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You might hold the secret to data security in your finger

The secret to data security could be at your fingertips.

Keeping our data secure is crucial, whether it’s business secrets or personal information. Passwords were once the top method for protection.

But do they still suffice?

Recent reports indicate many still prefer passwords, with a minority choosing biometric options like fingerprints. The reluctance is understandable, given the general concern for data privacy and security.

So, what are biometrics, and why consider them over passwords?

Biometrics utilize unique physical or behavioral characteristics, such as fingerprints, facial structure, or eye scans, to confirm identity. They offer a higher security level than passwords, which are vulnerable to being forgotten, stolen, or hacked.

Concerns about biometric data falling into the wrong hands exist, but such incidents are rare and require significant expertise.

Biometrics remain a robust defense against cyber threats, offering more difficulty in duplication and greater convenience than passwords. Forget the hassle of remembering complex passwords—a simple biometric scan suffices.

Unconvinced about biometrics?

Consider passkeys, a modern authentication alternative to traditional passwords. Passkeys employ unique codes that are challenging to phish, enhancing security.

Combining biometrics with passkeys could significantly bolster your business’s security, simplifying security procedures for everyone.

While passwords have been reliable historically, the future of security may lie in biometrics and passkeys.

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More businesses are proactively investing in cyber security defences

 

As more businesses take a proactive approach by investing in their cyber security defences, the trend is encouraging. However, statistics reveal that about half of small and medium-sized businesses still lack any cyber security measures.

If your business is one of them, it’s time to take action.

Cyber security might seem daunting, but it begins with a few straightforward steps. Here are some basics you can implement immediately.

Start by considering encryption and multi-factor authentication (MFA). Encryption acts like a secure vault for your data, ensuring that even if intercepted, your information remains unreadable without the encryption key.

MFA adds an extra layer of protection by requiring a second device, such as your phone, to verify your identity when logging in. Think of it as needing two keys to unlock a door instead of just one.

Using a password manager is another simple step. These tools generate long, random passwords for each account and remember them for you, making life easier while enhancing your business’s security.

Advanced monitoring tools offer additional protection. These tools function like security cameras for your digital space, continuously monitoring for suspicious activity. They alert you to any unusual occurrences, providing early warnings if something’s amiss.

Phishing scams are another threat to be aware of. These scams involve criminals attempting to deceive you into revealing personal information by impersonating trusted entities like suppliers or banks. Educating your team on recognising these scams is vital. If something seems off, it probably is.

Why is investing in cyber security crucial?

  1. Protects your data
  2. Avoids financial loss
  3. Builds trust with your customers and partners

Your business data is valuable, and protecting it safeguards your operations and reputation. Cyber attacks can be costly, not just financially but also in terms of time and resources. Prevention is ALWAYS cheaper than dealing with the aftermath of a breach. Additionally, demonstrating a commitment to security builds trust with your customers and partners, assuring them that their information is safe with you.

Investing in cyber security doesn’t have to be overwhelming. We are experts in this field and are here to help secure your business. Whether you need initial advice or a comprehensive security plan, get in touch.

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Viruses, Ransomware & Phishing, Oh My! Part 2

This is Part 2 of a 3 part series on keeping up with computer threats in the digital age. If you missed the first part, you can read about Viruses, Spyware & Trojans in Part 1.

Ransomware​

Ransomware is something that has been in the news a lot lately. As more of our systems and services have an online component, criminal syndicates are creating ways to take advantage of this for financial gain. A ransomware program has the ability to gain access to a system and spread, it works away in the background of a device and, in essence, can lock you out of your data by encrypting it or even moving it. Often the system will then display a message saying that the data has been locked and that you will need to pay a ransom to have it unlocked.

Ransomware is the number 1 security threat and can be highly profitable for hackers. Ransomware attacks can target individual computer users and small to medium sized businesses but increasingly large corporations and even government services and providers are being attacked. Many of these breaches have made the news lately with high profile providers such as Colonial Petroleum Pipeline and multiple hospitals, having their systems locked. At times the locking of this data can have very serious and even life-threatening consequences.

An attack on your personal system may see a request for a relatively small amount of money in the thousands but some larger targets may be required to pay millions of dollars to retrieve their data. Worryingly ransomware threats are on the increase with some hackers even offering RaaS or Ransomware as a Service where a hacker can provide a system that will take control of the whole process including the requesting of funds.

 

Similar to ransomware is Doxware or Leakware which can infect your system and leverage your sensitive photos or files. It requests a ransom, which if not paid, will see your data shared online.

Ransomware can be hard to protect against with quality antivirus software being an essential first level of protection. As ransomware can be used to remotely lock your system through the use of services like iCloud, good password security is a must. Make sure to use different passwords for each of your logins and change them often. A password manager can assist in remembering all of your passwords with some even notifying you of a breach. Two-factor authentication is another security measure that can help you to stay secure. As companies like Windows and Apple are constantly fixing security vulnerabilities as, they will release system updates which contain ‘patches’ or fixes. Keeping your computer or mobile device up to date is a great general security measure.

Keeping a regular backup that is separate from your main system is also a good option. If your device is infected with ransomware, then you will have a copy of your data to restore. You can regularly backup to your cloud services such as Dropbox, Google Drive and iCloud or use a backup specific program that backups to an external hard drive while you work. A good practice is to have a rotating system of backup drives with one kept offsite. While external hard drives can be infected by ransomware, keeping an offsite drive will minimise this risk.

 

Continue reading this series of 3 articles in Part 3, where we take a look at the threat of Phishing.Â