Taylor Wessing is piloting new software to protect clients' websites from hackers and malicious malware attacks that aim to harvest customer credit and debit card details.

The platform, dubbed TW:detect, will scan client websites for 'indicators of compromise' – altered code that can be targeted by hackers. The firm will receive an alert if compromised code is found, which is then raised with the client and their security teams.

TW:detect has been created by cybersecurity developers Pervade Software, and will be tested and developed in tandem with the firm.

Taylor Wessing cybersecurity head Paul Glass said development began on TW:detect after the high-profile British Airways data breach, in which hackers accessed 380,000 customer transactions after malicious code was introduced to the airline's website.

He explained: "We were looking at some of the code used in recent breaches, including British Airways, and started thinking if we could use Pervade's software to protect our client's e-commerce sites. They said it would work, so we started working with Pervade to build the product."

Glass added that he has numerous clients whose websites have been compromised, and were not aware: "We saw an option where we could proactively go to clients and say: we've built you something to solve this problem."

The pilot is currently being trialled with a number of clients, and will be tailored to the specific needs of each in collaboration with Pervade.

Last month, Herbert Smith Freehills developed an in-house platform to assist clients in the aftermath of a data breach, with head of global cybersecurity Andrew Moir taking the lead on the project.