Criminals are constantly finding new ways to get their hands on company data, which is used for malicious purposes. Here are ways in which your data could be compromised, and how to prevent this.
Weak passwords
Too many businesses use weak passwords, which can make them an easy target for hackers wanting to steal data. The strongest passwords are entirely random combinations of numbers and letters. Many companies avoid these types of passwords because they’re not easy to remember. This is where a password manager app can come in use. These apps allow you to store all your passwords in one secure place. Furthermore, it allows you to come up with complex passwords that you and your team can easily recall. Obviously, you should only ever use a trusted password manager app such as LastPass, so that you know your passwords are in a safe place.
Insecure networks
Hackers may also try to steal your data through unsecured and rogue networks. If you work on the go and often use public wi-fi, you could be particularly at risk – many criminals set up fake networks in public places to get people logging on so that they can then steal their data. Using a VPN is a great way to protect yourself from this as it will encrypt your data and mask your IP address. There are lots of VPN services to choose from – read reviews such as these Avast VPN reviews to find ones that are reputable and reliable. There are other advantages to VPNs such as being able to access restricted content in your country.
Outdated software
Software developers constantly create updates of programs in order to keep them secure against the latest threats. If you’re not running the latest version, you could be leaving yourself open to some of the most recent threats. Most software automatically updates when you restart a computer, so make sure you’re restarting your computers regularly and not leaving them constantly on standby. You should replace any old software that is no longer receiving updates.
Hard copy leaks
Physical data theft can also be a risk to many businesses. The easiest way to prevent this is to convert as many documents as you can to digital versions so that you can get rid of these physical documents. If this isn’t possible, make sure to store them somewhere safe with limited access. Be careful when disposing of these documents too – thieves do sometimes raid bins of businesses looking for bank statements and bills. Shredding such documents is the best way to prevent this.
No backup
If data does get stolen or accidentally deleted, having backup files is always handy. Most people choose to back up data on a remote cloud server. Backing up data can be particularly useful when defending against ransomware attacks, in which a hacker may try to hold files hostage.
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