Have you ever been sent a scammer or hacker email? Would you know one if you saw one? Cyberattacks are now so common, recent reports show that hackers attack a computer in the US every 39 seconds! So how do you protect your small business from these types of attacks? Covert Results has done some research and found a few tips to protect your business.
1. Secure unique passwords
It is amazing the amount of information we store on our desktop computers, laptops, and even phones. Everything in your life should have a password on it. If you’re like most people you use the exact same password for every single website, social media site, or even bank app. This is a HUGE issue. If a hacker can find that password they could have access to everything in your business. This is why it is essential to create a unique password for each of your business accounts or website systems. A few things to keep in mind are: don’t reuse passwords, don’t choose easy to guess security questions, use more than just one word, and try to make the password at least 12-25 characters in length. All of this together can better keep your business safe from cyber hackers.
2. Perform routine security checks
This may seem like overkill if you have a secure website. However, hackers can make it possible to get past even the most secure networks. The last thing you need is to have a hacker on your business’s website. Be sure to routinely check the security of your site. With the right tool, you can set software to automatically crawl all the code on a given domain and send HTTP requests that are designed to show a specific response if the site is susceptible to hacks. Some scanners also have proxy components that detect and intercept malicious messages between browsers and servers.These are just some tools others have used to keep their sites safe.
3. Always update yourself on the latest security tips
The world of cyber security is ever-changing. This means you need to be able to stay on top of the ways to protect your business from threats. The best thing you can do is subscribe to blogs or email updates that come from various cyber security sites to keep you and your company up-to-date on the latest technology.
4. Consider software to safeguard your site
As stated before, there are such programs that can be put in place on your computer to act as a guard from hacking threats. This type of malware removal can annihilate hackers before they even make it to your website. The best types of security are those that keep a back-up of your information and provide 24/7 protection.
5. Be sure you have your SSL certificate
An SSL certificate, or Secure Sockets Layer, helps protect information entered in your website by building a secure, encrypted connection between the website visitor’s browser and the webserver. This acts as a privacy wall for your website and is mainly used to protect those that go on your site and have to enter personal or sensitive information i.e. a credit card, SSN, etc. This certificate helps you keep your webserver and your customers safe.
6. Beware of email scams
Not only do businesses face threats from the actions and intentions of hackers, but individuals face many risks as well. Identity theft is a huge issue, where hackers steal an individual’s personal information and sell it for profit. These scams come in all forms but phishing emails are the most common. The best way to watch out for these emails is to filter through your spam. Your spam folder can catch some but not all of these scammer emails. Also, you need to watch out for strange business opportunities. These scams promise the opportunity to make a great deal of money with very little effort. They’re normally full of enticements such as “Work only a few hours a week,” “Be your own boss,” etc. If it sounds too good to be true….it usually is. These scams will even go as far as to mask an email looking like your bank or credit card company. Be sure you don’t click any links within these emails and contact your bank or credit card company directly if you have questions.
It is important to follow along and keep up to date but the best thing you can do when it comes to cybersecurity is use common sense. When an email arrives in your mailbox or something isn’t working on your website, take a moment to consider the likelihood that the email is legitimate or if there is a larger issue at hand. Keeping your information secure and uptodate can save your business from all types of scams. If it doesn’t, you can always hire Covert Results to help track down the hackers.
Covert Results is a private investigations and armed security company with 100+ years of experience. Our team is highly trained investigators and security experts who are well versed in all types of investigations and security matters. We now have two dedicated offices, one in Nashville and one in Clarksville. For questions about private investigations, professional armed security, handgun training, or consulting please email, call, or visit our website.
contact@covertresults.com 615-861-1680 Covertresults.com
