BreachExchange mailing list archives
How to Compromise Your Company's Security in Three Small Steps
From: Audrey McNeil <audrey () riskbasedsecurity com>
Date: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 19:10:46 -0600
http://java.dzone.com/articles/how-compromise-your-companys?mz=62447-cloud How cautious are you at work concerning data and cyber security? Everyday employees unknowingly bring thieves into the workplace. Hidden within innocent looking actions lurk data breaches, identity thefts, money siphoning, and many other technology related crimes. Worse, they could lead to your departure from the company. However, these crimes can be prevented by using security measures whenever possible to prevent information leaks. How can you prevent cyber security breaches ? Below are three easy cyber security mistakes employees make and how you can better protect yourself and your company. Mistake #1: Compromising your electronics Never leave electronics alone, unlocked, or in an exposed place. Crimes like these are, first and foremost, those of opportunity. An unguarded laptop or smartphone can be quickly taken, and all the data breached if not encrypted and saved to a server with a VPN. Even then, the thieves can retrieve customer information such as addresses, account numbers, social security numbers, and other sensitive data easily from a stolen item. In addition, be careful with BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) policies. This is another easy way for hackers to get their hands on sensitive company information. The growing trend may be more convenient for employees, but security risks increase. Employers need to be proactive and instill security protocols as well as meetings on keeping data safe. Awareness is one of the most powerful tools of eliminating threats. Mistake #2: Weak passwords Make a strong password. This is not a time to use personal information. Try to use a password that is not personally connected to you, contains numbers, upper and lower case letters, and symbols if allowed. The longer, the better. This will give you the best protection against guesses and hacking programs. It’s also a good idea to change your password every three months. The longer you have it, the longer they have to guess what it is and the potential for a breach goes up. Also, if possible, have different passwords for different accounts. Though this can be more difficult, the chances of data breaches decrease. Mistake #3: Opening unsafe links Especially with email, make sure there is a quality and well-rated antivirus on your electronic device, and use it to scan all emails before you open them, including from people you know. This is of utmost importance to protect your computer from malware and other viruses. The sender may have been infected and are passing on the virus unknowingly. This is especially common when outsourcing IT management to foreign countries. So be careful. Don't open emails from people you do not know. It’s not important—you aren't getting free money from a Nigerian Prince, and those joke emails are only funny until you're sitting in a disciplinary meeting about sensitive information being released. All and all, be smart when it comes to company electronics and the sensitive data you deal with daily. By protecting your cyber self, you protect your job and the company data overall. Be safe out there.
_______________________________________________ Dataloss Mailing List (dataloss () datalossdb org) Archived at http://seclists.org/dataloss/ Unsubscribe at http://lists.osvdb.org/mailman/listinfo/dataloss For inquiries regarding use or licensing of data, e-mail sales () riskbasedsecurity com Supporters: Risk Based Security (http://www.riskbasedsecurity.com/) YourCISO is an affordable SaaS solution that provides a comprehensive information security program that ensures focus on the right security. If you need security help or want to provide real risk reduction for your clients contact us!
Current thread:
- How to Compromise Your Company's Security in Three Small Steps Audrey McNeil (Apr 30)