6 Mistakes That Make You an Easy Target for Data Thieves
To err is human, but avoiding cybersecurity threats can be detrimental to your business. More than 60% of businesses worldwide suffer from cyberattacks within a bracket of 6 months. And relying on defective or insufficient methods of security exposes businesses to even more risk.
Hackers are continuing to adopt sophisticated methods to exploit the weakness of businesses and individuals, breaching data security and causing extensive damage to data and systems.
So, how can you stop making yourself an easy target for hackers? Let’s talk about it.
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6 Cybersecurity Mistakes That Are Exposing You to Data Thieves
Here are a few common cybersecurity mistakes to look out for:
Mistake #1: We Are Too Small for Cyberthreats
Statistics reveal that 46% of cyber-attacks are targeted at small businesses. Small businesses are an easy target for hackers because they have minimum to no security, leaving their financial records and customer data unsafe. Malicious emails and phishing attacks target employees to hijack financial information and access sensitive data. Implementing cyber protection systems is the first step to protecting against data breaches.
Mistake #2: Trusting an Email From a “Known” Sender
Numerous malware and identity theft cases have been reported in the U.S. due to the assumption that attachments from known senders are safe. Underestimating cyber attacks and data breaches expose companies and individuals to email scams worth millions of dollars.
It is common for hackers to disguise themselves as a trusted sender to breach your system. These attacks are known as phishing attacks. In a phishing attack, you receive an email from a known contact directing you to a fake link. As you re-enter your personal information, the hackers learn and breach your account.
Mistake #3: Using an Unsecure Wi-Fi Network
It is common to find Wi-Fi networks in public spaces to be unsecure. People ignore the word “unsecure” when connecting to the Wi-Fi, thinking what could possibly go wrong. And that’s how hackers discover your login information and gain access to your personal data.
Hackers often design look-alike Wi-Fi networks that seem legitimate but cause a massive data breach as soon as you connect to them. Safer alternatives to unsecured Wi-Fi networks are hotspots and cellular connections.
__Mistake #4: Not Updating Software __
A common cybersecurity mistake people make is ignoring software updates. Technology is evolving and advancing rapidly, so not keeping up with the pace can expose you to outdated security systems.
Software updates often include enhanced protection against new methods of cyberattacks and online threats. So, keeping your system up-to-date is essential to ensure you are protected from possible new forms of attacks.
__Mistake #5: Ignoring Internal Threats __
Cybersecurity does not mean protecting your company and private information from outside threats but also preventing your business from internal abuse. It is estimated that nearly 50% of data breaches are caused by employee negligence. So, training human resources to identify and address threats, practice effective security methods, and implement password security and social media policies can go a long way towards securing your business.
__Mistake #6: Weak Passwords __
The importance of passwords is often ignored. Passwords must be strong with variations and should be regularly updated to prevent them from being compromised.
So, rather than keeping a password like “123,” “password,” or “rainbow,” use asterisks, underscores, numbers, and symbols to make your password stronger.
