Cybersecurity is an essential aspect of today’s digital era, as the number of attacks keeps increasing yearly. We saw an increase in cyber attacks by 15% in 2021 compared to 2020. And this trend is unlikely to decline unless businesses start taking safety measures.
While enterprise corporations might be able to take such a hit, small businesses can face bankruptcy after a cyber attack. But don’t worry – we’ve got you covered with a few safety measures that will prevent or limit cyber attacks. But the first step toward a safe working environment is familiarising yourself with some of the most common cyber threats.
Phishing
Phishing is the most widespread cyber attack as it is easy to execute. If you look at the phishing attack statistics, you’ll find that billions of spam emails are sent daily to lure another victim. The attack consists of a fraudulent message that will draw you into clicking a link or downloading a file. Afterward, a virus will infect the victim’s device.
Another tactic is luring victims to input their login details to fake websites with identical designs. One example is an email with disturbing news from your bank. But once you open the website and use your credentials, they will automatically be sent to the hacker.
Malware, Ransomware & Other Viruses
Catching a virus on a personal PC is not a big deal if you use it for leisure activities. You may lose some data, but a clean windows installation and password changes will eliminate it. However, many businesses can’t afford to face a ransomware attack. Ransomware is a malicious program that will encrypt all files on your device until you pay a ransom to get a key for the encryption.
Malware is another malicious program that intends to exploit your PC and steal data. It can also give the attacker the power to control your computer. Yet there’s a tricky part about malware. It can pop up as an ad on legitimate websites and start leeching the victim’s passwords. The worst part is that people may not know about it until it’s too late.
Data Breaches
Cybercriminals are getting more and more creative regarding data breaches. It all started with simple SQL injections, where malicious code may be injected into a database to steal its contents. Yet, that’s in the past, as most websites have protection against it. Nowadays, criminals use spyware to search for vulnerabilities in databases and exploit them. But first, spyware has to infect your network using phishing, which we discussed above.
A data breach can lead to various unfortunate situations. First, your company’s data may get leaked along with everyone’s passwords. Second, your customers’ data may get leaked, resulting in hacked accounts across multiple platforms.
How to Stay Protected?
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Employee Cybersecurity Training
Looking at the most common cyber attacks above, you’ve probably figured out numerous ways to stay protected. Nevertheless, thinking about a solution is never enough. All employees must be familiar with the threats and stay away from them.
The IT department can easily stay away from phishing attacks. It’s advisable to have a policy for cybersecurity training and keep all employees educated on the topic. A single misunderstanding can damage all the data.
We understand that some small businesses can’t afford professional training. It’s not crucial – you can set up a meeting and talk about it for an hour or two. Ensure the speaker is familiar with the topic and that everyone is present for optimal efficiency.
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Password Management Tools
Password management habits can save the day even in the worst-case scenario. First, never use the same password multiple times, especially when it’s directly connected to your business. Next, you should use a password management tool and implement it as a standard in your company.
It will allow you and your employees to have passwords filled with symbols and store them in a safe haven. And even if your database gets breached, you will still keep accounts with sensitive data protected. Here’s one additional tip – change usernames and passwords frequently (once every 90 days is good enough).
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Implement Protection Against All Known Threats
You can avoid some threats with employee training and password management tools, but not all of them. The best thing to do is install an antivirus on all company devices to eliminate the most common security issues.
However, you must also have protection against the common vulnerabilities from the past. Many people have suffered from SQL injections, and some still do. Only those who ignore their security, though. Run a security software and test your network for vulnerabilities. You can also get a professional to try to penetrate your database and fix any remaining vulnerabilities.
Final Words
The technologies are developing at astounding rates, and cyber criminals are keeping up a good pace. Fortunately, staying away from phishing attacks will protect you from more trouble than you can imagine. Furthermore, you can scan your network for vulnerabilities and hire a professional to test it for the best possible protection.
Jack Griffiths
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