Three major cyber security threats to your business

Three major cyber security threats to your business

 

Cyber security threats are constantly evolving, with new and ever more complex attacks continually emerging. According to the European Union Agency for Cybersecurity, the top five sectors affected are public administration/government, digital service providers, the general public, healthcare/medical, and finance/banking. However, it is important to recognise that organisations of all sizes and across all sectors are vulnerable to attack if they don’t have sufficient protection.

Here at incovo, our IT experts make it their mission to remain one step ahead of these threats. We offer vital protection to businesses like yours, whatever your sector, so you can continue to operate without disruption.

Read on as we shine a spotlight on three of the most common and devastating cyber threats that you and your team should be aware of.


Ransomware
According to one of the leading creators of cyber security software, Sophos, ransomware is defined as ‘A family of malware that takes files on a computer, network share, backup server, etc. and encrypts them before extorting the user for money to unlock the files. If the user doesn’t pay within a few days, they lose their files’.

Most ransomware uses robust encryption methods which makes it extremely difficult to decrypt and get your files back unless you pay the ransom. And even if you do pay the ransom, there is absolutely no guarantee that you will get your files back or that you won’t be targeted again in future. For this reason, we recommend that you do not pay the ransom.

Instead, we recommend you restore your files from backups. incovo offers a secure cloud-based backup service, Microsoft Azure, hosted within Microsoft’s highly secure Data Centres. Data is held safely in a virtual vault users can recover up to five years’ worth of data. This means if you ever fall victim to ransomware and are unable to decrypt your critical data, you can rest assured your backups will enable you to bounce back as quickly as possible.


Cryptojacking
Cryptojacking involves a cybercriminal gaining unauthorised access to a victim’s computing resources to illicitly mine for crypto coins and generate cryptocurrency.

Modern cryptojacking attacks can be so sophisticated you might not even realise it is happening. One of the most common ways cryptojackers attack is by sending a legitimate-looking email that encourages the unsuspecting victim to click on a link. By clicking on the link, a cryptomining script begins to run on their computer. Another method is via embedded malicious scripts on websites and pop-up ads. After clicking on these, the script will start to run in the background but the user might be completely unaware they have fallen victim to the cryptojacking cyber attack.

Telltale signs to look out for include your computer running slowly, lags in execution, overheating, excessive power consumption, or abnormally high cloud bills. Stay safe by installing antivirus and malware protection software, and make sure you keep them up to date. Use ad blockers in your browser, and never click a suspicious link in an email.


Data breaches
A data breach is when an unauthorised person gains access to confidential, sensitive, or protected information. This can be corporate intellectual data or Personally Identifiable Information (PII), so the risk can affect businesses and individuals alike.

The three most common methods behind malicious data breaches are phishing, brute force, and malware.

  • Phishing: This involves the attacker posing as a person or organisations that you know and trust, and convincing you to reveal sensitive data.
  • Brute force attacks: This involves the attacker working through all the possibilities for your password until they guess correctly. This is why it is so important to choose separate, strong passwords for every account.
  • Malware: Malware takes advantage of any security flaws in your device’s operating system, software, hardware, network or servers. Malicious software such as spyware enables cyber attackers to steal private data completely undetected.


Protect your business
Managed Threat Response (MTR) from leading cyber security experts, Sophos, is a 24/7 service which continually searches for online threats. Available at incovo, this service ensures your business is protected from ransomware, cryptojacking, and data breach threats. Threats are detected, contained, and neutralised before they even have a chance to harm to your business.

Speak to the cyber security experts at incovo by calling 0345 450 8400 or email enquiries@incovo.com and enquire about our choice of Sophos Standard and Advanced MTR packages, each one designed to give your business the protection it needs.