Cybersecurity is a bigger concern than ever before, both for corporations and individuals. Hackers have a wide variety of tools at their disposal to help them access private data that belongs to your company or clients. It’s important to be aware of the major areas of susceptibility in order to safeguard the vital information that exists in your company’s network and it’s important to make sure your employees are aware as well. Here are breach points you and your employees should watch out for:
One of the easiest ways an identity thief can break into your system is through an email attachment. What is so insidious about email cyberattacks is that an email virus can read the infected person’s address book and send the virus to everyone on it, spoofing the victim’s address so the virus will look like it comes from a trusted sender. It’s important not to download unsolicited attachments — even if they look like they come from a trusted sender. You also want to make sure your system does not automatically download attachments. Finally, make sure you update your virus protections and definitions on a regular basis.
Ransomware
Ransomware is a type of malware that can take over your system. It encrypts your files and you must pay a “ransom” to decrypt them and get your information back. Ransomware is commonly used in a targeted business environment, usually during work hours where they can do the most damage.
Social Engineering/Phishing
Social engineering attacks are the most basic type of hack. They involve the hacker disguising him or herself as an innocuous or trustworthy source and requesting passwords or other information in order to gain access to a protected system. In a phishing scam, the hacker may pose as an entity that you have an account with, such as your bank, credit card company, or even your boss in order to solicit your account credentials or credit card information. You should never provide passwords or sensitive personal data unless you have verified the source requesting it, and never over e-mail. If you think you’re dealing with a trusted source, disconnect and reconnect with them through a channel you trust.
Protecting Yourself From Cyberattacks
In addition to being savvy about who you provide information to and making sure all of your anti-malware software is up to date, it’s important to have a reliable identity access management system in place so only approved personnel can have access to your network. To learn about high-quality access management systems, contact Optimal IdM today or download our Security Awareness Training resources on our security compliance page for more information.
