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What Is IT Security and IT Compliance?

glitchbusters on March 13, 2023

IT security and IT compliance are two essential matters for any business or organization. Many people think they are the same, while others frequently confuse one for the other. They are not the same thing, but when implemented together, they can provide maximum digital safety and minimize the risk of data breaches and other online threats. In this article, we’ll explain which is which and why both require your attention.

What Is IT Security?

As the term implies, IT security refers to ensuring the security of a company’s or organization’s IT infrastructure. When creating a security strategy for your business, IT security experts usually have two goals to achieve. First, it should be able to thwart cyberattacks that will damage the system or put the company’s data in danger. Second, it should give attackers a way to do as little damage as possible if they get through the defenses.

When developing an IT security strategy, a few key points must be considered. Some of the most important ones are the confidentiality of sensitive data, the integrity of the system, and the accessibility of vital information and systems.

With these goals in mind, it is easy to see that IT security involves best practices to guarantee the safety and protection of an organization, regardless of the industry or size of the business.

What Is IT Compliance?

IT compliance is about meeting the needs of a third party so that the business operations or services are accepted. For example, governments have rules about technology that companies must follow if they want to do business legally in the government’s territory. Some industries also have specific IT guidelines that we must follow. IT compliance also includes meeting the contractual terms of a client or customer.

Most times, IT compliance overlaps with IT security. Many of the requirements have to do with protecting the system and data. However, the purpose of IT compliance is to meet specific requirements. If you can’t meet these requirements, you might not get a license or certification that you need, or a potential client might not choose you for their project.

What Are the Differences between IT Security and Compliance?

Although they have some similarities, IT security and IT compliance have three major differences.

1. What They Protect

IT security protects your business’s data and IT infrastructure. This is done by using best practices and the best protection possible. IT compliance safeguards your company’s operations by ensuring that all rules are followed. This protection lets your business run smoothly and without problems.

2. Who They Benefit

Your company is the one that benefits from IT security procedures because it is your data and your network that are guarded from online risks. With IT compliance, you have some benefits, but its primary purpose is to meet the demands of a third party.

3. How They Are Implemented

IT compliance is when a third party sets specific requirements, and once these requirements are met, the job is considered done. But IT security requires ongoing upgrades and maintenance to fight current threats. It needs to change with your business and may need to be updated and improved all the time.

If you need help with either of these aspects of your business, it is best to enlist the services of experts rather than attempt to tackle it with limited skill or experience.

We can prepare a solid strategy to keep your company protected, and we can help your business recover quickly if you become the victim of a cyberattack. Just give us a call, and we’ll be on it right away! In the meantime, download our FREE Infographic to learn Ten Tips on what to do after you’ve been hacked.

What Is IT Compliance?

glitchbusters on March 6, 2023

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 10-step guide 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, and 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.

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

glitchbusters on February 27, 2023

This month, we focused on a variety of topics regarding personal identifiable information (PII). PII includes an individual’s name, address, phone number, and medical history. In this digital age, PII is increasingly being stolen from unsuspecting individuals and organizations alike. PII allows cybercriminals to easily access financial accounts, and commit identity theft, and other crimes.

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.

Week 1: Top Data Breaches in 2022

In one of our recent blogs, we enumerate the top 10 data breaches in 2022 so far. These data breaches have resulted in millions of dollars worth of losses and have affected millions of unsuspecting individuals.

Data Breaches to Steal Money

Cryptocurrency websites have been attacked, with about $33 million stolen from Crypto.com in January and $625 million from Ronin Crypto, also within the first quarter of the year. Microsoft and Twitter have also been victims of massive attacks, which they are fortunately able to catch shortly.

Data Breaches to Steal Personal Identifiable Information

Other massive data breaches in the year have involved stolen credit card information sold on the dark web, insurance, and healthcare records stolen from the Australian healthcare and insurance company called Medibank, and data on missing persons stolen from Red Cross.

How Data Breaches Happen

The hacker used someone’s personal information to break into the company’s highly protected network, causing these data breaches.

Week 2: Understanding Personal Identifiable Information

Personal identifiable information or PII refers to any data or detail that can be used to unequivocally identify an individual. Some of the more popularly used PII are a person’s full name, social security number, and biometrics. We talk more about PII in another of our recent blogs.

Because of the power that these bits of information wield, hackers aim to collect them by whatever means necessary. Once they get their hands on this critical data, they will be able to easily gain access to restricted areas of companies, both online and offline.

Securing Information with a Data Privacy Framework

The importance of personal identifiable information is very clear. With this in mind, it is just as important to keep this data as safe as possible. One of the best ways to ensure this is to use a reliable data privacy framework.

There are many existing ones that you can use but for the highest level of protection, it is best that you have your own framework, designed and built specifically for your company. With such a security solution in place, you can be more at ease knowing that you are better protected against potential intruders.

Week 3: Protecting Your Personal Identifiable Information

In week three, we talk about specific things you can do to protect your personal identifiable information. Because no matter how much you trust your data privacy strategy, you should still take all the steps you can to be ahead of hackers at all times. Our guide lists some effective ways to protect your PII both online and offline. Read the full blog here.

Recovering from Getting Hacked

So, you have been very careful and you have done everything that you are supposed to do to keep your PII safe. But despite all this, it is still possible for some really ingenious hackers to get into your system. In case that happens, here is our Free Breach Infographic that tells you how to quickly recover from whatever damage has been done. Want to learn more about PII and how to keep your data safe? Call us today and let’s have a talk!

A Guide to Protecting Your PII

glitchbusters on February 20, 2023

PII is short for Personal Identifiable Information, which refers to any data that can identify a specific person. A hacker can exploit your PII to gain access to restricted areas, make unapproved purchases under your name, or even steal your identity entirely. To keep these incidents from happening, you must know about protecting your personally identifiable information. This is a practice that you must do both online and offline.

Physical Ways of Protecting Your PII

Although we now do most of our business online, there is still a lot of tangible data that hackers can get their hands on if you are not careful. Mail, account statements, and utility bills all have PII like your name, full address, and account numbers on them. Thus, you need to keep these documents safe from data thieves.

Secure Storage

One of the crucial steps in protecting your personal identifiable information is the safe storage of your documents. You can start by having a lock on your mailbox, which is a must. You can also use a secure PO Box where only you can access your mail. It is also advisable to keep your important documents in a fireproof safe at home instead of carrying them around in your purse.

Scrutinize Your Mail

When you get bills or account statements, go through them carefully and check for items you might not recognize. Even better, check your financial statements online regularly instead of waiting for the paper bill. Mail is notorious for including your PII, and is why mail theft is so common.

Use a Shredder

Never throw away bank statements or any financial documents, even if you don’t need them anymore. Hackers are not beneath the practice of dumpster diving, trying to recover any data that can help them do their dirty work. Invest in a personal shredder that you can use to dispose of sensitive documents.

Digital Ways of Protecting Your PII

It is now much easier for hackers to get access to people’s data because almost everything is online. Be very careful when traversing the web to keep your PII safe.

Choose Strong Passwords

Good passwords are hard to figure out because they use a combination of letters, numbers, and other special characters. Change your passwords at least once a month for more security.

Use Only One Credit Card

You are at greater risk of having your credit card information stolen if you frequently shop online. Don’t use more than one credit card when shopping online, this will keep your PII safer and less likely to be stolen.

Be Mindful

Whether you are browsing the web, checking your email, or checking your social media accounts, always keep your guard up. Do not click on suspicious links or attachments, and ignore pop-ups because these are all likely to contain malware.

PII: Steps to Take If You Think You Were Hacked

Despite all your precautions for protecting your personal identifiable information, you may still feel that someone has compromised your data. There are a few critical things that you need to take care of right away. Instead of going into a full-blown panic, we strongly recommend that you follow our FREE 10-step guide on what to do if you think you have been hacked. You might feel helpless at first, but by following this guide, you will get on the road to recovery much faster and have a good chance of recovering your data and regaining control of your network. To learn more about protecting your personally identifiable information and keeping your network safe, you can check out the many useful resources we have or give us a call!

What is Personal Identifiable Information?

glitchbusters on February 14, 2023

Personal identifiable information, or PII is a term that is frequently mentioned these days concerning data breaches. It means any information that can find the person to whom the information is connected. With that being said, PII is considered to be confidential and must be treated as such. This information is why companies invest in cutting-edge data protection solutions to keep these details secure. PII is also the target of hackers when they break through a company’s database or network. With access to this private information, they can carry out their malicious activities, such as identity theft, more easily.

What Information Is Considered “PII”?

NIST lists an individual’s name, biometrics, and social security number as their primary personal identifiable information in the US. The NIST list also includes home address, email, passport number, driver’s license, vehicle plate number, date of birth, and more. These are also known as pseudo-identifiers or quasi-identifiers. A person cannot be identified from some of this data, such as the birthdate, because millions of people share the same date. But when put together with other information on the list, they make it clear who the person is. Individually, pseudo-identifiers are not considered PII in the US but they are so in Europe and a few other countries.

Ways to Protect Personal Identifiable Information

PII needs to be kept safe by both the organization that collects and stores it and the person who gave it to the organization and owns it. As such, in the event of a data breach, companies are not solely liable for any damage or loss that might occur. Despite this, it is still popular public opinion that the company must keep clients’ information safe and secure. So if you are a business owner, it would be in the best interest of everyone involved if you took the necessary steps to protect all the PII in your database.

You can easily do this by using a tried-and-tested Data Privacy Framework. Many are readily available, like the PCI DSS, the EU GDPR, and ISO 27000. We recommend a customized data protection framework that meets your data security needs and fits your company’s organizational structure..

Identifiable information: Creating Your Data Privacy Framework

Creating a data privacy system requires a dedicated IT team to build and manage it. Reputable managed services provider can create a solution to protect your data from nosy people. We can help you build a framework that fits your company and protects your sensitive data, from sales transactions to personal information. We will take a very close look at your company’s structure and design a system that will address all your specific needs and goals.

If you are ready to take the step to secure your data and be more protected from hackers, just let us know, and we will be there right away. In the meantime, if you think you have been hacked, here is our step-by-step guide to what you should do. Then call us so we can begin bolstering your defenses against cyberattacks.

Top 10 Data Breaches in 2022

glitchbusters on February 6, 2023

Cybersecurity tools and strategies have improved by a huge margin over the years. However, data breaches remain to be one of the biggest online threats. This means you can never let your guard down especially when you are operating online. In fact, even huge global companies with seemingly ironclad security systems can still be vulnerable to these attacks.

Many large companies have suffered massive data breaches this year, leaking confidential data, losing millions of dollars, and other damages. Here are the ten worst cases that have happened so far in 2022.

Crypto.com Theft

In January, hackers were able to find a way around Crypto.com’s 2-factor authentication, getting access to about $18 million in Bitcoin and $15 million in Ethereum.

Red Cross Data Breaches

It was also in January when online attackers breached the Red Cross database, specifically that of their Restoring Family Links Program. Information of individuals and families separated by war and other causes, as well as missing persons, were stolen. The Red Cross was able to stop the attacks by immediately taking their servers offline.

Ronin Crypto Theft

The Axie Infinity game became wildly popular early in 2022 and to accommodate more players, they loosened security protocols. This risky move allowed hackers to move in, who eventually managed to steal $625 million worth of cryptocurrency.

Microsoft Data Breaches

In March, the hacking group known as Lapsus$ managed to infiltrate the very tight defenses of Microsoft, putting several of the IT giant’s products at risk. Within two days, though, Microsoft was able to thwart the attack and reported that no client information had been taken.

Cash App Data Breach

A former employee who had beef with the payment company Cash App took to infiltrating their system in April. The hacker stole reports with names, portfolio values, and brokerage account numbers from over 8 million clients.

Student Loan Data Breaches

Nelnet Servicing, a student loan service provider, suffered a data breach in June that led to the exposure of confidential information of more than 2.5 million accounts, including names, contact details, and social security numbers. It was about a month before the breach was discovered.

Twitter Data Breach

In July 2022, a hacker sold data from over 5.4 million Twitter accounts on a hacking forum. The hacker was asking for $30,000 in exchange for the stolen data.

Medibank Data Breach

In October, a malicious party stole data for 9.7 million past and current customers of the Australian insurance and healthcare company Medibank. The company refused to meet the hacker’s demands, who eventually released the files online in separate batches.

Credit Card Information Leak

Also in October, details of over 1.2 million credit card accounts were posted for free on the BidenCash carding marketplace, where anyone on the dark web can use them to make online purchases. These are all active cards that have an expiry date between 2023 and 2026.

Shein Data Breaches

A third party stole 39 million Shein customers’ payment information and sold it on a hackers’ forum. Shein was fined $1.9 million for failing to disclose the 2018 data breach, which was discovered in October.

What to Do If You Think You Have Been Hacked

As you can see, these are all multimillion-dollar companies, and they can even be vulnerable to online attacks that result in data breaches. This only shows that anyone can be a victim. So if you think you are totally safe with the defenses that you have now, you might want to think again. There is no leeway when it comes to online attacks. You need to constantly reevaluate your cybersecurity strategies and keep them updated so they stay relevant to the changing times.

But in the event that you think you may have been hacked, you can follow our step-by-step guide on what to do in order to recover your data and restore your network security. If you need further assistance in reinforcing your security strategies, just call us and we will be on it right away.

January Recap: All You Need to Know About Social Engineering

glitchbusters on January 23, 2023

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.

Week 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.

Week 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.

Week 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.

The Top 5 Ways Cybercriminals Use Social Engineering

glitchbusters on January 16, 2023

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 take this 10-question cybersecurity quiz.

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!

Where Does Social Engineering Scams Come from?

glitchbusters on January 9, 2023

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 10-question quiz that you can answer 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 defence and increase your protection against online threats.

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

glitchbusters on January 3, 2023

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 take this free cybersecurity quiz.

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!