Spookier than ghosts and scarier than goblins, phishing scams and spam are the most common type of internet crime according to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center. In the same report the FBI found $3.5 billion in total losses in 2019 and $2.7 billion in 2018. October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month (NCSAM), and this year’s theme is “Do your part. #BeCyberSmart”. The campaign empowers everyone to take responsibility for their role in keeping themselves and others safe.
A leading voice in dark web monitoring, ID Agent, reported just this week that, “…Ransomware attacks have grown by an eye-popping 715% year-on-year and are surging in every sector. This comes on the heels of a more than 660% increase in phishing email in 2020, the most common delivery system for ransomware.” This comes as no surprise as the Coronavirus pandemic increased vulnerabilities across the board. Companies around the world quickly shifted their operations to a remote work setup, unaware of the lack of security their home work spaces offer. Plus, cybercriminals are notorious for exploiting fear for personal gain. More people were susceptible of clicking a malicious internet link or opening an email attachment that preyed upon their fear of the virus. Phishing scams and spam are used to obtain private information or data by acting like a trustworthy source. There are steps that you can take to protect yourself and your company’s data.
At Resource Computer Solutions, we recommend the following to ensure you and your company are taking proactive steps towards protecting data:
- Antivirus software;
- Regular updates/backups;
- Employee training.
The cost of an attack is steadily increasing every year, and phishing tactics are constantly evolving to remain undetected by antivirus software and employees who are not properly trained to spot an attack. Email is the primary platform used to cleverly imitate trusted internal colleagues, company executives, or HR. Social media and SMS (short message service) are becoming more unsafe as they gain popularity. All it takes is a single click to compromise personal/company data. Implement the proper tools and practices to avoid falling for the clever trappings of cybercriminals.
Antivirus software
A complete security plan begins with a reliable antivirus software at the forefront. Maintain a safe and secure network with security tools and a comprehensive plan that includes antivirus software. SophosHome is an excellent resource for your personal devices. If you are looking for advanced protection for your business contact Resource Computer Solutions to learn more.
Back-ups and updates
Cybercriminals are working to exploit vulnerabilities on platforms that are being used more regularly. Backing-up your data to a separate server ensures that even if an attack, major outage, or even accidental deletion occurs your data is safe.
Just as important as regular back-ups are regular updates. Take the time to install the latest Windows updates and any updates for the programs that you have installed, which will patch discovered vulnerabilities to avoid a sneaky cyberattack.
Employee training
Your employees have a bigger role than they may realize when it comes to thwarting cybersecurity attacks, which is why investing in cybersecurity training is a necessary component of keeping your company’s data safe and secure. According to a survey conducted by Kaspersky approximately 90% of corporate data breaches are due to human error.
Today’s advanced landscape of technology requires additional training for every employee that goes further than their initial on-boarding. Instill confidence in your team with cybersecurity employee training every 6 months that includes:
- Malware/ransomware
- Data security
- Passwords
- Email security
- Phishing scams/spam
- BYOD policies
The greatest defense against a cyberattack is an educated person. Learn about cybersecurity best practices and how they are evolving so that it becomes second nature to perform a quick “Cyber Smart” scan that will save your business time and money.
The challenge with phishing scams and spam is that they are eerily convincing and are becoming increasingly personalized for their potential victim. Despite advanced antivirus software, neglecting to perform updates and regular backups will assuredly cost you greatly in the long-run. Plus, protection software can only stop most attack attempts. The remaining responsibility is on your employees who require training to spot and report phishing scams. #BeCyberSmart and proactively stop an attack before it happens. To learn more about how you can keep your data secure Contact us, or check us out on Twitter @RCS_Tweets to get all the latest cybersecurity news.