October is the perfect time for scary things like haunted houses and horror movies. It’s also Cybersecurity Awareness Month. Cybercrimes can be really scary! Businesses, especially real estate, are increasingly digital, leaving you open for threats of data breaches and other cyberattacks.
Cyber complaints have increased from 301,580 in 2017 to 847,376 in 2021. Losses have amounted to $6.9 million in 2021.
But if you know what to look for and how to protect yourself, you can avoid a lot of common scams and keep cybercrime from haunting you. We have talked about the dangers of wire fraud before, but there are many other types of digital dangers you should know about.
One commonly known scam is phishing attacks, which are fake communication that involves tricking you into clicking a link, downloading an attachment or giving out sensitive information.
Ransomware is another type of cyber threat on the rise, increasing more than 13% in a single year. Ransomware is designed to prevent a user’s access to files on their computer. These cybercriminals will demand payment to regain access to files. It’s usually distributed by malicious websites or opening suspicious attachments.
A third way is vendor compromise, meaning if a hacker compromises the computer system of a third-party partner, your sensitive business and client information could be exposed.
However, there are easy ways to protect yourself and your business including…
1. Educating employees – 95% of cybersecurity breaches are caused by human error. By training employees on using strong passwords, recognizing phishing and not clicking or downloading suspicious links, you can keep sensitive information safe.
2. Keeping systems and software up to date – Updating computer systems and software can prevent vulnerabilities. Security patches are often part of software updates so that is why you should always update it.
3. Using safe internet connection – Accessing the internet from public wifi means there is no guarantee that these connections are secure. Don’t use these networks when accessing sensitive information.
While cyber threats can be spooky, you don’t have to let them scare you. If you have more questions or if we could help you do business more securely in any way, please reach out to us directly. You can also learn more about what Transnation Title is doing to manage email security and protect you information on the latest Talks with Transnation video here. We also hope you have a fun and candy-filled Halloween!