Do you know how vulnerable your business or organization is to security threats? You might be surprised by the evergreen of internet-based crime and how much damage a data breach can cause.
The largest data breach to date, discovered in 2020, leaked over 10 billion records due to improper security measures. Before that, Yahoo revealed that hackers had compromised 3 billion accounts in 2013, which amounts to their entire usership. 😱
Now, these are two extreme examples of what can go wrong when you don’t take proper measures to keep your information safe, but they teach an important lesson. No organization is safe from cybersecurity threats, including yours. You must take the right measures to protect your business—no ifs, ands, or buts about it.
There are many different forms of cyber attacks to be aware of, but two of the most common categories are malware and phishing. But what happens when they team up? In this post, we’ll help you prepare for what they are, what to look for, and how to defend your data.
First, let’s get the definition of malware, ransomware, and phishing out of the way.
Malware, or malicious software, is created to cause intentional damage to your device, server, or network. Malware can include everything from adware, viruses, ransomware, trojans, worms, and other programs that have been designed to target network vulnerabilities to gain unauthorized access.
The best way to minimize the damage of malware to your organization is to take a zero-trust approach to cybersecurity. For extra safety, DNS protection is a lightweight but powerful layer of security that can mitigate data breaches.
Ransomware is a type of malware that makes a device, its applications, or its files inaccessible and unusable—or threatens to reveal private data—unless the owner pays a ransom to the attackers.
It’s common for ransomware to spread via malicious links or attachments. For some ransomware just visiting a site through a malicious link can force download malware onto your computer and cause a ransomware attack.
Phishing, rather than being your grandfather’s favorite hobby, is an attack by a malicious individual or organization to collect private information like passwords, usernames, and other sensitive data. Phishing messages are more commonly sent via email, but phishing attacks can also happen through SMS text messages, calendar invites, and phone calls.
Phishing is a popular method for hackers because the attacks are easy to deploy and can result in a huge payout for the attackers. Unfortunately, phishing has been proven to work time and again.
Even though malware and phishing are distinct cybersecurity threats, they do overlap pretty significantly. Phishing is a tactic that is often used to deliver malware (including ransomware), and both are methods used in business email compromise attacks. Phishing and malware attacks can have a lasting negative impact on your business if your organization is not properly prepared.
Consider this: according to the U.S. Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), of the top 11 malware strains identified in 2021, 5 used phishing emails as a delivery method, and an additional 3 used emails with malicious attachments.
What does this information tell us? It shows that your organization isn’t safe against malware attacks unless you take steps to stay secure against phishing.
Even the most vigilant employees can be fooled by cybersecurity attacks, especially as phishing tactics become more sophisticated and targeted. Phishing attacks may vary by delivery method, messaging, call-to-action, and target group, but several common factors indicate a phishing attempt:
If someone at your organization receives a message that shows any (or all) of these characteristics, it’s probably a security threat. The bad news is that your organization is more likely than not going to experience cybersecurity attacks
There’s no one foolproof way to prevent cybersecurity attacks (wouldn’t that be nice?), but there are steps that your organization can take to minimize the chances of encountering malware and falling prey to phishing campaigns.
Unfortunately, your organization is at risk of a cyber attack every moment you or an employee is online. However, just by reading this article, you are improving your chances of avoiding major damage from a cybersecurity threat. Cybercrime cost U.S. businesses more than $6.9 billion in 2021, yet only 50% of U.S. businesses have a cybersecurity plan in place. Luckily, you’re not part of the unprepared crowd!
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