Data breaches are unfortunate and uncomfortable events that affect both businesses and consumers. In the case of the former, the loss of reputation and trustworthiness can have severely detrimental effects on marketing and sales. While large corporations usually have the necessary resources to bounce back from such an event, smaller businesses are often not as lucky and sometimes have to shut their doors forever. In the case of the clients, the stress of knowing your private details have been exposed to strangers can cause a lot of stress, as well as financial loss and, in extreme cases, identity theft.
But why are data breaches so common nowadays? What are the causes, and what can be done to diminish their incidence? Here are some of the main reasons why information infringement seems so frequent these days.
Misconfigured software
When you hear the phrase “data breach”, you’re most likely associating it with a malicious hacker attack. However, one of the main reasons these attacks even stand a chance at infiltrating a computer or system is because the operating software and antivirus definitions haven’t been updated. While updates can often seem pesky and annoying, you mustn’t miss out on them. Since a lot of resources and processes exist in the online sphere nowadays, hackers are coming up with more creative methods of piercing through security and gaining access to private data. When your system is updated, you ensure that this is less likely to happen since newer versions are better equipped to withstand attacks.
Physical theft
One of the often-overlooked mediums through which data is leaked is the physical theft of devices. Company laptops and computers contain a lot of information that could be used for nefarious purposes in the wrong hands. A common scenario involves a hacker who has come into possession of a stolen laptop, posing as an employee and contacting the IT department. Through persuasion and under the guise of having forgotten their login credentials, they can convince an administrator to provide them with a username and password. This means that they suddenly have direct access to the company’s records and can do as they please with them.
In order to avoid situations like this, make sure you are aware of any device that goes missing. That way, if someone claims to be the person who owned it, you will be aware that it’s a scam. You should also take all the necessary precautions when you must dispose of old gadgets. Simply deleting files won’t make them inaccessible, so you should use specialized software that overwrites all data and makes it unreadable to be on the safer side of things.
Weak passwords
You’re already aware that re-using the same password for more than one platform or service can be a security risk. If one account is attacked, the hacker can gain access to all the others as well via the shared access code. This way, the damage becomes more widespread and more challenging to contain. To avoid this situation, make sure you choose strong passwords that use both upper and lowercase letters, numbers and random symbols. This makes them harder to crack.
The devices that are most susceptible to this type of attack are internet of things gadgets. Upon purchase, they come with standard login combinations that help make setup easier. Typically, they are incredibly easy to crack, as the combination is generally “admin” and “12345”. The instructions are unambiguous on the fact that these must be replaced with stronger credentials before use, but both smaller and larger enterprises usually don’t follow through with this.
If your data has become exposed as a result of someone breaching their duty of care towards you, you are within your rights to start a data breach claim. A lawyer can help you make sense of the proof you need to commence a claim, as well as the most realistic outcome you can expect. Whether it was data controllers that committed the mistake or it was data processors, you should be able to get the justice you deserve and regain control of your life. While nobody can deny the destructiveness of a data breach, they’re not impossible to solve. You have to find the right professional that can help you see this difficult situation through.
Social engineering
While research shows that cyberattacks are not behind as many data breaches as previously thought, they are still pretty standard. One of the most common ways through which this happens is the medium of social engineering attacks. Phishing is the most common of the bunch. This type of tactical trickery sets out to gain access to credit card numbers, account details and other credentials by posing as a trusted source. And while most people are aware that this type of attack exists and is actually fairly common, it’s still so easy to fall prey to it.
Usually, the attack arrives in the form of a fake email that attempts to pose as genuine. They’ll claim to be an authoritative sender. They will typically try and get you to access a link under the guise of offering you some sort of reward or needing help with a review. Once you click the fake link, you’ll be asked to enter your details into a login portal. The problem is that these pages are often entirely indistinguishable from their real counterparts. In other cases, minute details are present, but the hackers place their bets on the fact you won’t notice them until it is too late.
Another common form of social engineering is fake security software. These programs inform you that they’ve discovered malware on your device. You’ll keep receiving pop-up notifications that request additional payment for removal. If you refuse, they’ll continue bombarding and spamming your computer with messages, making it very difficult to get anything done.
If you receive anything that seems out of the ordinary or like it’s too good to be true, it’s probably because it is. Don’t open any links whose safety you’re not sure of, and don’t fall into the trap of scareware and make emotional decisions.
A few simple steps are all you need to keep yourself and your business safe.