content and, uniquely, requires no software at the recipient’s end, as the encryption is held within the email itself. The encryption tool is extremely easy to use and is available for all solicitors using OneSearch Direct, giving an uncompromising safeguard against the ever-increasing threat of cybercrime that plagues the industry.

In the SRA’s latest Risk Outlook, firms were advised to check their systems for guarding against cybercrime attacks. This was due to a spike in reports of fraudulent activity, including email interception, specifically targeting the conveyancing industry. Only last month, the media reported how fraudsters stole £340,000 from one property sale, by hacking into a solicitor’s email conversation. A similar incident was reported in the case of Vivian Gabb, who was tricked into paying almost £50,000 to a fraudster who set up an email address under the same name as her solicitor.

Liz Jarvis, Managing Director of OneSearch Direct, said: “OneSearch Direct have a long-established history in securing a ‘Best Practice’ approach, with an exemplary PI claims record to back this up. With mkryptor, we hope to lead the way in protecting solicitors against email fraud. It’s a progressive concept now, but I believe email encryption will one day become an industry standard in securing compliance.”

Simon Freeman, CEO of Fresh Skies, commented: “The impact of cybercrime can no longer be ignored. Many regulatory authorities realise this, such as the Pensions Ombudsman Service, who have chosen mkryptor to protect their emails, and it’s only a matter of time before the conveyancing industry will follow suit. Gone are the days when legal firms simply add a disclaimer to the bottom of emails to satisfy requirements. When they find out how easy email encryption is, they will move quickly to protect both their clients and their own reputation.”

Priya Anand Patel, Head of Compliance at Legal Eye, added: “Bogus firms are very real, and solicitors have a liability to detect any imposters. Firms must evaluate and monitor the risk of transacting with fraudulent individuals. The most recent SRA Risk Outlook goes some way to give guidance to firms to help mitigate these risks, not least the consideration to utilise email encryption techniques for particularly sensitive information.

“Data protection and confidentiality breaches can be the most ‘frequent’ of breaches recorded in a firm’s risk register; each breach may be material or become material (if reoccurring), which is, of course, reportable to the SRA. mkryptor provides a solution to firms to demonstrate they are proactively taking steps to mitigate these risks. The product offered by mkryptor is an easy system, and works well in practice. We are very pleased that OneSearch and mkryptor are working together to highlight the importance of email security to the conveyancing industry, and that this email encryption is now accessible to firms, to enable them to evidence compliance with these key areas.”

OneSearch Direct will be offering exclusive discounts on mkryptor’s award winning solutions for individual email accounts and company server solutions.

For more information call OneSearch Direct on 0800 052 0117, or email pmaillardet@onesearchdirect.co.uk.

OneSearch

http://onesearch.direct/

  OneSearch Direct are a leading property search company providing fast, accurate and quality assured search information to conveyancing solicitors and other property professionals. Established more than 20 years ago, we have a vast wealth of experience in processing and managing property search information and continually invest and adapt our services to suit the changing needs of our customers and the market place. We provide a complete solution for residential and commercial property searches, making it easier to order and manage every element of the search process required in a property transaction. Added to that, our searches are also backed with a fully comprehensive professional indemnity insurance of £10 Million for both residential and commercial, giving our customers complete confidence and peace of mind in our service. By employing state of the art IT infrastructure, we are able to streamline our processes, providing us with extensive volume capability and the ability to facilitate full electronic ordering and delivery of a broad range of property search reports including:

  • Local Searches
  • Land Registry Documents
  • Water & Drainage Searches – Personal & CON29DW
  • Remortgage Searches
  • Mining Reports
  • Environmental, Planning & Flood Reports
  • Chancel Repair Reports
  • Utility Searches Telecommunications and Transport Searches
  • Telecommunications Searches
  • Transport Searche
Although we use the latest technology, at the core of our service is a team of highly skilled people who are dedicated to personally managing your account, ensuring excellent customer service at all times. OneSearch Direct subscribe to the Search Code and are founder members of the Council of Property Search Organisation (COPSO), as well as being an Appointed Representative of Northcott Beaton Ltd, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority (FSA). Contact: Elizabeth Jarvis Tel: 0800 052 0117 Email: info@onesearchdirect.co.uk Address 6th Floor Skypark SP1 8 Elliot Place Glasgow G3 8EP

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