Small business owner –hackers target you.

A hacked computer or network presents symptoms much as a person does when ill. A cold brings headaches and stuffy noses. A cyber attack brings non-user initiated behaviors.

 

For example, new programs show up without a known installation, or documents disappear without an acknowledged deletion. Perhaps known passwords do not work, or security program(s) get deactivated. Maybe unrelated pop-ups appear or the mouse is moving or clicking on its own. Whatever the case, those and other odd occurrences indicate a compromised system.

 

Getting an early jump on criminal cyber activity mitigates impending damage to a business. Click here to assess your network.

First—take notes, including dates and times of events. Get screen shots of error messages or behaviors. Run a security scan to detect threats. Then call us. Nex-Tech network administrators determine damages and get systems up and running.

What will happen to your business if you lose the majority of your data? This can be your customers’ personal data, your contracts, your business plans and pricing files, or inventory. Consider what it will do to your reputation when you have to notify customers, vendors, or regulators of the loss. Also, include how much it will cost you to re-build or retrieve that data, both in capital and in time and labor.

 

What will happen to your business if you must pay a significant fine or deal with a large lawsuit? Most business owners do not realize that negligence in their security practices can potentially leave them vulnerable to claims. In addition, stolen revenue from cybercrimes may not be recovered, even if perpetrators are identified.

 

What will happen to your personal life, your family, your house, your financials and securities if any of the above happens?

In 2016, we saw an increase in the amount and severity of cyber attacks. Multi-million dollar virtual bank robberies, the disruption of the U.S. electoral process and the largest DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) attack ever, just to name a few.

 

Even more alarming, instead of sophisticated malware and zero-day vulnerabilities, attackers are hiding in plain sight, and using more direct approaches, like spear-phishing. The adoption of "living off the land" tactics has also grown in popularity, because the attackers can utilize tools already installed on computers.

 

Let's not forget the number one cybersecurity threat, Ransomware. Not only are we seeing more Ransomware infections, they are costing their victims more money. The average ransom demand has increased by nearly 30% since 2015. These attacks usually involve malware hidden in emails. One seemingly innocent click of the mouse can cost your business money, your data or both.