Last year, in the United States alone, more than 1.244 million data breaches occurred and more than 446.5 million records were disclosed. Consumers would be right to be worried.
For those of us who manage security operations, this season of increased risk requires increased attention. The proliferation of networked devices has led to more security holes, making our work much more difficult. Cybercriminals are developing more malicious apps or intensifying phishing campaigns across mobile and social networking platforms. These platforms are offering a growing number of online shopping services, and IBM expects a significant increase in cybercrime, mainly related to computer fraud and identity theft.
Researchers at Tenable, a Columbia, Md.-based security solutions company for online networking, confirm that cybercriminals are more than ever trying to use the holidays to exploit the vulnerabilities of online shoppers.
Consumer Reports, the U.S. consumer watchdog, recently warned of online purchases related to Cyber Monday sales, Christmas specials and discounts. Bad habits, lack of defense mechanisms and lack of awareness of major cyber threats expose users to fraud, especially this time of year. If we reduce our alertness, we are more likely to be victims of a cyberattack.
If consumer websites offer advantageous deals that look too good to be true, they are most likely criminals. These offers frequently come in the form of phishing emails, which is one of the most widespread threats to Internet users.
When you’re on the couch and opening emails or social media, pay special attention to the links you click on or the files you download, as they may lead you to fraudulent websites or contain malware that will infect your computer. Online shoppers can easily pass their credit card information inadvertently to cybercriminals and increase their risk of identity theft.
Through introducing Security Orchestration, Automation and Response (SOAR) platforms as a new category of security tools, you can help prevent your business from becoming a victim of cybercriminals. Although these tools are still in the beginning stages, it is a step in the right direction in preventing more cybercrimes.
At MDL Technology, your company’s security is our number one concern. By offering services such as 24/7 support, network monitoring, offsite data backups, auditing and compliance and more we help ensure that you don’t need to stress about private information becoming public. Learn more about the services we offer by visiting our website.
