With millions of people using the internet on a daily basis, it is scary to think that almost everyone is exposed to viruses, malware and hacking scandals that could cause personal and professional jeopardy. Businesses, in particular, must pay extra attention to the damages caused by cyber threats and should educate all employees about the most common risks.
With the number of recorded hacks escalating in recent times, businesses are more vulnerable than ever before to this type of threat. It would be well worth getting to grips with the main areas where your business could be susceptible to suspicious activity and how to take the necessary actions to keep your company safe.
Thousands of phishing emails are sent to users every single day, with many being able to dodge the ‘junk’ folder. Instead, these messages are sent directly to the main inbox. It can be very easy to confuse spam email with general mail, as hackers have become ever-more intelligent as to how to convince users to open emails. Remind your employees that just because an email may look credible, it doesn’t necessarily mean that it is. One simple click could cause your business to lose a colossal sum of money and leave your data open to further hacks. Make sure you inform all members of the workforce to examine links and emails before opening and ensure they’re sent by reliable sources.
It’s important to invest in anti-virus software that is capable of fighting against the latest threats.
A small proportion of software comes equipped with automatic updates, but in most cases, you’ll need to pay for upgrades to ensure the device can withstand the most recent security hacks. It would also be a good idea to install firewalls on all devices to prevent viruses from becoming a threat to begin with. Firewalls flag up suspicious activity when links are clicked on and alerts users that a virus may be present.
Allowing employees to work from their devices may seem like a good idea to reduce expenses on business equipment, but the impact of a severe security hack could cost you far more than this small and sensible investment.
Internal PCs and laptops should remain in-house and equipped with the latest security software. When employees are given the freedom to work from their own devices, you cannot control what they choose to browse in search engines or where they wish to work. This can put devices at risk of being lost, stolen or subject to hacking scandals. As a result, your business data has a significantly higher possibility of being accessed externally. If your business is legally contracted to keep client data secure, but is later discovered to have been breached, you could be facing a heavy lawsuit which will cost millions in a compensation payout.
Unfortunately, it’s impossible to control what other people are saying about your brand and this can lead to a damaged business reputation. It can be difficult to know how to manage the situation when the user in question refuses to take down their content. FraudWatch International cyber attack solutions offer a brand protection service which evaluates brand violation issues that are spotted by your team. This expert service has the ability to remove content from the internet to prevent your business from facing huge financial losses, potentially annoyed customers, and ultimately, a damaged reputation due to online abuse and fraud.
Many businesses make the mistake of not having their data backed up, which can go on to cause huge disruptions when devices fail after falling victim to a hacking scandal. It’s not always the case that hackers want to steal your data. Most of the time, it’s simply to cause inconvenience by having the power to remove your files and prevent you from retrieving them.
These days, backing up your data isn’t expensive or complicated and such a simple security measure could be a lucky escape from major financial losses. Where possible, print off important documents that can be photocopied and stored and don’t forget to upload the most important files onto The Cloud in the event of data loss.
As software is constantly adapting to stay one step ahead of the newest cybercrime schemes, hackers are always on the lookout to find new ways to access your system. You should never underestimate the importance of keeping up to the date with news of how best to protect your business data.
One of the most recent findings discovered is that there were vulnerabilities in Google Chrome which required users to upgrade the app to avoid being exposed to security hacks. Without reading regular news bulletins, users would never have known that the world’s most used search engine could be putting their data at risk. It only takes one small glitch in the system to make you vulnerable to cyber threats, which is why you should always take the time to carry out this vital research.