There are a lot more ways than just five for nefarious characters to infiltrate your business. However, attacks on SMBs tend to fall into a few categories.
Here are five most common ways hackers attack and how to defend your business:
• Social Engineering
Social engineering is a way of manipulating people into giving up confidential information. These malicious actors often use information from social media posts and information posted online to trick you into giving up your passwords or other personal information. Their end goal is to access to your computer to secretly install malicious software.
Defense: Before posting, carefully consider the info you’re about to reveal.
• Weak Passwords
About 80% of cybercrime is because of weak passwords. Over 50% of us use a single password for all of our logins. It’s a big problem!
Defense: Educate your team on the importance of using strong passwords. Create unique passwords for each of your accounts and change them every 90 days.
• Malware Attacks
Malware attacks are on the rise. An infected website, USB drive, or application can deliver software that is designed to cause extensive damage to data and systems or gain unauthorized access to a network
Defense: Run robust malware detection software and keep your existing software updated and current.
• Phishing Emails
A phishing email looks like a normal email from a legitimate source. It often leads you to an infected website when you enter a password or click a link.
Defense: Keep OS, applications, and browsers updated with the latest patches. Don’t open an email from unknown parties or click on unfamiliar links.
• Ransomware
Ransomware is malicious software that locks you out of your network and data, and demands a fee in order to regain access. The problem is that paying doesn’t always mean you’ll get your data back.
Defense: Change passwords often, and back up your data. Choose a strong security package. Don’t open links or visit websites unless you know they’re safe.
Educating your team and taking a proactive approach to cybersecurity is the best way to keep your business safe. Want to learn more? Talk to us about our data security solutions that can keep your business safe.
