Cyber Security Guide
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Every business that uses technology is at risk of cybercrime such as hacking, malware, and ransomware. Businesses must ensure their computers and networks are secure to protect not only technology but the business itself. Ransomware encrypts data and demands payment for its return, but paying does not guarantee the problem will be solved. Between 2013-2014 over 500,000 people were targeted by ransomware attacks, which generated an estimated $34,000 per day or $5 million total for hackers in 2012 alone.
Cyber Security Guide
- 2. Every business that uses technology is a potential victim of cybercrime. Hacking and malware are becoming weekly news headlines with the likes of Talk Talk, Marks and Spencer and British Gas all being known victims. Businesses are at risk because there are so many different kinds of threats out there. It is important that businesses are making the effort to ensure that their computers and networks are secure because otherwise the business itself is at risk, not just the piece of technology sitting on a desk! //////////// www.acutec.co.uk
- 3. Ransomware is a form of hostile takeover where an individual or group take over your computer system and encrypt data. The data is then held hostage and will only be returned to you and decrypted if you pay a ransom fee. Sometimes these can appear with a countdown and when you run out of time the encryption key is deleted causing your data to be lost forever. Ransomware plays on psychology, the countdown forces people to feel that they have to pay the ransom because they are under pressure and time is running out. It is important to be aware that there is no guarantee that paying up will solve your problem. //////////// www.acutec.co.uk
- 4. Between September 2013 and May 2014 it is believed over half a million people were targeted. STATS It was estimated in 2012 that one group of hackers was making $34,000 a day through ransomware attacks. It is believed that $5 million was stolen via ransomware in 2012. www.acutec.co.uk
- 5. Phishing is where an individual receives an email from what is believed to be a trusted source. You could receive an email from what appears to be your bank asking you whether you spent money in an unusual country. The email may ask you to click a link and verify your personal information. You click the link in the hope of sorting it out and in doing so provide a malicious entity with data that will enable them to access your bank account. //////////// This is not just limited to email! You can also receive communication similar to this by phone call or text message. Be careful when ‘verifying’ your personal details over the phone. www.acutec.co.uk
- 6. SPEAR PHISHING Spear phishing is a more personal way of trying to gain your information with an individual pretending to be someone you actually know and trust. For example, you could receive an email from someone you work with asking you to deposit money into an account. If this is part of both of your jobs the likelihood is you wouldn’t question it and would go ahead with the request. //////////// Sometimes spear phishing can be obvious. Look out for irregularities like shortening of names, spelling mistakes or a lack of usual signatures. www.acutec.co.uk
- 7. VIRUSES The point of a virus is to damage or destroy the files on your computer. A virus has the ability to replicate itself and can enter your computer through an email attachment or as an Internet download. There are many different types of viruses which infect specific different types of data on your computer. You should know that a virus cannot be spread without some form of human interaction and that is why it is so important to have end user education. Your employees should be fully aware of what is out there. //////////// www.acutec.co.uk
- 8. Trojans come in the form of computer programs with harmful code inside what appears to be harmless programming. They will usually appear to be in a form that is useful or interesting to persuade you to install it. A Trojan can make its way to you as an attachment in an email or as a drive-by download. Trojans are a doorway to many other different types of cybercrime. For example they can enable software that initiates ransomware to be installed or allow for your computer to be involved in other illegal activity such as attacking other computers. //////////// www.acutec.co.uk
- 9. WHAT TO DO IF IT HAPPENS TO YOU Change your passwords. All of them. www.acutec.co.uk Disconnect from the Internet so your system is no longer being interrogated. Alert all staff and make sure that they disconnect too. If you have a backup system in place, open this and create a restore point so that the system reverts to where it was, removing malware. Advise any clients to not open emails from you. If your data is sensitive you should contact the Information Commissioner's Office to report a data breach. Check your insurance to see if you are covered for data loss and disclosure. Report the case to Action Fraud.
- 10. IMPACT//////////// If you’re worried about your business’s security or this happens to you then call ACUTEC on 01675 469020 www.acutec.co.uk If your IT system is not secure then your business is not secure leaving all aspects of the business vulnerable, including: Client data Financial data Website Social media Internal and external communication