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Cybersecurity risks

Keep Kids Safe Online

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Learn the technology.

As parents, your primary goal is to protect your children. and, in today’s digital world, that means understanding the technology they use. Kids are growing up in a connected world, often with access to the internet, apps, and social media from a young age. Without proper guidance, they can be exposed to online dangers like cyberbullying, inappropriate content, and privacy risks.

Learn the apps that they use.

Look them up on the app store. What is it? Why do they have it?

It’s crucial for you to stay informed about the technology your kids use. Many apps and platforms can easily deceive parents, with some vault apps even disguising themselves as harmless tools like calculators or camera apps. Without understanding the technology, you may not recognize the potential risks or hidden dangers lurking on your child’s device.

Know what your kids are doing.

Trust but verify! Randomly check your children’s devices. Know their passwords. If your child wants social media, and you have approved it, require that you know their passwords and that you are ‘connected’ and they are only to add people they know (i.e. family and actual friends). Communicate openly and often. Also remember that you can’t control everything! Sign a family safety contract and teach them what to do if they’re ever in an uncomfortable situation.

You can use the family safety contract here www.carlyryanfoundation.com/resources/online-safety-contract or create your own.

Preparing a device for your kids

  1. Setup Email address: You may not want to give your child email access, but an email account will be needed for steps below and it is recommended that you set up an account for them that is privacy based and that you have access to. recommended options are Proton.me or Tutanota.
  2. Setup a Password Manager: On-device password management is convenient, but usually doesn’t work well for accessing on other types of devices and for being accessed by yourself. Setting up a device agnostic password management application and sharing access with yourself is recommended. Recommended options are BitWarden, Dashlane, and 1Password.
  3. Set Up Family Management Tools: Begin by configuring parental control tools provided by major technology platforms. For Google devices, use Google Family Link; for Microsoft devices, use Microsoft Family Safety; and for Apple devices, use Apple Screen Time. These tools allow you to monitor and manage your child’s device usage, set screen time limits, and approve or block apps.
  4. Install Monitoring Apps: Enhance your oversight by installing additional monitoring applications. These apps can provide detailed reports on your child’s online activities, flag inappropriate content, and track location. recommended options include Bark, Qustodio, and Net Nanny.
  5. Set Up Filtering Services: Utilize filtering services to block inappropriate content and promote safe browsing. Many routers offer built-in parental controls (such as Circle with Disney) which allow content filtering at the network level. Furthermore, tools like NextDNS or OpenDNS Home can provide similar filtering features, both for your home network and individual devices, even when they are outside the home network.
  6. Restrict Administrative Access: Ensure your child does not have administrative access to their device. Create an administrative account for yourself and set up a separate, restricted child account for them. This limits their ability to install apps or change security settings. For guidance, refer to the manufacturer’s instructions: Google, Microsoft, Apple.
  7. Do Regular and Sporadic Checks: Do not rely solely on these tools to supervise your child’s online activities. Regularly and sporadically check their devices to ensure compliance with your rules. This includes reviewing browsing history, installed apps, and social media interactions. Maintaining an open dialogue with your child about their online experiences is crucial to building trust and encouraging responsible behavior.

 

Other Resources

Kid Hope

https://kidshopeusa.org/

Kids Hope USA mentoring program, students develop transformative relationships with an additional caring and consistent adult, empowering them to thrive.

Take it Down

https://takeitdown.ncmec.org/

If you need help with taking down inappropriate media of your kids.

Assistance with preventing child online exploitation

Carly Ryan Foundation

Catfishcops.com

Thorn.org

 

List of Apps and Tools

https://www.netnanny.com/

https://nextdns.io/

https://signup.opendns.com/homefree/

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What Is IT Compliance?

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The term IT compliance is frequently heard these days in relation to running an organization and making sure that they keep within the regulations of a third party or a specific client. It is essentially a process that companies go through in order to keep within these predetermined guidelines or boundaries. The main goal of IT compliance is to satisfy the minimum requirements when it comes to security implementation and risk reduction.

IT Compliance versus IT Security

There is a blurry line between IT compliance and IT security, with many people confusing one for the other. While both aim to ensure the security of a company or organization in the digital environment, the level of commitment involved can be very different.

With IT security, the implementing body will go to great lengths to keep the assets of the organization as protected as can be. They will utilize the most cutting edge technology solutions to safeguard against any and all possible online threats known to man. In other words, IT security aims to follow best practices for the protection of the system or network.

IT compliance, on the other hand, simply aims to satisfy the minimum requirements of a third party, like the government or a contracting agent. Such third parties might have their own set of regulations that a company will have to fulfill in order to continue with operations. Such fulfillment of these regulations is what IT compliance is all about.

The Importance of IT Compliance in Cybersecurity

Although it does not necessarily guarantee that your company will be completely safe from online mishaps, IT compliance is a must. For starters, you won’t be able to continue operating if you fail to comply with even one small regulation.

Much more importantly, complying with IT rules and guidelines greatly reduces the risk that you face online. Of course, it is the third party that determines the standards of risk reduction. If you feel that the security procedures that they require are not enough to completely protect you online, you are free to implement even more advanced security measures that meet your needs.

In many cases, though, the simple act of IT compliance will already put you in a much safer place. In your own company, you can create your own compliance program that will effectively manage online risks and avert online attacks that could potentially lead to a dangerous data breach.

How a Managed Services Provider Can Help

Many companies, particularly those that are not directly operating in the IT industry, are not well-versed when it comes to IT compliance and such matters. In this case, the best move would be to partner with a reliable managed services provider that can take care of all the hard work and technical stuff for you.

We will guarantee that you comply with all the IT requirements that apply to your industry, region, or whatnot. We can also design and implement your own IT compliance program to further protect you from online dangers. Furthermore, we will train your employees on the best practices for ensuring IT compliance and protecting your network and data.

If, however, you feel that you have already been hacked, we have provided a free Ebook on what you should do to quickly remediate and be on the fastest road to recovery.

Many companies tend to be lax when it comes to IT compliance, only to learn their lesson after becoming victim to a data breach, by which it would be too late. Don’t wait for this to happen to your organization. Give us a call, let us take care of your IT compliance requirements today and give you the best cybersecurity solutions so you can continue running your business in peace without having to worry about online threats.

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February Recap: Personal Identifiable Information (PII) in Data Security

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This month, we focused on a variety of topics regarding personal identifiable information (PII). Personal identification information (PII) includes name, address, phone number, and medical history. Hackers steal PII from unwary people and organizations in the digital age and its increasing. It’s not surprising that cybercriminals are focusing on PII because it gives them a simple way to access financial accounts, steal identities, and engage in other nefarious deeds.

You can never really underestimate these hackers and the havoc they can wreak. Just to give you an idea, take a look at some of our latest blogs about PII.

Breaches

Week 1: Top Data Breach Incidents in 2022

We recently listed the top 10 data breaches in 2022 in one of our blogs. Millions of innocent people have been impacted by these data breaches, which has unfortunately cost millions of dollars in losses.

Breach of Data to Steal Money

Attacks on cryptocurrency websites have resulted in the theft of $625 million from Ronin Crypto in the first quarter of the year and about $33 million from Crypto.com in January. Massive attacks have also hit Twitter and Microsoft, but fortunately, they detect them quickly.

Breach of Data to Steal Personal Identifiable Information (PII)

Other significant data breaches this year include the sale of stolen credit card information on the dark web, the theft of insurance and medical records from Medibank, an Australian healthcare and insurance company, and the theft of missing persons data from Red Cross.

How Data Breach Events Occur

The origins of these data breaches can be traced to the hacker obtaining access to someone’s personally identifiable information, which they then used to breach the company’s highly secure network, despite the fact that the objectives and methods of these data breaches vary.

identifiable Information

Week 2: Acquiring knowledge of personal identifiable information (PII)

Any information that can be used to clearly identify a specific person is known as personal identifiable information, or PII. The full name of a person, their social security number, and their biometrics are some examples of PII because these are common to us. In one of our recent blogs, we expand on PII.

Hackers aim to obtain these pieces of information by any means necessary because of the influence they hold. Once they possess this vital information, they will have no trouble breaking into secure areas of businesses, both online and off.

Information Security Using a Data Privacy Framework

It is abundantly clear how important personally identifiable information is. Keeping this information as secure as possible is crucial in light of this. Utilizing a solid data privacy framework is one of the best ways to guarantee this.

Although there are many already in existence that you can use, it is best to have your own framework that was especially for your business if you want the highest level of protection. With such a security solution, you can feel safer from intruders.

pii

Week 3: Keeping Your Personal Identifiable Information (PII) Data Safe

We discuss specific actions you can take to protect your personally identifiable information in a recent blog post titled 2022 – The Guide to Protecting Your PII. Regardless of your data privacy strategy, you should always take precautions to stay ahead of hackers. Some practical methods to safeguard your PII both online and offline are in our guide list. Read the entire blog post here.

Rebuilding your business security After a Hack

In order to protect your PII, you have taken great care and taken all the necessary steps. But even with all of this, some very cunning hackers might still be able to access your system. Here is a Free Ebook to help you quickly repair any harm that has been caused. Do you want to know more about PII and data security? Give us a call right away, and let’s talk!

Breaches

Top 10 Data Breaches Incidents for 2022

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Over time, there has been a significant improvement in cybersecurity tools and tactics. Data breaches are still one of the biggest hazards online, though. So you need to always be on guard, especially when working online. Even large international companies with the best security systems available can still be hacked.

Many sizable businesses have experienced data breaches this year, which have resulted in private information leaks, the loss of millions of dollars in revenue, and other losses. Here are the ten worst incidents that have occurred in 2022 to date.

Bitcoin Theft

In January, hackers were able to get around Crypto.com’s two-factor authentication and get their hands on about $18 million in Bitcoin and $15 million in Ethereum.

Breaches of Red Cross Data

In January, hackers accessed a Red Cross database related to their Restoring Family Links Program. Hackers took information on people and families divided by war and other factors, and even information about missing people. When the Red Cross quickly took its servers offline, the attacks stopped.

Crypto Theft by Ronin

Early in 2022, the game Axie Infinity gained enormous popularity. When they attempted to accommodate more players, security precautions were relaxed. This error was a bad idea because it gave hackers full access, and in the end, they stole $625 million worth of cryptocurrency.

Breach of Microsoft’s data

In March, a group of hackers called Lapsus$ broke through Microsoft’s top-level security, putting several other IT giants’ products at risk. Microsoft stopped the attack in two days and said the hackers did not get any client information.

Breaches of Cash App Data

In April, a former employee who had issues with the payment company Cash App began hacking into their system. The hacker stole records with the names, portfolio values, and brokerage account numbers of 8 million clients, so the attack affected all of them.

Breaches of Student Loan Data

In June, a data breach at the student loan servicer Nelnet Servicing exposed names, contact information, and social security numbers from more than 2.5 million accounts. Before they identified the breach, nearly a month had passed.

Twitter Data Breach in July 2022

A hacker stole data from over 5.4 million Twitter accounts and put it up for sale in a hacking forum. Sensitive data was taken, and the hacker wanted $30,000 for it.

Breaches of Medibank Data

An untrustworthy party stole 9.7 million records in October. The hacker eventually released the files online in separate batches when the corporation refused to accept his requests.

A Leak of Credit Card Information

The BidenCash carding marketplace offered information on over 1.2 million credit card accounts for free, making it possible for anybody to use them to make online transactions. These cards are still in use and will expire between 2023 and 2026.

Data Breach Shein

A hacker stole 39 million Shein customers’ credit card information and sold it on a hacker forum. Shein was fined $1.9 million for failing to notify the breach, even though the breach occurred in 2018, it wasn’t discovered until October of this year.

What to Do If You Believe Your Account Has Been Hacked

As you can see, each of these businesses is worth several million dollars, and they all fell victim to cyberattacks that led to data breaches. This merely shows that anyone may become a victim. Therefore, reconsider your assumptions if you believe that your current defenses are complete enough. With internet attacks, there is no room for error. Your cybersecurity strategies should be reviewed frequently and changed to remain effective in the modern world.

But if you think someone has hacked you, you can use our detailed instructions to get your data back and make your network secure again. If you want an easy way to find out if your employees are being approached by hackers, you can download our Free ebook on the 10 steps to take when you think you have been phished.

Call us and let’s get started protecting your data right away!

Social Engineering

January Recap: All You Need to Know About Social Engineering

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This month, we covered a range of topics concerning social engineering. Social engineering is now considered one of the most prevalent risks when it comes to online security. Most hackers rely heavily on social engineering tactics to lure unsuspecting users to divulge information.

It sounds complicated but it’s nothing more than the practice of manipulating people into revealing information through the use of false pretenses. It often creates a sense of urgency, fear or excitement, playing with people’s emotions to get them to do exactly what the hackers want them to do. In case you missed any of them, here is a brief summary.

social engineeringWeek 1: What Is Social Engineering and How Can It Affect Your Business?

We discussed the basics of social engineering and how the different types of attacks are used to exploit unsuspecting victims. We also looked at what makes up a successful social engineering attack and how attackers might use modern technology to increase their reach. Specifically, attackers may utilize deception techniques such as phishing emails or malicious links in order to gain access to personal information or data. Additionally, attackers may use impersonation tactics in order to manipulate their target into giving away information or credentials.

Social engineering is the infiltration of something secure, intending to acquire information or secure access through cunning means. With the use of modern technology, social engineering is now possible with the victims not even knowing. If you are caught unprepared, as a result, this could potentially lead to the downfall of your business. With awareness and the presence of mind, you can easily avoid becoming a victim. One of the commonly used methods is tailgating or entering the premises on the pretense that they are an authorized entity.

Simple practices like refraining from opening suspicious-looking emails and attachments would be very helpful. It is also advisable to implement multifactor authentication in all your systems and to keep your antivirus software updated. Click here to read more of our week-1 blog defining what exactly social engineering is.

 

Social Engineering scamsWeek 2: Where Does Social Engineering Scams Come from?

In order to prevent these attacks from being successful, it is important for users to remain aware and educated about cybersecurity best practices and protocols. This includes implementing strong passwords that include both upper- and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters; avoiding suspicious links through email or messaging services; and utilizing two-factor authentication measures when possible–for example, when accessing accounts online or over public Wi-Fi networks. Users should also use secure VPNs whenever possible to protect their remote data..

There are more than 4.74 billion social media users today. Hackers are using social media to entice unsuspecting users into their traps. They create fake accounts that are used in either of the following four ways:. MIPs are bare profiles, usually with seductive profile photos that are meant to get people interested enough to add them as a contact. A hacker will then use this fake MIP to send malware through messenger or post malicious links on your wall. Fully Invested Profiles are intended purpose of fully invested profiles is the same as those created for MIPs. Click here to read more of our week-2 blog about the origin of social engineering.

 

 

Cybercriminals Use Social EngineeringWeek 3: The Top 5 Ways Cybercriminals Use Social Engineering

Finally, we presented best practices for staying safe online when encountering suspicious links or other potentially dangerous content. For example, links in messages can lead to malicious sites with malware that could compromise users’ personal information and devices. It is also important for users not to respond immediately if they receive an unexpected message from someone they do not know or recognize – even if it appears legitimate – as this could be an attempt by adversaries to gain access to sensitive data via impersonation techniques.

Cybercriminals use social engineering to play on victims’ emotions and gain their trust. There are a number of different ways that cybercriminals manipulate their victims online. Phishing is by far the most common and most effective tactic that hackers use in social engineering. This is where the hacker pretends to be someone that the victim knows, then asks for their login details. There are so many ways that cybercriminals use social engineering for malicious intent these days. Piggybacking, also known as tailgating, is when someone discreetly follows an authorized person into a restricted area of the building. As a business owner, it is crucial to ensure that you educate all your employees fully when it comes to social engineering attacks and other cybercrimes. Click here to read more of our week-3 blog and the top 5 social engineering threats.

By following these tips and remaining vigilant about potential attacks, everyone can make sure to stay safe online! Give us a call if you think you need help strengthening your business against attacks.

Cybercriminals Use Social Engineering

The Top 5 Ways Cybercriminals Use Social Engineering

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Advanced technology and cutting-edge hacking techniques have been the main tool that cybercriminals use for online attacks. But did you know that the most effective method that hackers use for enticing victims online is something so much simpler? Cybercriminals use social engineering or in other words, manipulate people by establishing trust and playing on their emotions.

Common Methods of Social Engineering Attacks

There are a number of creative ways that social engineers go about their devious ways. However, there are five ways that stand out on how cybercriminals use social engineering for their personal gain.

Phishing

This method is by far the most common and most effective tactic that cybercriminals use in social engineering. It has been around for years yet people continue to fall for it at an alarmingly high rate. Phishing is common using emails. In fact, anyone who has an email account would likely have received several phishing attempts in their inbox.

Among the earliest phishing emails are those that come from a Nigerian prince who needs your help in getting his inheritance and in return, he will give you a sizable portion of his wealth. Later on, phishing emails became more believable, like an email from what seems to be your bank, asking to verify your account number. Recently, phishing through social media has become rampant, where you would be asked to log in to your account on what seems to be a real social media site but is actually just a clever imitation.

Baiting

Baiting is what cybercriminals use social engineering and is an approach where something is in front of the target victim, hoping to get them to click on a link and fall for the trap. It could be a free movie or song or something that would be of interest to the victim. The link does not give them what was promised and is instead some kind of malware that will cause damage.

Cybercriminals use Social Engineering Pretexting

This kind of social engineering scam is where the hacker pretends to be someone that the victim knows. They might pretend to be the head of IT doing some routine check, then ask for an employee’s login info. Or they might pretend to be a law enforcer or investigator, at which many people would be very cooperative. Because the employee thinks the hacker is a trusted entity, they might willingly give their details.

Quid Pro Quo

This is a type of social engineering attack where the hacker offers you something in exchange for critical information. Let’s say a disgruntled employee has been laid off or had left a company in not so amicable terms. Hackers hunt these disgruntled individuals and offer to buy the information that they can use to attack the company.

Cybercriminals use Social Engineering Piggybacking

Although social engineering these days is through online, there are still plenty of approaches that take place in the physical environment. Piggybacking is one such example. Also known as tailgating, piggybacking is when someone discreetly follows an authorized person into a restricted area of the building. Once they are in, they can easily access computers to steal data.

How to Be Safe from Cybercriminals using Social Engineering Attacks

There are so many ways of how cybercriminals use social engineering for malicious intent these days. However, there are also several things that you can do to keep safe from these attacks.

Many of the preventive measures are actually very simple, starting with never revealing passwords and other sensitive data to anyone. This includes heads of IT departments, people in charge of corporate audits, or even law enforcers.

As a business owner, it is also crucial to ensure that you educate all your employees fully when it comes to social engineering attacks and other cybercrimes. You can check what they already know about the dark web by having them read this Free ebook.

We have plenty of tools and resources that can help boost your protection against all kinds of cyberattacks. Call us today and we will be happy to put together a strategy that will keep your business and data as safe as can be!

Social Engineering scams

Where Does Social Engineering Scams Come from?

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Social engineering scams are so much more rampant these days than ever before. There will certainly be suspicious-looking items in your inbox when you check your emails, which are most likely phishing emails. Many people now know to avoid clicking these malicious emails, which is a good thing. But still, their vast amount makes you wonder, where do social engineering scams come from anyway? The very simple answer to that is social media.

How Social Media Is Used for Social Engineering scams

According to the latest count, there are more than 4.74 billion social media users today. For hackers, each of these users is a potential target. Hackers are using social media to entice unsuspecting users into their traps because there is such a large online population. Specifically, they create fake accounts that are used in either of the following four methods.

Manipulating Public Opinion

People can be very impressionable, especially regarding things they see on social media. Social engineers take advantage of this vulnerability to sway the public’s view on certain things, like politics. Political parties routinely create millions of fake accounts to spread information that could sway voters during elections. Online, posts from phony accounts can spread quickly and have a significant impact on voters for very little money. This is what you call Social Engineering scams.

False Advertising

It is very common to see posts on social media where you can supposedly win a prize if you like or share their page. Or how about those pages that are apparently on the verge of closing down and need to dispose of their inventory quickly, where you can get a chance to get one of their products by simply sharing their page. These are nothing but social engineering scams called false advertising.

After Steve Jobs’ death, a viral post claimed Apple was honoring him by giving away iPhones and iPads.. Millions of people from around the world clicked on the malicious link, thinking they were just entering a raffle. What happened instead was that their devices got infected with a nasty virus.

Minimally Invested Profiles or MIPs

Minimally invested profiles are created en masse and are usually bare profiles, usually with seductive profile photos that are meant to get people interested enough to add them as a contact, typically on Facebook. Once the connection has been established, the hacker will then use this fake MIP to send malware through messenger or post malicious links on your wall. That is when they start the social engineering scams.

Fully Invested Profiles or FIPs

The intended purpose of fully invested profiles is pretty much the same as that of the MIPs, which is to get people to click on certain links. But an FIP involves more effort as it is made to look authentic to the eyes of the target victim. It could imitate the account of real contact, and they might try to add you saying that they created a new account because they were hacked, or they forgot the password, and so on.

You can actually spot these fake profiles easily by practicing due diligence. Check out every account before accepting friend requests. If the account is relatively new and is suspiciously lacking in friends or content, then that is a red flag right there.

Protect Yourself From Social Engineering Scams

Social media may be part of our daily lives, but that doesn’t mean you can use it carelessly. Never be caught unaware when you are online, especially when you are using social media. This goes for both your personal and business accounts. If you use social media for business, it’s best to train all your employees in online attack prevention.

We have prepared a Free ebook that you can read just to see how prepared you are to face social engineering scams or attacks. If you feel there is room for improvement, give us a call and we can step in anytime to boost your defense and increase your protection against online threats.

social engineering

What Is Social Engineering and How Can It Affect Your Business?

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Terms like phishing and malware have become very common terms these days because of their widespread use online. Did you know that these activities are but a small part of a much bigger operation known as social engineering?

Definition of Social Engineering

The term might be new but the practice has been going on for centuries. It’s the infiltration of something secure, intending to acquire information or secure access through cunning means. With the use of modern technology, social engineering is now possible with the victims not even knowing. If you are caught unprepared, as a result, this could potentially lead to the downfall of your business.

External Threats in Social Engineering

Businesses these days rely heavily on technology across all operations and as a result, it makes our life easier. This gives social engineers vast opportunities to trick people into providing all sorts of information, such as the following.

Phishing

Phishing is by far the most prevalent form of social engineering attack. It is a very straightforward kind of trickery, and that simplicity is also the reason why it is so effective. Through an authentic-looking email, the hacker would take victims to websites that look real and ask them to log in, which many people would do without a second glance. Just like that, you would just as well be giving the hackers the keys to your network.

Spear Phishing

This kind of social engineering attack is a highly targeted version of phishing. It is directed at specific victims and involves a great deal of preparation, making use of contacts and references very familiar to the targeted victim, making the scam almost imperceptible.

Baiting

Just as the term suggests, this strategy is all about enticing the victim to fall for the bait. There are many approaches to this, like telling them they won something then asking to click on a link to claim the prize, or letting them know that their computer has been infected and again, getting them to click on a link that will supposedly fix the problem.

Internal Threats in Social Engineering

Once a hacker is in the system, there are countless ways that they can steal information or wreak havoc on your business. So getting their foot in the door is of the utmost priority for many of these devious social engineers.

Doing this physically is not as difficult as it might seem. One of the commonly used methods is tailgating or entering the premises on the pretense that they are an authorized entity. Many hackers also take advantage of what they can glean from public information, which is surprisingly a lot, especially if they have the patience to do a regular observation of the target area, or are willing to go dumpster diving.

How to Keep Your Business Safe from Social Engineering Threats

It’s quite scary to think that many use social engineering tactics today, but with awareness and the presence of mind, you can easily avoid becoming a victim. Simple practices like refraining from opening suspicious-looking emails and attachments would be very helpful. It is also advisable to implement multifactor authentication in all your systems and to keep your antivirus software updated.

In conclusion, as a business owner, it would be in your best interest to have all employees undergo training that will equip them with the tools and skills needed to circumvent any social engineering attack. You can find out just how much your staff knows about social engineering and other online threats by having them read this Free ebook.

We can help bolster your company’s defenses against online threats of all kinds. From training your employees to updating your network, we can cover for you. Just let us know when you are ready and we will be happy to be of service!

Social Media Phishing

Quiz Time: Can You Handle Social Media Phishing Attacks at work?

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Our last three blogs have discussed cybersecurity threats and how they affect a business. We have talked about the dangers that stem from various types of malware. We have warned you about the newest cybersecurity risks expected to wreak havoc on businesses soon. And in the face of the ongoing growing acceptance of remote work setups, we have delved into the threats related to working from home. Now, we will now talk about social media phishing. 

The common thing in all these topics is that they are all linked to phishing. A strong phishing attack can make a network open to the online threats that we have talked about. Thus, you and your employees must know how to handle social media phishing attacks at work. To find out just how prepared your staff is to circumvent phishing attacks on social media, you can have them take the following quiz.

A Brief Quiz on Social Media Phishing

Here are ten statements that have to do with phishing in social media. Read each one carefully and decide whether it is TRUE or FALSE.

  1. It’s safe to click on social media links and messages at work.
  2. A lot of phishing attacks use publicly available information.
  3. Social media phishing attacks target only individuals, not organizations.
  4. A cybersecurity risk assessment reveals the weak areas in your company’s security strategy.
  5. A ransomware attack occurs once every 40 seconds.
  6. Hackers have a lower chance of attacking smaller businesses.
  7. Malware and virus protection is more important than employee cybersecurity training.
  8. Cybersecurity insurance can save your business.
  9. Two-factor authentication is better for account logins.
  10. Working from home and working from the office are equally safe.

Quiz Answers

  1. False – Even if your company has a reliable cybersecurity system in place, it’s never 100% certain and could be a social media phishing scam. Always be conscious and vigilant if you want your data and network to stay secure.
  2. True – Most of the time, hackers use information already available to the public. We should be careful in revealing information, even if it seems harmless. Hackers might use anything that is made public as a tool for attacking your important files.
  3. False – Social media phishing attacks used to target individuals, but the hackers that use this method have now levelled up and are also targeting organizations, even big companies.
  4. True – You don’t have to wait for an actual phishing attack to gauge the strength or weakness of your defenses. An MSP can give you a thorough risk assessment to identify the weak spots you need to work on.
  5. True – Ransomware attacks are much more frequent than people realize. Most businesses are on a hacker’s hit list, but they have not launched an attack yet.
  6. False – Smaller businesses are at a greater risk because they often have weaker defenses against online threats,
  7. False – Both are very important and go hand-in-hand with an effective cybersecurity strategy.
  8. True – Some business owners forego getting cybersecurity insurance, thinking it is unnecessary and expensive. But if you fall victim to a security breach, it can cost you upwards of $50,000, and cyber insurance can help cover such amounts.
  9. True – Two-factor authentication is much harder for hackers to penetrate than single-step login, making it more secure.
  10. False – While there are plenty of things we can do to make working from home safer, it is still not nearly as secure as working from the office, where software updates and router upgrades are easily done.

Evaluating the Results

Did you get a 10? If so, you have the knowledge and skills to deal with any online attack! Warding off phishing attacks on social media will be a cinch!

A lower score means you need more training, which is something the company can do. As a comprehensive managed services provider, we have a highly competent cybersecurity team that can train your entire staff and prepare your company to face cybersecurity risks. Contact us today to learn more!

After taking your quizzes, if you need to learn more get our Free ebook, so you can better protect yourself and your business!

Risks of Working from Home

Addressing the Cybersecurity Risks of Working from Home

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A remote workforce has become the norm since the pandemic. Even now that we consider it safe to return to office work, many businesses have maintained the remote work setup because of the advantages. However, the risks of working from home also bring issues that need attention so as not to risk the company’s network and data.

What Are the Cybersecurity Risks That Come with Working from Home?

There are risks when working from home. Workers lack the usual protective measures used in an office network. Many workers use their home networks and may also use the same device for both work and personal things. Because of this, there are a lot of security issues that can arise and possibly cause damage to the company.

The Risks of Vulnerable Personal Networks When Working From Home

You can keep your home network protected by regularly updating your antivirus software. However, most people do not realize there is also a need to update their router software. Without doing this, you will make your home network, and sadly your work data, open to the prying eyes of online criminals. Which can risk your company data when working from home. 

Greater Reliance on Technology

Now more than ever, we rely heavily on online tools for doing all kinds of business. Besides the basic emailing and sending of files, Almost everything else gets done using digital technology, from video calling to banking to fulfilling orders. This widespread use of online tools gives higher risk when working from home. As a result, hackers have more opportunities to hack company records.

Lack of Cybersecurity Awareness

In the office setting, IT people take care of any cyber security issues. Thus, employees do not take such matters too seriously as it is not their primary work, although they are still liable. You must train them in cybersecurity and be sure they are aware of potential issues when working at home. But, this is not the case since most employees still lack adequate skills and knowledge to avoid these cybersecurity threats.

Fatigue and Lack of Focus

Human error is still the most common cause of data breaches, and this is especially true in a remote work setting. Studies have shown that almost 40% of work-from-home employees feel really tired in the remote work setup. In addition, they also need to juggle home chores, which reduces their focus on applying cybersecurity protocols and makes them lax in their judgment. All these things combined can greatly increase the chance of remote employees exposing the company’s confidential files to hackers by accident.

Risks of Weak Passwords When Working From Home

In trying to bypass company networks through remote workers, hackers will try to crack the user’s passwords. It is the easiest method, and it just so happens that many people still use weak passwords, even for sensitive accounts.

The Risks of Using Personal Devices When Working From Home

In the typical office environment, employees will use computers sent by the company with current malware protection. When working at home, however, people use their laptops or smartphones. These are likely to have less than adequate IT security measures installed, like data encryption.

Making Remote Work Safer From Cybersecurity Risks

There are many benefits to working from home. If you feel this is the best strategy for your company, go for it. However, make sure that all remote processes are completely secure. This step is where we can help!

Since we are focusing on cybersecurity this quarter, we have developed a  Free Ebook for you and your employees to read. Not only is the ebook fun, but it counts toward your Employee Cybersecurity Training!

Our cybersecurity experts can equip your company and your remote workers with the skills and technology to stay protected from malware attacks and other online threats. Contact us to learn more about our comprehensive and fully customizable cybersecurity services today!

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