THE 5 BIGGEST CYBERSECURITY RISKS
(And the 5 Best Ways to Protect Against Them) for 2018!
The cybercrime business has reached record proportions at nearly $1 trillion in earnings per year. Your data is an incredibly valuable asset – not only to you but to hackers as well. That’s why we’ve compiled some of the most common cybersecurity risks and ways to protect your business in 2018.
The Risks
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A type of malicious software wherein the cybercriminal blocks access to your data or computer systems in exchange for a ransom fee. There’s been a huge increase in this type of attack within the last year.
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A practice in which the cybercriminal sends an email claiming to be from a reputable company in an effort to get personal information from you, such as a credit card number or password.
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A form of attack
wherein the cybercriminal attempts to manipulate the end user into divulging personal information. They will often steal your email list and send a malicious message to your friends. -
A pop-up wherein you’re tempted to click on an ad of some sort – leaving your system infected with malware. This commonly happens on social media websites.
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A free Wi-Fi network setup with key-loggers that copy and archive all information typed once you’re connected. Cybercriminals will setup these fake/phony networks in public areas.
How to Protect Your Business
Watch out for pop-ups, fake wireless networks, phishing attacks, and anything that seems suspicious. Always make sure you’re receiving information from a real person or company.
A complex password is necessary to prevent hackers from being successful. Here’s how to make a complex password:
- Don’t use family names or words found in the dictionary.
- Don’t re-use passwords across various accounts.
- Don’t write your passwords down.
- Do use more than 9+ characters.
- Do use a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols.
- Do turn on two-factor authentication when possible.
A virtual private network or VPN allows you to create a secure connection and share data remotely without worry through a public network.
Your data must be backed up onsite and offsite (in a cloud-based system) on a regular basis. Test your backups often and maintain at least three copies of everything.
A reputable IT company with experience in cybersecurity will be able to keep your network and users secure against any type of attack. They will:
- Deploy a layered approach to security with firewalls, anti-virus software, regular software patch deployment, and more.
- Conduct a social engineering test, then share the results with your staff and debrief/train youremployees.
