Tag: cybersecurity threats

Cyber Winter, Mitigating the Risks | Cybersecurity Threats

Priming for a Cybersecurity Winter

Extreme weather events are becoming more frequent around the world, particular only to the area in which you live. The latest floods that affected many parts of South Africa are a powerful reminder that it’s essential to be prepared for the unexpected.

Another danger that is not dissimilar to the risks of winter that has increased hugely in recent years, is the threat of cyber attacks – and preparation is just as important to combat this online scourge.

Just as you would safeguard your home against the threats of winter, here are the steps you can follow to safeguard your business data as online threats persist.

Get your data ready for “cyber winter”

You wouldn’t leave your house vulnerable to extreme events like flooding and severe rainstorms – yet many businesses are still unprepared for a cyberattack.

Here’s how you can prepare your company for the deep winter that could follow a major data breach or ransomware event.

Like winter, cyberattacks are coming

Every autumn, homeowners across the country have their roofs checked for leaks and their wooden doors and windows oiled in preparation for the coming rain and cold.

Cybersecurity is no less important, and getting your business ready for this year’s onslaught of ransomware and social engineering attacks is crucial.

Every department in your business will need  to do a data audit and compile a full inventory of sensitive information, divided into the following categories:

  • customer data
  • employee data
  • payment credentials
  • proprietary business data

Once you know exactly how much data your business has in storage, it’s time to estimate the potential damage that  could be caused if it were to be compromised in a cyber attack.

A business impact assessment of this kind will help you estimate the response requirements that your organisation will have to carry out in the wake of a cyber attack.

In any scenario, you’re safer with secure cloud storage

When it comes to cybersecurity, it’s always best to prepare for the worst. Keeping your company’s data safe in the cloud will give you peace of mind as you navigate the freeze outs that can happen in this sometimes scary online world.

Our range of secure cloud storage packages for businesses of every size will help ensure that you have an uncorrupted copy of all your data available for rapid restoration.

 

ChatGPT, the revolutionary AI Bot | AI Technology

Is ChatGPT the newest cybersecurity threat?   

The hot topic at almost any workplace meeting or social gathering since its release in November 2022 has been ChatGPT, the revolutionary AI bot that can, it seems, write almost anything.

For those not yet familiar with this new technology, ChatGPT is fundamentally a chatbot that uses AI to answer questions or prompts by way of text. The functionality of this revolutionary AI includes capabilities such as search and code generation to create something as simple as a meal plan with a shopping list, or as complex as writing code for new technology.

As industries around the world deliberate on just how AI is going to influence the way they work in the years to come, cybersecurity experts are ringing alarm bells over the risks that this type of technology might soon pose.

From cybercriminals using ChatGPT to write malware code to a new generation of scam emails that sound totally legitimate, the risk horizon around artificial intelligence is escalating. Here are some things for business owners to look out for as the machines march nearer.

Bots can write now – and some of them are writing very bad things

Like school teachers and college professors around the world who have been astonished by ChatGPT’s ability to write essays that seem legitimate on the surface, cybersecurity managers are waking up to the conceivable risks that AI could also write dangerous scripts and code used to create viruses, malware, and ransomware.

  • Open AI, ChatGPT’s parent company, has tried to reassure the public that the product will not create dangerous or harmful text or computer code, but hackers could trick it into doing just that by varying the input that they use and the questions they ask it.
  • One of the risks associated with ChatGPT’s ability to write text is that fraudulent emails, including phishing scams, could be produced by the bot using almost perfect English grammar.
  • Errors in punctuation and grammar used to be noticeable tell-tale signs of fraudulent emails (especially with those written by non-native English speakers), but with advanced language AI this detection method has gone out the window.

It’s important to note that while ChatGPT itself is not malicious, it has the potential to be used in a sinister manner to create malicious code.

The sheer volume of output that an AI text bot can produce is astounding, and hackers can now rely on automated text generators to create thousands of words in a short period of time, potentially flooding the Internet with fake emails that are almost impossible to filter.

Can cybersecurity software stop AI in its tracks?

Cybersecurity providers will need to develop superior detection tools that can tell if an email has been written by AI or not, and Google has already announced that it will penalise machine generated websites.

Until these applications are reliable and available to the public, the risk of falling victim to ransomware and email scams may increase exponentially – and that calls for a top-level cybersecurity setup in every business.

Stay ahead of the bots with secure cloud storage

At a time when potentially dangerous communications and computer code are flooding the internet, and as cybersecurity experts explore the possibilities of using this revolutionary technology to overcome malicious threats, what can you do to feel secure?

To begin with, start to familiarise yourself and your employees with ChatGPT and use its threat detection capabilities to your own advantage. For example, if you suspect an email to be spam or phishing, ask the chatbot “is this email safe or a scam”. The chatbot has the ability to detect and classify unusual communication patterns and would likely advise you not to respond if it detects malicious language.

You can also stay one step ahead of the hackers and their AI sidekicks by browsing our range of affordable online cloud backup packages for businesses and households today. Ensure peace of mind for yourself and your business. No matter what happens to you data – if it’s backed up online, it’s never lost.

Big Cybersecurity trends 2022 | Cybercrime

4 big cybersecurity trends to watch out for in 2022

It’s a new year and a changed world – and in the cybersecurity world that means fresh challenges as we continue to keep our client’s safe in the cloud and keep our clients up to date and aware of all the latest security threats.

While we gear up for 2022, there are several big trends already taking shape in the field of online security.

From the ever-present threat of phishing attacks and ransomware to the increasingly online business environment brought about by the pandemic, it’s essential for businesses to be fully aware of the ever-growing threats. Here are four big trends to look out for this year.

1. artificial intelligence learnings

While the ever-increasing predictive powers of artificial intelligence and the adoption of this technology in financial services and fraud detection make AI incredibly useful, cybercriminals are also aware of the benefits of machine learning to evade cybersecurity. Many businesses are now using or at least testing AI as a tool in identifying and countering cybersecurity threats.

2. cybercrime is hitting SA hard

As if the pandemic and a country‘s political dramas weren’t enough, South Africa is waking up to a scary revelation when it comes to cybersecurity.

  • Traditionally, the kind of cybercrimes that affected companies in the United States, Europe, and Asia weren’t as common in South Africa – mostly due to the country’s slower adoption of e-commerce.
  • The past few years have seen a huge leap forward in SA when it comes to online business and that’s both a very good thing and an additional source of potential cybercrime.

Major data breaches at prominent SA companies, as well as several government departments, have brought home the message that 2022 needs to be the year when our cybersecurity preparedness catches up with our progress in e-commerce.

3. ransomware is our biggest enemy 

The UK and other foreign markets are being hit hard by ransomware attacks, and the hybrid work arrangements that are still common in SA mean that these attacks will only increase in 2022.

In the past, ransomware was typically deployed through phishing attacks which infects devices with a virus, locking files and threatening to destroy them unless a ransom is paid. More recently, a worrying trend has been direct infection via USB from people who have access to machines.

Vigilance, employee training and education, updated cyber security software, and secure data storage and cloud backup are all essential to battle this new and sneaky type of crime.

4. the IoT needs extra protection 

The Internet of Things – all the smart devices we now own and love – are also prime targets for hackers and cybercriminals.

As we move toward a fully integrated digital future, we’ll need to keep a close eye on our mobile and smart devices and ensure that they don’t become the weak link in our data security strategy.

a safe 2022 begins in the cloud

To start the year on a good note with your data security sorted, fully encrypted cloud storage is a great idea.

Our range of secure cloud storage is ideal for businesses and individuals alike.

Cybersecurity Vulnerabilities | Data Threats

Does your company have cybersecurity vulnerabilities?

As a 21st-century entrepreneur you possibly do a lot of business on the Internet. There’s no doubt it’s a great strategy, but it comes with its own set of risks. From data breaches to ransom ware and your run-of-the-mill viruses, there are a host of dangers out there on the web Continue reading Cybersecurity Vulnerabilities | Data Threats

Common Website Concerns | Cybersecurity

Common Website Cybersecurity Concerns

While you were sleeping … a thief gained access and stole your valuables. A statement many in South Africa are not unaccustomed to hearing. This time however, the thief didn’t gain access through a broken window or smashed lock, they simply logged onto their PC and found a way into your website. The valuables?  Your data, your server, and a massive cost to your business in downtime and revenue.

Losing sleep over cybersecurity concerns is the new ‘normal’ for business owners, especially with the pandemic and the increased number of people working from home.

Often, successful hacking attempts are a result of basic human error with poor password security, hosting accounts and the site itself. Unfortunately, these errors make it easier for hackers to attack and cripple your website. Phishing, malware, and DOS or DDoS attacks are just a few of the ways hackers can try to take over your website.

malware

Malicious files cause damage to your system, collect or destroy sensitive information and prevent access by locking you out of the system entirely. Viruses, spyware, ransomware, adware, trojans and worms are just some of the many common types of malware.

phishing

Hackers commonly use email or social media to pose as a legitimate entity such as a bank or government authority. There is usually an urgent request to update personal information on a seemingly valid page, but in reality, sensitive information is being harvested. Common phishing attacks come in different shapes and forms such as spear phishing, pharming and whaling.

DOS or DDoS attacks

Denial-of-Service or Distributed denial-of-service attacks are when the hacker uses one or more infected machines to send an overwhelming amount of traffic to the server forcing it to reduce its functionality and eventually stop working.

Other attack methods include SQL injections, whereby hackers use code to reveal both private and admin information. They can also use cross-scripting to mix legitimate content with malicious code, which causes the visitors’ browsers to become infected when accessing the website. And lastly, the hackers’ main form of cyberattack is still the age-old password attack.

People tend to use easy-to-remember words, phrases, or numbers that the patient hacker readily guesses. This attitude to passwords may be down to the sheer volume of passwords needed in our daily lives these days. However, this complacency is a hackers’ dream and gives them easy access to your data in no time.

how can you protect your cybersecurity before the ‘lights’ go out?

  1. Utilise a password management tool to manage employee passwords securely
  2. Use Secure software and plugins
  3. Optimise your website code
  4. Install a rigorous firewall
  5. Install two-factor authentication
  6. Update your admin username and login URL
  7. Utilise an online backup service to backup your data automatically

A successful web page comprises three essential elements: a website builder, a domain name, and a trustworthy web hosting service. A dependable web hosting service ensures you have additional security needed to prevent malicious cyberattacks by applying layers of security before accommodating your account.

last say on common cybersecurity concerns

By following the above recommendations and selecting a secure host, you can eliminate your cybersecurity concerns and catch up on some well-deserved sleep.

Your A-Z List of Cybersecurity Threats

In today’s modern world of IT and the pace at which it develops you could be forgiven for thinking that you are forced to face a new cybersecurity risk or threat almost daily. Sadly, this isn’t far from the reality.

Cybercriminals are developing new cyber strategies just as quickly (or even quicker) than the pros are shutting them down. A consequence of these relentless cyberattacks is the need to ensure that you’re always fully aware of new and developing cybersecurity threat types.

Here’s a brief list of the most common cybersecurity threat types to be aware of this year.

  • apts – advanced persistent threats

This is a very sneaky type of attack, whereby the cybercriminal quietly infiltrates the network and remains there, undetected, for an extended period while slowly syphoning data from the network.

  • ddos – distributed denial of service

This type of attack involves hackers flooding a server, website or similar with a multitude of connection requests, packets, and messages. The outcome is a very slow system or a crashed system that legitimate traffic is unable to access.

  • insider threats

The term “insider threats” implies that the threat or risk is malicious, but this type of threat can also be through unintentional human error and negligence. These threats are human-caused data losses and breaches that typically come from customers, employees, and contractors.

  • malware

Malware is malicious software that is either purposefully or inadvertently (by clicking on an email link or attachment or visiting a risky site) downloaded to a computer. Once the malware is on the computer in the form of spyware, a Trojan, a virus, or worm, it starts to cause harm to the computer and the files saved on it.

  • mitm – man in the middle attacks

An MitM is a type of attack that involves eavesdropping. A hacker intercepts messages between two parties and relays them to a third party so that the information can be used for malicious intent.

  • phishing attacks

Even though phishing attacks are one of the most prominent ways of hackers getting inside computers and networks, many people still don’t really understand that phishing is a form of social engineering. Hackers create messages (emails, content) that appear to be from a legitimate source and send them out to people. When the recipient opens the message or email, they assume it is legitimate and follow the instructions in the message. This can lead to them inadvertently sharing their personal particulars, log in details, and even credit card details with a cybercriminal.

  • ransomware

Ransomware is a type of malware that is particularly malicious and damaging. When a hacker manages to get ransomware on a device (usually through an email link or visiting a risky website), they lock the user out of their own files by encrypting them.  When the user tries to access the files, a message pops up demanding a payment to decrypt the files on the device.

  • spear phishing

Phishing attacks are usually random, whereas spear phishing attacks target a specific person, business, or organisation. This type of attack is very strategic and includes advanced skills from the attackers. They aren’t just taking a chance on anyone – they’re after something specific.

  • social engineering

Social engineering takes advantage of human gullibility and error. This type of attack uses human interaction to lure people into breaking regular security processes to gain access to sensitive data. An example of social engineering is when someone phones you and says they are from the bank. They have some of your information but require you to answer a few security questions before they can proceed with the very official sounding call. You proceed to give them your full physical address, ID number, and banking details. You may even give them your card details if they request it. This is just one example of social engineering.

the importance of knowing what risks are out there

The value of the list above lies in the fact that you can only create a cybersecurity system and protocol for your business if you know what you are protecting it from. Threats are changing consistently, and as such, you will need to change, update, and enhance your security protocols consistently.

last word on cybersecurity threats

Protecting your data and devices is so much more than simply avoiding the hassle of encrypted files and crashing computers. It’s about protecting your clients, defending your company’s good image, and avoiding the risk of paying legal fees if you happen to mishandle someone else’s sensitive data. Familiarise yourself with the threats out there and get to work sprucing up your cybersecurity system today.

Do you know of any cybersecurity threats that don’t appear on our list? Let us know!