March 24, 2023 | By christa

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Reduce Security Risks With A Hacker Mindset

• Cybersecurity

As a business owner, one of your top goals is to protect your business against cyber attacks; you need to know exactly what attackers are thinking and planning. If you look at things from a hacker’s perspective, it is possible to reduce the risks of a breach or attack by malicious cybercriminals. So, let’s get into the mindset of a hacker!

A Hacker’s Goal Is To Make As Much Money As Quickly As Possible

The hacker’s motivation is the same as most criminals: making money quickly. The difference is that cybercriminals can make their money in a variety of ways. They may steal it by wiring themselves money from a business, sell valuable business data to underground markets, hold business data for ransom, and more.

While larger corporations often have deeper pockets, small to medium size businesses are at risk too. In fact, in 2021, 61% of SMBs were the target of a cyberattack!

What Hackers Are Looking For

Security Flaws

Hackers can gain access by exploiting vulnerabilities in your technology infrastructure by taking advantage of unsecured wireless networks, out-of-date software, or weak passwords. Ensure you update all of your software regularly, use strong passwords, and patch any holes that hackers could exploit.

High-Profile Services

If a hacker knows that there is something valuable on your system, like credit card info or social security numbers, then they will try their best to get access to it because those things are worth money in the underground economy! This means keeping up with good password practices, keeping track of who has access to what, using two-factor authentication whenever possible–the list goes on!

Systems With User Access

Hackers use individual accounts with system access to take over entire systems to have full control over everything within them. For example, hackers can change passwords, delete users, download data, and even lock everyone out of a system and install ransomware by accessing a single user’s account.

Human Error

Hackers use social engineering tactics to get their hands on sensitive data. For example, they may send an email asking for user login information or trick people into clicking on malicious links or attachments that contain malware or viruses that can infect your computer system. That’s why training your staff to spot social engineering tricks is crucial.

What To Do In Case Of A Breach

You may feel powerless if you’ve taken all the precautions but still experience a data breach. But some steps can be taken to limit the damage and reduce the risks of further attacks. How you do this depends on your organization’s response plan.

Here’s a general process to follow:

1. Identify the source and extent of the breach.
2. Determine how much data was accessed and what type of information was compromised.
3. Notify the authorities as well as affected consumers.
4. Plan for damage mitigation and cleanup.

Reduce Risks With IT Support Services

Thinking like a hacker gives you key insights into how you can protect your business and identify vulnerabilities that hackers look for. If you experience a breach, act fast and follow your organization’s response plan. If you need assistance, contact LeadingIT for small business IT support and ransomware prevention. We provide security assessments and cybersecurity solutions to help keep your business safe.

LeadingIT offers 24/7, all-inclusive, fast and friendly technology and cybersecurity support for nonprofits, manufacturers, schools, accounting firms, religious organizations, government, and law offices with 20-200 employees across the Chicagoland area.