Hackers target small businesses too!
Here is a quick tidbit of information to think about. Hackers are not just targeting large corporations for cyberattacks! That statement is not meant to feed the FUD (fear, uncertainty, and doubt) monster. It is to give you information that if you are an employee of a small or medium-sized organization, you may be even more at risk of being targeted for cyberattacks.
These days cybercriminals target smaller organizations because they assume that these organizations have fewer defenses in place to prevent cyberattacks. According to the National Cyber Security Alliance, one in five small organizations falls victim to cybercrime each year, and 60 percent of these small organizations go out of business within six months of the attack.
This is most likely due to smaller organizations not keeping a full time Security / IT staff there to protect their interests. Worse yet, many businesses wait until after something happens to try to protect their organization. This is a faulty way to think, I encourage you to take a moment and think about how much you have invested in your company’s security… It may have only been a little or possibly none, which could be just for the past year, but a lot can happen in a year. I recommend taking a moment and ensuring that all your computers and equipment are up to date with all the fixes/patches that they have available to start your dive into your own security. Whether it be at home or at work you can become a victim of a cyber criminal but with just a little preparation you can stop 70% of the attacks that you could be vulnerable to.
Share these tips with your employer, with your friends, and with your family!
Never share your password with anyone. Additionally, use complex passwords, and use different passwords using a password manager.
Look for red flags in emails such as a sense of urgency or a request for sensitive information. Carefully check the domain of the sender’s email address and remember that any domain can be spoofed.
Do NOT click on links or open email attachments if you don’t know who sent them, why you received them, or what they contain.
Always remember, at the end of the day you are the last line of defense to prevent a cyberattack.
We hope you continue to protect yourself in the future and if you ever need some assistance or want to have a conversation remember Sparrowhawk Tech is here to keep your technology safe.
