Cyberspace is the digital frontier and has been since the earliest days of the Internet. Although it has existed for almost 40 years (give or take), it can still be a wild and untamed place. Many companies take their cybersecurity measures for granted. For them, it’s enough to have firewalls, encryption, and spam filters protecting their vital networks, servers, and data caches. Even so, clever scams and tricks can put your business at risk. Here is a quick look at some of the most notable examples.
Financial Phishing – Money in the Bank
Emails are one of the cornerstones of modern online communication. Despite this fact, we’ve seen in the past few years the disastrous consequences when email folders are left vulnerable to leaks. Hackers and spammers can deploy phishing tactics to steal money via credit card fraud or high-tech bank robberies. Scammers and e-crooks can take advantage of naive business owners and swipe valuable data along with smashing open the cloud-based piggybank.
The Nocebo Effect – Nonsensical Notification Red Flags
If you’ve heard of the placebo effect – where something “works” even though it physically doesn’t – then it shouldn’t surprise you to learn that the opposite phenomenon is real. This feeling is known as the nocebo effect. Beware of random notifications that you aren’t anticipating. Email inboxes, social media networks, mobile frameworks, and electronic storefronts can all be virtual land mines of trouble. False login screens will look legit but are designed to hoodwink you into exposing sensitive data crucial to the day-to-day operations of your small business.
The Social Dilemma – Expecting the Untimely and Unexpected
Everyone knows what social media is supposed to be even if they aren’t actively engaged in the blogosphere and, by extension, using these platforms to connect with friends, family, and colleagues. Fake messages and bogus links represent sneaky cybersecurity threats, so be vigilant against unexpected friend requests that seem out of the blue.
Email Spearphishing – The Elephant in the Chatroom
Electronic mail services are ubiquitous these days – schools, colleges, and agencies all rely on them to facilitate mass communication infrastructures as a way to make major announcements. Gmail is one of the dominant players on the scene, while competitors such as Yahoo Mail, Outlook, and AOL (“you’ve got mail!”) are still hanging in there. Spearphishing attempts typically masquerade as urgent messages but this strategy is intended to capture your personal information that you otherwise wouldn’t reveal. Are you interested in learning more about the elephant in the chatroom? Then stayed tuned for next week!
Trust the Professionals at ARK Systems
Located in Columbia, Maryland, ARK Systems provides unsurpassed quality and excellence in the security industry, from system design through to installation. We handle all aspects of security with local and remote locations. With over 30 years in the industry, ARK Systems is an experienced security contractor. Trust ARK to handle your most sensitive data storage, surveillance, and security solutions. Contact ARK Systems at 1-800-995-0189 or click here today. Check us out on Facebook and Twitter as well!