Equifax breach sends small businesses scrambling

Since the Equifax breach opened the eyes of over a hundred million Americans, perpetuating the ongoing fear of identity theft, people have been frantically scrambling to place “credit freezes” and alerts through each of the three major credit reporting agencies. These “freezes” and alerts are all a reactive, last-ditch effort that the reporting agencies suggest each person do to prevent cyber criminals from using the stolen social security numbers and private information for their own malicious purposes.

But individuals aren’t the only ones feeling the heat, as small business owners around the country have quickly come to realize that their private businesses too are prime targets of domestic & foreign cyber criminals alike. The headlines in newspapers and media outlets across the world often have extremely narrow scopes, consisting of only the data breaches & attacks against your household name corporations like The Home Depot, Target, and Anthem Blue Cross & Blue Shield, but it’s the small businesses of the world that are at a much greater risk.

Small businesses, for the most part, don’t usually have the necessary funding required to maintain fortified digital security practices nor are they as sophisticated as they would need to be to sustain a cyber attack. We’ve seen time and time again that even some of the largest corporations in the world like Equifax and Sony are capable of being hacked, so do you think it’s likely that your local dentist or doctor’s office are also susceptible? I’d put my money on yes.

So, how are cyber criminals and thieves able to easily infiltrate the local brick and mortar shop down the street? Well, we’ve put together a few of the most recognized types of cyber attacks and how your small business can defend itself against them without spending your entire budget.

Vulnerable Mobile Apps

THE PROBLEM: One of the newer ways for hackers to access sensitive date is through vulnerable, unprotected mobile apps that are downloaded onto your device. Once the compromised app is on your phone, any sensitive information that you input into the application itself, such as client information marked down inside of calendar or notes apps, could be compromised.

THE SOLUTION: Be wary of the applications that you download on your mobile device. If it isn’t a trusted or verified source, it shouldn’t be entrusted with any of your personal or business-related information. If you see suspicious happenings in any of your current mobile apps, such as appointments going missing, information being deleted or removed, or anything out of the ordinary, find an alternative and remove it immediately.

Email Phishing Scams

THE PROBLEM: Email phishing scams have been plaguing the internet for years and seem to be getting more sophisticated each day. Email phishing is where a hacker or scammer will send you an email that looks almost identical to an authentic one, hoping that you’ll click on their link and be slammed with malware or ransomware that infects your entire computer.

THE SOLUTION:  It’s extremely difficult to determine a fraudulent email from a genuine one, so it’s important to only click on emails that you are 100% positive is safe. At very worse, a hacker can encrypt all of your personal files and hold them for ransom; if this happens, you’ll almost certainly need to wipe the device clean or purchase a brand new device.

Malware Attacks

THE PROBLEM: Malware has become an increasingly difficult problem to deal with in the digital world, and the trend continues to rise. Malware is a virus that infects your computer or mobile device, either corrupting the data or maliciously stealing it for the benefit of the hacker.

THE SOLUTION:  Small businesses should be aware of the websites that they visit, the links and emails that they click on, and the information that is being swapped across the internet. Always remember that if you need to send private information across the internet, send it via a secure email solution.

Credit Card Breaches & “Inside Jobs”

THE PROBLEM: Credit card breaches and “inside job breaches” are two of the more prominent attacks on consumers and small businesses. Since Target and The Home Depot’s massive credit card breaches, the importance of the “chip” being used at all credit card machines has stolen the spotlight. But don’t forget that hackers and cyber criminals will always find their way around the newest defenses. An “inside job breach” is one where employees at your small business steal information from your company to sell or use maliciously outside of the business.

THE SOLUTION:  Always keep track of your credit card purchases and consistently monitor what your employees have access to at your small business. If you see any unwarranted activity on your credit card or by any of your employees, it may be time to address the situation.

Written by Peter J. Schaub
President & CEO, NeoCertified.