4 Ways Hackers Can Attack Your Business

Cyber crimes are continually on the rise, with hackers finding new ways to thwart security systems. There are many ways these nefarious characters will try to attack a business, but these four methods are some of the most common.

1. Weak passwords – If your employees have weak passwords, it’s easy for hackers to gain access to your systems. Similarly, if they reuse passwords for multiple logins, a breach in one means a breach in all of them. To fix this, it’s key to educate your employees on the importance of strong and unique passwords. Require long and complex passwords, and that they be changed at least every 90 days.

2. Social engineering – Having a strong password doesn’t help if you give away your information on social media. Hackers are good at manipulating people into performing actions or divulging confidential information by using details found on their social media or online. Carefully consider what you post to be sure you’re not giving away information hackers could use.

3. Malware and Phishing – Hackers often gain access to a business simply by sending a link or infected file to an unsuspecting employee who opens it – and the door to your network. These malware attacks can be difficult to spot, but cause a lot of damage. Always keep your system up to date on security patches, and scan all incoming files and websites with anti-virus and malware protection software. It’s also important to educate employees on how to spot phishing emails and to not click on links, even from trusted senders.

4. Ransomware – Hackers are more frequently using ransomware to gain access to files and confidential data. They will lock you out of your server and files and demand a ransom from you to get your data back. They may even post sensitive or embarrassing content to force you to pay. However, even if you pay you may not get your data back. Regularly backup up your data so you’ll be able to recover should an attack occur.

With hackers becoming more sophisticated, every business is ultimately at risk of a breach. If you’d like to learn more about how to keep your data safe, give one of our experts a call. We can help!