A new survey has confirmed that phishing attacks remain the greatest cyber security threat to businesses in Vermont and New Hampshire.
The word “phishing” refers to the act where hackers send emails pretending they’re someone else. They often impersonate a legitimate company in order to steal your personal data or login credentials.
When you click a link in the email, you’re taken to a page that does look like your account login page.
But it’s not. You are directed to a fake page set up and this is where they steal your information. The cyber criminals hope you enter your login details, so they can access your business accounts.
Other threats from phishing emails include fake PDFs – with names such as “invoice”. Often clicking these can allow the hacker to install malicious software, known as malware or ransomware, on your computer.
In the 2021 survey, just released, 53% of businesses that reported a breach this year said it happened primarily because of a phishing attack.
41% blamed malware for their breach.
And 17% experienced something called a Denial of Service attack. This is where hackers send a flood of traffic to a network or website, hoping to overwhelm it and force it to shut down.
What’s important to remember is that none of these attacks were specifically targeted at the victim businesses. Everyday hackers email thousands of people, waiting to see who opens and clicks on the emails.
That’s why the primary protection against phishing is training your people well. Software can help to protect your business, but not as much as training can.
If you need help with cybersecurity, or believe your business is at risk, please contact us immediately. Call (877) 802-0486 or schedule a meeting.
Active Phishing Scam in Vermont
That’s right, just recently the Vermont Secretary of State sent emails to their customers warning them of a phishing scam that had come their attention. In that email the hacker attempts to collect your business information by making you think it is a regular mandatory update from the State of Vermont.
Beware cyber criminals are everywhere, don’t be fooled.
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