Page 55 - Cyber Warnings

The Latest Business Cybersecurity Concerns for 2017

There are a variety of trending topics dominating the cybersecurity world now and into 2017,
including mobile devices, the Internet of Things (IoT), and machine learning. Botnets are
projected to grow in intelligence and number. In addition, detection and response will be just as
important as prevention.
One factor that kept coming up in my recent research on cybersecurity is a concern over the
Internet of Things (IoT)—especially because, as EDN Europe reminds us, “a specific end device
may not be the actual target for an attack… But that device might be highly attractive as a
gateway to the network to which it is connected…” In other words, IoT-connected devices could
be seen as easy targets or ways in to gain access to other connected devices that are richer
sources of data.

Part of the reason for this is that many IoT devices, such as digital video recorders, were
produced with default passwords that have never changed and are identifiable via a simple
internet scan, whereupon they can be compromised.

Mobile devices, also, are being seen as fertile ground for possible cyberattacks, as mobile apps
are vulnerable entry-points for data breaches. Because of this, it’s always wise to encrypt data
using corporate security software, if available, and connect your smartphone to company
networks via VPN connections. Harvard Business Review also recommends backing up
information to cloud services and to store as little as possible on your device, in the event of a
security breach.

One type of data-stealing attempt that’s become common is a personalized attack from a
criminalized network, often sent in the form of email enticing the recipient to download a file or
click a link, which proceeds to deliver malware to the victim’s computer or device. Another
common type of theft involves an emailed threat to launch a Distributed Denial-of-Service
(DDoS) attack, unless the recipient agrees to pay a certain amount of money.

So what can you do to protect your business from malicious hackers? There are a number of
preventative measures you or a cybersecurity specialist can take to safeguard your company
and your employees:

1. Keep all security patches and antivirus software updated, so as to make sure you are
inoculated from the last malware and viruses.

2. Limit employees’ access to customer data or other personally identifiable information
(PII), which increases the possibility of data breaches.

3. Try to avoid printing everything out, since paper trails allow for visual hacking.

4. Learn about cyber fraud methodology and educate yourself about the process.

55 Cyber Warnings E-Magazine January 2017 Edition
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