The Secret To Protecting Your Business Assets
There are few worse things that can befall a small business than having its intellectual property stolen or having its confidential information compromised. But, as with many things in life, knowledge of how to protect oneself is the key to success. That's why we've gathered up this list of five ways you can keep your business assets safe.
1) Have a tight internet and network security system in place (make sure your firewall isn't shut off, update and patch your systems frequently, turn off unnecessary connectivity such as remote desktop)
2) Password protect all your devices (don't use the same password for everything--it makes it easier for someone to guess it. Also, make sure you aren't using simple passwords like 12345678 or "password")
3) Keep ALL computer equipment in a locked room/office with limited access (when you're not using it, unplug it and lock it up!)
4) Set up firewalls for your business email (this will prevent people from being able to hack into your business email and send out spam, phishing scams and other harmful things. Make sure all servers are on a private network that only allows communication with the outside world through the firewall. Use a server security software like Fortiguard to scan all incoming messages, even those from known contacts.
5) Monitor your business's social media, like Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn even if you don't use it for marketing. Social media pages are a great place to post company news, announcements of sales and more. So, check-in regularly and make sure that what you post is appropriate for every audience.
This list is by no means all-inclusive--ectnomy will always find ways to learn about what people are doing online. But these are five ways that will help you keep your business safe from threats.
Source: http://my.ecnmag.com/91301/protecting-business-assets
This article may be freely reproduced if the following reference is made:
"Reproduced from www.ecnmag.com (November 2012 issue)" [ARTICLE END]
I am aware that I need to be more proactive with respect to protecting myself and my business. I was waiting for my wife to do it and then I would follow. But, instead, I did it myself. I am a little older than she is and the fact that this happened to her is what got me started on the subject.
It looks like the FBI has found a new avenue in investigating cybercrime--Facebook. According to http://www.foxnews.com/tech/2013/01/11/fbi-cybercrime-unit-allocates-agency-highlights-facebook-as-key -weakness/.
The FBI recently created an official Cybercrime unit within the bureau's Criminal Investigative Division (CID). In its release, the FBI stressed that "cybercrime investigations are often difficult and time consuming," but that they are also "one of the highest priorities of the FBI."
The special unit will work with existing FBI components -- such as the Computer Analysis and Response Team (CART) -- to better handle cybercrime cases. In addition, this new unit will focus its investigative authority on cyber threats that include botnets, online sexual predators and international organized criminal groups who steal identities or commit fraud.
Still, as criminals become more sophisticated in their use of technology to commit crimes, some experts believe they will increasingly find new ways to exploit weaknesses in social media.
"We know that cyber criminals are using Facebook and Twitter . . . because they have friends who are on Facebook and Twitter," says Steve Santorelli, author of "Operation Anubis" and the founder of Team Cymru, a team of security specialists who monitor cybercrime.
Over the past year, his team has identified several cases in which cyber criminals used social media sites to scam victims out of their cash. In some instances, criminals posed as a legitimate business like eBay Inc. or PayPal PYPL -0.88% in order to trick unsuspecting victims into sending them money. In other instances, men pretending to be female college students would target male victims with fake Facebook friendship requests that eventually led to "catfishing." Many times these friendship requests came from outside the U.S.
"It's very easy to send a friend request and it's very easy to get a friend," he said. However, recent victim studies show that approximately 70% of all hacking attempts come from the U.S.
In other instances, cyber criminals have taken advantage of social media by spamming thousands of phony emails with links to fake sites designed to steal customers' money or personal information. This can happen because social media makes it easier for these scammers to create throwaway identities and conduct their fraudulent activities without ever being discovered.
The FBI intends for this unit to focus on specific high-level threats as well as "cyber vulnerabilities. These include vulnerabilities in the Internet structure (domain name server), mobile devices and social media."
What will this all mean for the average person who uses social networks like Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn?
It is hard to say at this point in time. For example, while I don't know that I became a victim of fraud or worse through social media yet it is possible. The bad guys are getting better and smarter all the time. They are using information we post on line to further their nefarious activities. I do know that the FBI has been asking me to report any suspicious activity. There is nothing wrong with that. I do plan on reporting anything in the future (but not at this time).
The fact that the FBI created this unit demonstrates that they are paying attention to cybercrime and all of its possible threats. They have also formed a new Cybercrimes unit within their Criminal Investigative Division -- something that indicates their seriousness about pursuing cybercrime and cyber criminals if it ever involves them!
I am glad my wife is okay, but I was concerned about her in the first place because she writes articles for Ectnomy . As readers of her blog know, she writes about personal cybersecurity issues.
Conclusion
I hope you will find the above helpful. It took me awhile to figure all this out because I am not a cyber security expert. I just had to learn it myself through pain, punishment and oodles of reading (as well as asking a lot of questions).
Make sure you and your business protect yourself by following the information above. Most importantly, make sure your family is protected too.
Don't get caught with your pants down! Protect your personal security at all costs . . . and then think about protecting your business' security too.