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NEWS DECEMBER 28, 2020 ¦ 7

Alexa Is Listening: Lawyers Juggle New
Risks Amid COVID-19 Upheaval

By Robert Storace

The walls might have ears in the new virtual law
firm, giving rise to new risks.
The coronavirus pandemic has hit law firms
hard through layoffs, furloughs, the closure of some
some small firms and a loss of clients.
But experts say law firms of all sizes—especially
Big Law—are now especially vulnerable to data
breaches. COVID-19, they say, has given the bad
actors more of an opportunity to get a law firm’s in-
formation and perhaps the information of clients.
“All law firms could be targeted, and the threats
are increasing because of COVID. The bad guys are Shutterstock

taking advantage of COVID to increase their phish- It’s not just COVID information, but Freedman
ing schemes, in particular,” said Robinson & Cole’s said law firm employees should also beware of dis-
Linn Freedman, a partner and chairman of its data closing confidential information around digital
privacy and cybersecurity team. devices such as Alexa or Echo.
The environment created from remote work- “They record all of your conversations and the
ing amid COVID-19 concerns, manufacturers have access to that
Freedman and other experts said, information. Many people don’t
is enticing to those who want to know that,” Freedman said.
harm law firms. Where do these hackers come
“These bad actors are sophis- from?
ticated. People are afraid and COVID-19 has opened Ted Augustinos, managing part-
distracted because of COVID and ner of Locke Lord’s Hartford office
are looking for information about doors for some bad actors, and co-lead of the firm’s privacy
COVID. They are perhaps more making law firms of all size and cybersecurity practice group,
distracted and less vigilant, be- said it could be from anywhere
more vulnerable to data
breaches.

cause they are wearing sweaters on the globe, but many are from
and helping their kids learn re- Western Africa and Eastern Bloc
motely,” Freedman said. countries. “That is where they
Freedman continued: “This is tend to be located and Russia and
all a recipe for someone to click on an attachment China are the most capable and malicious of gov-
telling them about a vaccine trial or telling them to ernment actors,” he said.
click here about a map in their community of people Augustinos’ firm represents numerous businesses,
with COVID. When you are distracted you are more including other law firms, in how to protect them-
apt to click on something you normally wouldn’t selves from hackers. “The No. 1 tip to a law firm is
click on and the hackers know this. Hackers are training and raising awareness.” he said. “Always
preying on a remote workforce that’s distracted and look for, and be aware of, the unexpected. Take a
afraid. And it’s working.”
¦ Continued on PAGE 8

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