Technology is like a fire. It gave more creativity to businesses. Yet, it also brought information security threats. Organizations store almost all of our data online. Hence, everyone must do their best to protect information.
Many small and medium enterprises (SMEs) think that hackers won’t steal their data. They think that because they possess fewer data compared to huge companies, hackers will ignore them. That is a huge myth. Hackers attack everyone regardless of their size. As long as you have data, you’re a target to cybercriminals.
Moreover, cybercriminals develop new ways to steal or damage data. Hence, their methods evolve and become more complex.
All enterprises must do everything in their ability to protect the information they hold. Otherwise, it may cause disastrous financial and reputational damages. Fighting information security threats is not easy. That is if you don’t have enough knowledge. The first step in fighting information security threats is to understand them. In this article, let’s check out some of those.
Insider threats
Several breaches don’t come from the outside. Instead, it comes from the inside. Insider threats are not uncommon. This problem happens when an employee or someone associated with the organization intentionally or unintentionally mishandle data. Thus, this puts the organization’s data or systems at risk.
Sufficient training is a great way to prevent data breaches. Businesses must train everyone associated with them in the proper handling of data. This includes employees, contractors, and third-party vendors.
Furthermore, give employees access to the information only essential for their tasks. Set-up temporary accounts for freelancers and contractors. Having two-factor authentication greatly lowers the risk.
Ransomware
Hackers use this method to lock a computer. Afterward, they demand a ransom from the victim before releasing the data. Malicious email attachments and compromised websites spread ransomware. Infected apps and external storage devices also spread ransomware.
Regularly back up your computing devices. Moreover, install reputable antivirus software and regularly update it. Avoid clicking on links and opening email attachments from unknown sources. Businesses must do everything on their ability to avoid paying the ransom.
Drive-by download attacks
This type of attack only requires the user to browse a website. The user does not have to click on anything. Just accessing a website activates the download of a malicious code. Hackers use this method to put viruses and stealing sensitive info.
To prevent this, regularly update and patch your systems. Moreover, you should always have the latest versions of software and operating systems. Warn your users to stay away from insecure websites. Additionally, install security software that scans websites.
Phishing
Phishing is an old method. Yet, hackers continue to use this as it gives them a high attack success rate. That’s why this is one of the most common information security threats. Hackers lure the victim into giving up sensitive information. These include:
- Financial details
- Demographics such as addresses and phone numbers
- Social security number
Those fake emails encourage victims to click on links attached to the email. Afterward, the website where the link takes them prompts victims to give personal information. Moreover, some of these websites ask users to install malware on their devices.
To prevent this, businesses must train their employees not to download attachments. Furthermore, users must not click on links in emails from unknown senders. Additionally, avoid downloading free software from untrusted websites.
