Cybersecurity For Small Businesses

The internet has allowed small and big businesses from any part of the world to reach larger and new markets. It also provided opportunities to work more productivity and efficiently by using various computer based tools. Cybersecurity should take on an integral part of your business security plan regardless of whether you wish to improve the security of your website or adopt cloud computing.

Cybersecurity tips to protect your company and clients from cyberattacks

Information technology and broadband help small businesses get access to new markets and boost efficiency and productivity. However, small businesses require a cybersecurity strategy if they want to protect their company, clients, and data from all kinds of cybersecurity threats.

Train employees – develop basic securitypractices as well as policies for staff like establishing the right internet use guidelines and requiring strong passwords.

Protect networks, computers, and information – the best defenses against online threats like malware and viruses are installing the latest web browser, security software, as well as operating system.

Provide firewall security – a firewall prevents outsiders from gaining access to the data on your private network.

Develop mobile device action plan – mobile devices could create challenges on both the security and management level. So, make sure that their devices are password protected. Security apps must also be installed and data should also be encrypted.

Create backups – make sure you backup the data on all of your computers on a regular basis. These include financial files, accounts payable/receivable files, databases, electronic spreadsheets, and documents.

Regulate physical access to computers – you should prevent the use and access of your computers at work by unauthorized individuals. Lock up your laptops whenever they’re unattended since they are one of the easiest targets for theft and can easily be lost.

Secure Wi-Fi networks – in case you are using a Wi-Fi network in your office, be sure that it is secure, hidden, and encrypted. Make sure that your Wi-Fi network is set up in a way that it doesn’t broadcast its network name, called as the Service Set Identifier.

Use best practices when handling payments – use only the most reliable and validated anti-fraud services and tools by working with trustworthy processors and banks.

Limit access to information and data – no employee should have access to all company data. They must also be given access to the data systems that they need for their jobs. They should also not be allowed to install any software without permission.

Password and authentication – ask employees to use unique passwords. They should also change them every three months to lessen the chances of hacking.

Cybersecurity Resources for Small Businesses

The links and descriptions that are provided here are only for information purposes. The FCC is not endorsing any non-FCC service or product and isn’t responsible for the accuracy, timeliness, and completeness of the content of these non-FCC website.

• Global Cyber Alliance's (GCA) cybersecurity toolkit for small businesses with free cybersecurity resources
• What Small Business Owners Need to Know About Cybersecurity, Entrepreneur Magazine
• 3 Biggest Cybersecurity Threats Facing Small Businesses Right Now, Entrepreneur Magazine
• Free training materials, security configuration guides from Internet Security Alliance
• Symantec Security Solutions for Small Business
• McAfee Security Solutions for Small Business
• Microsoft Cybersecurity Tips and Technology for Small Businesses
• Small Business Solutions from StopBadware
• U.S. Chamber of Commerce Internet Security Essentials for Businesses 2.0
• FICO and U.S. Chamber of Commerce Assessment of Cyber Security Risk Report
• FICO Cyber Risk Assessment Score
• "Small Business Big Threat" from the Michigan Small Business Development Corporation

Call SpartanTec, Inc. now and let our team of IT experts help you set up the most effective cybersecurity measures to protect your company, clients, and business information from different kinds of cyberattacks.

SpartanTec, Inc. Columbia, SC 29201 (803) 408-7166 http://manageditservicescolumbia.com/

cities served:
Columbia, West Columbia, Cayce, St Andrews, Lexington, Oak Grove

Malware Now Hiding Inside Fake Copies Of Online Books

Kaspersky Lab has recently issued a warning that should alarm and dismay students around the world.  Based on the findings of some of the company's researchers, they've discovered a new surge in malware masquerading as legitimate digital textbooks. Given the staggering price of physical textbooks, many students have changed to acquiring digital copies of the books they need.

While the price difference is considerable between the digital and physical copies, penny-pinching students often shop for the best deals possible on the digital copies of the books they're buying.  Unfortunately, a disturbing percentage of bargain-priced texts are poisoned and used to infect the devices of the students downloading them with a variety of malicious payloads.

Based on Kaspersky's research, there were in excess of 365,000 attacks last year that relied on malicious documents with educational-related filenames.  Of those, 233,000 of the cases involved poisoned documents downloaded by more than 74,000 people and blocked by the company's software.

According to a Kaspersky spokesperson, about a third of those files were malware disguised as textbooks, and more than 30,000 users attempted to open them.

The company was able to block an impressive percentage of those types of attacks. However, based on their own numbers, that still means that more than 132,000 infection attempts were successful.  While the attacks were made using a staggering array of malware, the most commonly employed were identified as:

• MediaGet
• Agent.gen & Win32.Agent.ifdx
• The Stalk worm

Of the 'Big Three,' the MediaGet downloader is the least harmful, designed to simply download an unnecessary torrent client.  Unfortunately, the other two downloaders, WinLNK.Agent.gen and Win32.Agent.ifdx are capable of dropping all manner of nasty malware onto an infected device.
Stalk is different from these others, being classified as a worm.  Its main goal in life is to spread itself to as many machines as it can and will merrily mail and text itself to the entire contacts list on any infected machine.

The bottom line from Kaspersky is simply this:  Bargain priced digital texts very often have a high hidden cost.  It pays to be wary.

Call SpartanTec, Inc. in Columbia to know more about our hosted anti-virus service. Keep your computer and important files safe and protected against common security issues like malware, spyware, and viruses. Let our team create and implement and effective anti-virus solution for you. 

SpartanTec, Inc. Columbia, SC 29201 (803) 408-7166 http://manageditservicescolumbia.com/

cities served:
Columbia, West Columbia, Cayce, St Andrews, Lexington, Oak Grove