In recent years, large businesses have made headlines when they underwent a cybersecurity breach. Stores like Target lost millions of dollars from a cybersecurity breach and trust from their customers. Small businesses are prone to cybersecurity breaches as well. Some experts say that small businesses are more likely to be hit with a cybersecurity breach than larger corporations. This article will talk about common cybersecurity breaches that happen as well as actions to take to prevent them from happening.
Malware
One of the most common forms of cyber attacks is Malware. Malware encompasses all malicious software that targets computers in order to gain access to private information. Types of malware include ransomware, worms, viruses, and spyware among others.
Ransomware
Ransomware is a type of malware that attacks your systems and demands payment to unlock your sensitive information. Ransomware attacks threaten to expose or withhold private information unless a payment is made. Ransomware has become one of the fastest growing forms of cyber attacks.
DDoS
A DDoS attack or, Distributed Denial of Service attack is another common cyber attack that happens with businesses. A DDoS attack is aimed at shutting down an online source by overloading it with requests from multiple sources. Shutting down a website or service could severely impact a business and their transactions with their customers among other things.
Solutions
There are plenty of precautions you can take to ensure that your sensitive information is not compromised or that if it is, you can retrieve it without having to give in to the whims of the cyber attacker. Set up a Firewall for all of your computers you have with your business. A Firewall adds protection to your computer and stops unauthorized users from gaining access to the computers information. Modern computers usually come with a form of Firewall so it is important to consistently update it for the best protection.
Skilled hackers may be able to get passed your protective software and access your sensitive information. In this case, it is important to have all of your information backed up in another secure location. That way you can retrieve all the necessary information without having to deal with the attacker. You may also want to think about updating and adding to your arsenal of protective software afterward.
Educate your employees about common cyber attacks. Formulate a list of common cyber attacks and tactics and teach your employees how to identify a fraudulent website or email they may receive. Reduce the amount of exposure to potential cybersecurity attacks by learning the ways hackers get access to information.