SMALL BUSINESSES: Hackers’ No. 1 Target in 2018
are vital, but they’re far from enough. In reality, it comes down to you and your team. Perhaps the most common and destructive tactic cybercriminals use is called phishing. Masquerading as a client or someone within the company, they send emails to members of the team with an urgent message demanding they click a link immediately. But when users click the link, it installs malware that quickly spreads throughout your network, often ransomware that they’ll use to demand thousands and thousands of dollars in return for your data. The key to avoiding these attacks is education. Tell your team to avoid clicking on any email that seems even remotely suspicious, and if they encounter one, they should alert the rest of your organization immediately. It may be worth it to install anti-phishing toolbars that can run checks on links before you click them, letting you know beforehand if they’re malicious or not. Above all, ensure your team is using strong passwords and changing them frequently. It can mean the difference between security and disaster for your business moving forward. Sudoku
2017 was a high-profile year for the hackers of the world. From the Shadow Brokers acquisition and subsequent release of sensitive NSA documents, to Equifax exposing the data of over 143 million users, it seems nearly every week there’s an enormous new data breach to read about. But even in the midst of all these Fortune 500 companies being targeted for cyberattacks, it’s easy to imagine that our small businesses are safe. After all, why would a relatively small operation show up on the radars of malicious cybercriminals, and more importantly, why would they even bother when there’s millions of dollars to pilfer elsewhere? The answer is simple: because it’s easy. Though you probably won’t see these incidents in your local paper, small businesses have become the prime target for cybercrime, with small-scale attacks accounting for 70 percent of all breaches. This trend can largely be chalked up to the false sense of security that exists across the industry, coupled with undereducated employees leaving organizations open to attack. If you’re hoping to protect your organization, it’s important to stay informed. Sure, robust cybersecurity measures like anti-virus and firewalls
Have a Laugh!
Specialized Insurance Programs For Specialized Industries. • www.insurica.com • 3
Made with FlippingBook flipbook maker