As the war in Ukraine continues, so does Russia’s intent to harm the US and their allies via cyber warfare. Russia has already deployed massive amounts of malware into Ukraine, and they have made it known they are going to deploy it across the world.

In early March, a cyber security firm reported that a Russian ransomware gang hacked the Brownsville Public Utility Board (BPUB). “Ransomware is a type of virus that attacks its victims at random, usually through opening a spam email,” according to Emsisoft threat analyst Brett Callow.

When most think of cyber security, they think of protecting the data that a hacker wants to obtain. However, it is actually money that we need to be most concerned about. In the case of BPUB, the hackers stole data and threatened to release it until a ransom was paid.

You may be thinking, “Why would a Russian hacker target me? We’re a small business!” And that is precisely why they will target you- – you aren’t prepared to defend your business from a cyber attack. There are many ways you may be vulnerable to hacking and not even know it.

Printers.

Did you know that even your printer is susceptible to cyber-attacks? Many may think that your printing devices are the last thing a hacker would care about. Unfortunately, that is far from the truth.

Attackers search for the most accessible point of access. Printers today have access to your devices, network, and the internet. The open-access functionality and most people unaware of how easy to access it is, the printer is often the easiest point of entry.

Phishing attacks.

In phishing attacks, the hacker attempts to impersonate an employee or a company’s vendor to trick an employee into giving away sensitive data or downloading malware. For example, an email could come from what appears to be someone in the tech department stating there is a problem with your account, and you need to click a link to reset. If the receiver clicks the link, it could download malware and compromise your entire system.

Inconsistent data backup and recovery.

It is essential to have a plan to back up data and recovery, but often this goes overlooked. Not having that plan makes it easier for data to be compromised in a cyber attack.

Weak passwords.

Whether you are a business owner or an average person, the most straightforward way to protect yourself is to change your password into a passphrase that would make it harder for a hacker to figure out. For example, you could use the name of a book or your favorite song. How to Win Friends and Influence People: The Only Book You Need to Lead You to Success is long, easy to remember, and much more difficult for a hacker to use than a more simple phrase.

What are the best ways to protect you and your business?

• Have a cyber security expert review your system.
• Get a cyber liability policy that covers explicitly in times of war.
• Work with a cyber attorney specialist.
• Communicate potential scams with your employees and ensure they can spot a phishing scam.
• Ensure you have a multi-pronged backup and recovery strategy.
• Use a passphrase.
• Install malware and firm updates.
• Update your printer.
• Install firewalls.
• Inspect print trays regularly and shred sensitive unused documents.

At M3 Networks, we understand how painful and disruptive technology downtimes and cyber attacks can be. Feel free to call us at (866) 924-3470 or schedule an intro meeting today to learn how we can help you stay protected.