accidental threats to cybersecurity

Whether it is email spam, losing data, or the remote server not working correctly, technology results in a lot of lost time, energy, and even business. There are three main types of threats: 1. Canada Post, the postal operator in Canada, recently discovered some of their users’ account information, , implement  2-Factor Authentication for account logins.  This requires an email or phone verification along with the standard username and password.Â. Intentional. 5 Remote Work Security Threats (And How To Protect Your Business From Them), VoIP Services – What It Is & 10 Reasons Your Business Needs It, Managed IT Services: Reduce Stress, Increase Productivity, & Choose The Right Provider. In the business world, the words 'stress' and 'technology' sadly go together a lot. We have expertise in line of business applications such as Citrix, Quickbooks, Peachtree, MS Office, Adobe, Office 365 and many others. This is not a new threat, nor is it a new tactic used by hackers to gain access to … Are you ready to be more confident about your company’s cybersecurity entering 2021? Â. To help your business be prepared and secure for the coming year, has identified 7 of the top cybersecurity threats for 2021 and what your team can do to prevent them. Â, 7 Top cybersecurity threats in 2021 & Their Solutions, “the protection of computer systems from the theft of or damage to their hardware, software, or electronic data, as well as from the disruption or misdirection of the services they provide.”. In 1989, Joseph Popp created one of the first malicious computer attacks.  He made a malware program called the “AIDS Trojan.” Â, Initially passed by a floppy disk, the program was poorly designed and did not disable the computer.  The main thing it did was scramble the names of the files. Â. Thankfully, programmers combated the virus quickly with the proper computer software. Cybersecurity is a bit of a buzzword, and people have different definitions in mind when discussing it. Obviously, the players were upset with their information being displayed.  It was especially upsetting because it didn’t appear EA Games was hacked.  The issue was an accidental sharing issue inside EA Games, not the result of a cyberattack. Credential Stuffing. When nearly half of all security incidents are either perpetrated or enabled by insiders, analysing both the good and bad behaviour is key to early detection and timeous response to Cyber threats. Insider threats are growing and the impact from often over-looked insider threats can threaten organizations. First, make sure you keep all your computer software and hardware updated.  Outdated software, drivers, and other plugins are common security vulnerabilities.  If you have an IT service provider, check with them to make sure this is happening on your servers. In today’s world, cybersecurity is a part of life. Believe it or not, one of the first cyberattacks was more of a game than an attack! For the health sector, cyberattacks are especially concerning because these attacks can directly threaten not just the security of our systems and information but also the health and safety of American patients. , if you have a private server, keep the physical hardware in a secure and locked room.  This helps prevent theft if your building is robbed, and it keeps unauthorized personnel from accessing it with a portable hard drive. Another common tactic is creating a fake social media account resembling a friend or family member.  The hacker then asks for money or data through messaging, and it appears it is your family member or friend asking for a favor. Sadly, this happened in 2019 to the Carle Foundation Hospital. In a world where the internet connects everything, cybersecurity has never been more critical. When it comes to healthcare, having proper security and a reliable IT service is critical. External cyber attackers usually need to fingerprint your network, research information about your orga… When players registered for the event, they, on a form on EA Games’ website.  However, when new players went online to register, the registration form was pre-filled with personal information of players who had already signed up for the competition. Â. , limit the number of employees who have access to data.  The more people who have access to information, the higher the chance for human error in sharing the data. We offer support for a variety of industries including Healthcare IT services, Legal IT support, Oil & Gas IT, Manufacturing IT services, and Construction IT support. Sadly, Pitney Bowes Inc. experienced this first hand. Â. Pitney Bowes Inc. helps small businesses with e-commerce, shipping logistics, and mailing services. , make sure you have updated and secure virus protection on your computers and network.  If someone happens to open up a PDF scam, having security in place goes a long way in protecting your business and alerting your IT department. Specifically, the term refers to scenarios where anyone connected to the inner workings of an organization has authorized access to internal systems and networks, and misuses that access to willingly or unwillingly reveal, modify, or remove sensitive data. A message from “your bank” asking you to enter your social security number. Like other social engineering attacks, having training and guidelines in place is a crucial first step.Â. First, limit the number of employees who have access to data.  The more people who have access to information, the higher the chance for human error in sharing the data. Unlike many email scams, PDF scams often don’t ask you to open a link to give information. Â. PDF scammers know people are wary of an email asking them to click a link.  However, people are more likely to open a PDF if they think it is a statement balance or press release. One of the most common tactics is to have someone think they are helping someone in need.  For example, an attacker may pose as a fellow employee or a family member asking for access to a document, bank account, or sensitive data. Although not based on social interactions, Straight Edge Technology still views these attacks as highly prevalent in 2021, especially in small businesses. Â. As a small business owner or employee, you know how important your security and data are.  Even if you have a dedicated IT service provider, it is still good to know the technology threats your business faces. We would love to talk with you, discuss your company’s goals, and plan how your IT can work for you in growing your business! Second, use different passwords for every account and program your employee’s access.  If one account is hacked, the hacker will not have access to more accounts with the same password. The extensive use of electronic communication, including email, text messaging, instant messaging, and social media accounts. What should your company do to protect itself from SMS-based phishing? , use different passwords for every account and program your employee’s access.  If one account is hacked, the hacker will not have access to more accounts with the same password. While having IT services and updated software and hardware is important, it is still critical to understand that today’s hackers target human behavior through social engineering hacks. Enabling factors that contribute to a high level of risk of incidents due to accidental insider threats include: Absence of organizational security leadership or prioritization Insufficient employee training or awareness Lack of sufficient privilege controls Hackers are always trying to access healthcare records because EMR systems (Electronic Medical Records) hold a gold mine of information. Krebs quotes Ray Watson, a cybersecurity researcher at cloud security firm Masergy, “The attacker was a former employee of the web hosting company involved, which is what is often referred to as insider threats,” Watson said. If your business is looking for IT services in San Antonio, TX, Corpus Christi, or the surrounding cities in Texas, then contact our team at Straight Edge Technology today. Â. Posted on October 26th, 2020 in Cybersecurity The risk of a cyber attack is always a security threat for every individual, business, or organization. Insider threat stats show that 85% of organizations say that they find it difficult to determine the … Because most companies use servers to host customer information, Straight Edge Technology sees database exposure being a big concern in 2021.  Most company databases include customer contact information, financial records, or identity records such as Social Security numbers. Since the first computers started storing data, thieves have been trying to steal it!  And while this was more difficult before the internet, it did occur. Hackers know every business keeps its data on servers connected to the internet.  All they need is one crack in your security, and they can perform the attack. We may “Reply All” accidentally instead of sharing the response with one single person. Second, watch for unusual and generic headings.  Instead of using your name, PDF scams often use generic terms like “Sir” or “Madam.”. Insider threats are security risks. And because humans are prone to error, social engineering is the biggest security risk today. Straight Edge Technology highly recommends you partner with an IT service provider if you are a small business.  Even if you have your own IT department, it is good to receive coaching and another set of eyes on your company’s security. , watch for unusual and generic headings.  Instead of using your name, PDF scams often use generic terms like “Sir” or “Madam.”. However, the entire firm may have access to certain sensitive information through accidental sharing. And third, if you think the message is legitimate, call the business directly or go to your online account to give the information.  This ensures no valuable data falls into the wrong hands. Office employees receive hundreds of emails and electronic messages every day.  Towards the end of the workday, as minds become tired, humans are susceptible to making bad decisions when tired, and their minds feel overworked. Because in today’s world, cybersecurity is usually associated with internet and software attacks and not physical computer hardware. To show people how vulnerable the current security was, that significantly slowed down the internet. Â, to steal, encrypt, or delete data, alter or hijack core computer functions, or track a computer user’s activity without their knowledge.  Â. involves a hacker locking the victim’s computer or files and holding this information for ransom.  It typically requires the victim to produce a payment before the hijacked files and system are unlocked. What can be done to protect from phishing? According to Norton Security, nearly 60 million Americans have been affected by identity theft.  In 2023, it is estimated cybercriminals will be stealing 33 billion records per year. Â, These cyberattacks target everyone, but trends show small businesses are one of the most common targets. Video and event recordings offer valuable data to monitor sensitive locations. Governments are also recognizing the investment they need to make to protect their servers and classified data. Many email programs, such as Google or Microsoft Outlook, are smart enough to detect phishing emails and label them as spam.  This means the average email user doesn’t even notice most phishing attacks. ), which means that every month they had to manage consequences like business disruptions, heavy … , train your employees to watch for generic or unusual email addresses.  For example, if someone gets bank statements through email, ensure the sender’s email address is from the bank and not a generic address. on ignorance, lack of education, and awareness, or the commonly referred to accidental or unintentional insider threat. Money exchange framework: Cybersecurity threats attack the money exchange framework through unauthorized transactions and illegal networks. What should your company do to protect itself from phishing? And third, install anti-phishing toolbars on internet browsers.  These toolbars alert you to sites containing phishing information. In 1971, Bob Thomas developed a computer program able to travel between connected computers. First, if you have a private server, keep the physical hardware in a secure and locked room.  This helps prevent theft if your building is robbed, and it keeps unauthorized personnel from accessing it with a portable hard drive. Surveillance cameras and continuous monitoring ensure that there are no intruders on the premises who can physically harm data and infrastructure. What makes phishing so prevalent in today’s world? Â. Because staff don’t follow security policies and procedures, causing data leakage or inadvertently helping cyber criminals’ get into the company system. First, watch for unusual emails and instant messages.  They may start with unusual wording such as “Dear Customer” instead of using your name, have bad grammar, or have a generic signature. The following are the top 7 cybersecurity threats Straight Edge Technology sees for small and mid-sized businesses in 2021. Â. Third, keep access to the server limited.  Each person with a login to the server is a potential leak, so the fewer logins, the better. You need to be on the lookout for an increasing number of accidental breaches by employees storing confidential data on unsecure cloud storage. 7 Ways You Can Prevent Accidental Insider Threats – ActivTrak October is national cybersecurity month and when you think of a cybersecurity threat, you may think of a movie where the villain (or hero) intentionally breaks into a company’s network to steal sensitive documents or information. Over the past decade, the prevalence of remote work has spiked. About the Author: Brandy Cross is a freelance writer specializing in technology and marketing solutions for SMBs, with experience writing for everyone from startups to Fortune 500s. We’ve all seen it happen, and maybe it’s happened to you:  The dreaded “Reply All” to an email when you only meant to reply to one or two people. Â. When players registered for the event, they entered their sign-up information on a form on EA Games’ website.  However, when new players went online to register, the registration form was pre-filled with personal information of players who had already signed up for the competition. Â. The Risk Management section includes resources that describe the importance of managing risk and common security risk and mitigations … Whether Morris expected this kind of damage or not, his point was made - even before the internet was widely available, cyberattacks were both real and dangerous. come from employees unknowingly engaging with a social engineering attack! They belong in your facilities and they often have user accounts in your networks. In this white book, we restrict our attention to security. Cyber Security Threat or Risk No. We groom talented players with the right technical, tactical and mental skills to enable them to compete as professional players at the highest level in football anywhere. And third, removing old software, sometimes referred to as Legacy Apps, reduces risk.  For example, if your computer has Windows 10, but you run programs designed for Windows 7, these are considered Legacy Apps and may be a security risk.  Your software company should be able to give you an updated program designed for Windows 10. Security and safety remain quite different and well-identified domains that build on different hypotheses, and the protection mechanisms against accidental and intentional threats are usually complementary. In each section, we also include several practical guidelines your company can implement to reduce your risk and exposure to these attacks. *Feel free to read through the whole article, or simply click a section in the Table of Contents to go directly to that topic*. © 2018- Strikers FC Academy . As the name indicates, ransomware involves a hacker locking the victim’s computer or files and holding this information for ransom.  It typically requires the victim to produce a payment before the hijacked files and system are unlocked. Phishing is a form of a social engineering attack, and it has become one of today’s most common and malevolent cybersecurity attacks. Accidental Insider Top Threat to Federal Cybersecurity, SolarWinds Finds January 26, 2015 Homeland Security Today Although federal agencies identify careless or untrained insiders as the top threat to federal cybersecurity, agencies continue to devote the most concern and resources to malicious external threat sources, according to IT software management company SolarWinds . As a result, personal information, including phone numbers, email addresses, driver licenses, and salary expectations, were made public.Â. Malware is one of the broadest terms when it comes to cyberattacks.  It is any malicious form of software designed to harm a computer system.Â, When malware enters a computer, it performs a malicious function such as stealing, deleting, or encrypting data, monitoring a computer users’ activity or hijacks core computing functions.Â. One of the significant issues with database exposure is the fuel it becomes for social engineering attacks. Generic language such as “Sir” or “Madam”, Incorrect grammar, language, or punctuation, Unusual requests for sensitive information, 7 top cybersecurity threats in 2021 [& how to protect your business]. Because it relies on human interaction, social engineering attacks usually play on a person’s emotions. Â. The Risks & Threats section includes resources that includes threats and risks like ransomware, spyware, phishing and website security. Other organizations asking you to click a link or give information. Learn more about how to protect your business on our education page . With virtually everything connected online, cybersecurity has never been more critical. While investigating the incident, it became clear Canada Post was not to blame. Â. What should your company do to protect itself from malware and ransomware? , implement user activity monitoring software.  This allows you to track and discover if your data is in danger.  It also provides solutions to prevent accidental sharing. Thankfully, there are many companies actively developing better cybersecurity programs.  Microsoft, Apple, and Google are constantly updating the software used on computers, servers, tablets, phones, and other devices. Welcome , we offer all our clients an individual approach and professional service Instead, the creator wanted to raise awareness. While this definition is a mouthful, it highlights two aspects of cybersecurity not often considered. refers to accidental threats, security refers to intentional threats. In its most basic form, phishing occurs when a hacker uses a false identity to trick someone into providing sensitive information, downloading malware, or visiting a site containing malware. When it comes to running a law firm and working with legal services, having secure and reliable IT services is critical.