Data breaches have become a recurrent problem in recent years, especially in the corporate world. Every day, thousands of attacks are registered, which has caused expenses that exceed billions of dollars to the economies of the planet.
The good news is that companies have awakened to the topic and have been investing in protection technologies. But that alone is not enough. It is necessary that each person also do their part.
Below we will discuss why data breaches are becoming an epidemic and will also discuss several effective ways to prevent data breaches.
Why are Data Breaches becoming an Epidemic?
- Lack of an Information Security Policy:
It is pertinent that this factor is at the top of the list, as parts of the other factors listed are consequences of not establishing an Information Security Policy.
Let’s imagine that a newly hired employee, as soon as he gets to know his new work environment, finds his colleagues freely accessing different pages and being irresponsible towards the company’s assets.
Your first impression will be that the company does not care about security or is unaware of the risks that the internet offers. Whether he thinks this is good or not depends entirely on his sense of professionalism.
Defining a policy is critical to creating an organization that corresponds to the use of technology within the company. Data is an extremely valuable element and must not, under any circumstances, be vulnerable to external and internal threats.
Every day, there are more threats to Information Security, be it the implementation of new penetration techniques or the creation of a new type of virus/malware.
The fact is that no individual or company is safe these days, especially those that so far have not implemented a defense mechanism that at least mitigates the risks. In the midst of all this, it’s not hard to find companies that don’t believe they can be targeted by cybercriminals.
Cyber attacks on companies have such major consequences as theft, breach, and hijacking of sensitive data stored in their systems.
- Ignorance towards internal threats:
Insider threats are represented by employees, third parties who are in restricted environments, or infiltrated people. And, usually, they have full or partial access, if there is the hierarchy of access to company data.
But the threat is not always intended. Depending on the level of oversight, as well as technology usage policies, it is common for employees to be free to visit any webpage and download content. Thus, infections from websites hosted on malicious servers and malware are often the cause of a breach.
- Human failures:
It can be understood as “human faults”: some accidents and non-recommended practices that involve physical and logical aspects, such as:
– Removal of data or file by accident
– Writing over an existing file
– Uninstalling/changing crucial system files
– Exposure of the machine to liquids (water, coffee, etc.)
– Distractions that result in computer damage (falls, storage in hazardous environments, among others)
The risks that threaten the physical integrity of computers are even more recurrent when the company provides laptops or mobile devices, such as tablets, as work tools. It is no accident that some laptop manufacturers offer guarantees against accidental damage.
- Data corruption:
This cause is directly related to the vulnerability of the system, since, most of the time, files are corrupted as the consequence of ransomware attacks (data hijacking).
Ransomware is malware whose main function is to encrypt or prevent access to a large number of files on a computer, data system, or even an entire network.
In order for access to be resumed, the virus requires a payment (usually made in cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin) in exchange for a password that grants access to the device. In case the rescue is not done or the user tries to unlock the device by force, data can be permanently removed.
- Lack of backup:
In the same way that the lack of good antivirus software leaves the system vulnerable, neglecting the backup is highly detrimental to a business, in addition to being one of the main reasons that lead to data loss.
Is your company having trouble meeting the backup schedule? So, professional backup automation software is one of the solutions to ensure that backups are done frequently. On the other hand, if the difficulty is to keep track of whether the process is running correctly, backup audits are recommended.
Tips to ensure your data security:
Dual Identity Authentication Control Factor:
Today, most digital applications and services offer multi-step authentications and identifications. In practice, this resembles the consumer’s relationship with a bank’s app. In it, you use a password, a token, and even a fingerprint to transfer money or check your account balance. This double-check allows the consumer to combine different ways of verification, thus raising the level of control over access to information.
A password for each account:
Unfortunately, using the same password for multiple accounts is more common than it sounds and poses a huge risk to digital security. And we cannot give in to convenience when it comes to digital security.
Think about it: if a hacker discovers your password, he will inevitably test it on all emails and accounts. He may even have access to your credit card data.
An interesting tip is to adopt a password manager, that is, a program that creates unique strong passwords for all your accounts. The best thing about it is that you’ll have to remember only one passcode – the one from the manager itself.
VPN usage:
VPNs are virtual private networks that provide secure access to data stored on servers, including through a smartphone. Today, in addition to companies, ordinary people also have access to this technology. However, beware of free VPN solutions. When it comes to security, the best thing is to look for more consolidated and cost-effective services.
Be cautious when interacting with unsolicited emails:
Phishing is how hackers spread emails with viruses. Today, unfortunately, they are all over the place, including your inbox. To avoid falling into these fake messages, always pay attention to the message contacts, especially the ones you didn’t request. Before accessing a link, check the origin and legitimacy of the sender.
When in doubt, don’t even click. Otherwise, you can use Nuwber – type the name of the sender in the search bar. Analyze who that person is. And then decide if you can trust them.
The best way to keep yourself safe from hacking attacks and, subsequently, data breaches is to stay alert and aware of new technologies and threats.