In a December 2014 survey by the National Small Business Association, 61% of small businesses reported being victims of cybercrime within the past 12 months. The average cost to recover from a cyber-attack skyrocketed from $8,699 per attack in 2013 to $20,752 per attack in 2014. And 68% of the businesses targeted, said they’d been hacked more than once.
Experts agree, as cybercrooks become ever more sophisticated, the threat to small businesses is going to get worse before it gets better… So what can you do to beat the bad guys? Here are three common ploys used by hackers – and how you can fend them off:
Phishing – You click a link in a legitimate-looking e-mail that triggers malware installation on your computer. This is the #1 highest cybercrime vulnerability for businesses. Best Defense: Educate employees in your company on how to recognize phishing e-mail. If they don’t know how to spot infected e-mails or online scams, they could compromise your entire network.
Cracking Your Password – Hackers can run programs 24/7 testing password combinations. The easier your password is to guess, the more likely it is they'll crack it. Best Defense: Use strong passwords and consider using a password manager that generates and stores tough-to-crack passwords. For extra security, use unique passphrases for financial accounts in case the manager gets hacked.
Drive-By Download – You visit what appears to be an innocent site; yet when you click, your device gets hacked – and you may never know it, until it’s too late. Best Defense: Make sure your browser is up-to-date, along with any browser plug-ins like Adobe Flash, Java, Silverlight, etc.
Unfortunately, these three examples are just a small sampling of the dozens of ever more ingenious ways cybercriminals are breaking down the doors and destroying unprepared businesses.
Let us help! Through September 30, call our office and receive a FREE 15-Point Cyber-Security Audit to uncover gaps in your company’s online security.
Our highly trained team of IT pros will come to your office and conduct this comprehensive audit. We’ll then prepare a customized “Report Of Findings” that reveals specific vulnerabilities and a Prioritized Plan Of Attack for getting any problems addressed fast.
To take advantage of this limited-time offer, just call our office at 678-822-5815 to schedule your audit today.