Did you know there’s a hacker attack every 39 seconds?
At this rate, how long before the bad guys get to your small business? Like most small business owners, you don’t take cybersecurity threats seriously. You probably think your business is too small to attract the attention of hackers.
But tell you what? An alarming 43 percent of online attacks target small businesses. If your business hasn’t been hit yet, an attack is coming – unless you take proactive steps to protect it from online threats.
Continue reading for an overview of some of the most common threats and what you can do to prevent or neutralize them.
Phishing Attacks
While email is a super useful tool, it is unfortunately also the easiest way for hackers to penetrate your small business. 90 percent of cyberattacks involve phishing.
Here’s an illustration of how it works:
You check into your office on a Monday. First thing on your to-do list? Catching up on email and responding to the urgent ones. One of the emails you see is supposedly from your accounts department, asking you to authorize a payment to a vendor who made a delivery last week.
You don’t think twice about it. Because many people skim and scan stuff before reading, one look at the email address and you can tell its from your accounts department – only that’s it’s not, just super similar. Hackers disguise phishing emails so they look very similar to what the target is used to.
If you don’t verify the message from your accounts people, you’ll easily make the payment – to a scammer.
Preventing a phishing attack is easy. Read your emails carefully. Always verify the information in an email. And, importantly, use software that scans email and picks out potentially fraudulent ones.
Malicious Software/Applications
Hackers develop malicious software, such as viruses, trojans, and malware, and distribute them to their targets. They hope that the target will install the virus thinking it’s legit software. Some advanced viruses can even self-install silently, just as long as they have reached the target advice.
Most malware is downloaded from the web, often embedded in legitimate software. Others are sent via emails or shared as downloadable links on social media.
Installing malicious software can do your small business extensive harm. It can help the attackers gain remote access to your systems and lock you out. Sometimes the software works in the background undetected, collecting and sending important data to hackers.
Be extra cautious when downloading and installing software. Ensure it’s from a legitimate source. Most computers with antivirus programs will warn you when you’re trying to install software from unknown sources.
DDoS Attacks
When hackers launch a Distributed Denial of Service Attack against your business, it means battle lines have been drawn. They will flood your network (computers and servers), fully utilizing its bandwidth and rendering it unusable.
The main goal here is to disrupt your operations. Your systems and websites will not be accessible
To prevent DDoS attacks, install a strong firewall. However, these can be breached.
What you need to do to give yourself a fighting chance when hackers draw the battle line is to hire a company that provides cyber security services. These pros have what it takes to take the battle to the hackers and win.
Prevent Your Business From These Online Threats
Phishing attacks, malicious software, and DDoS attacks are the most common online threats facing businesses. With this guide, you now know the steps you can take to protect your small business.
Keep reading our blog for more cybersecurity tips and insights.
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