Scammers are finding new ideas to deliver a cyber-attack over email. SMBs are particularly more at risk as they lack the IT infrastructure and the budget to safeguard themselves.
In 2021, these scams have become even more sophisticated. Imagine what would happen if a team member is attacked.
- He opens the mail, downloads the attachment (a malware in disguise) and the system starts to malfunction.
- Or forwards a mail that offers unreasonable returns on investment – others open the email and the malware affects their devices.
In any such incident, the personal information, devices, official data and even their savings are at risk.
As a business owner, it’s crucial to remain updated about the latest email security risks. Empower ICT regularly updates its customers about potential threats and helps you avoid them even before any significant loss is inflicted.
Phishing
In this scam, the sender poses as an individual or organisation and attacks with emails that are meant to gather sensitive data or affect the devices with ‘malware’.
The cybercriminal would compromise an email account of genuine person or organisation and use it to trick the recipient to share the sensitive information or get a malware downloaded.
Phishing can lead to financial loss and disruption in business operations. Even businesses can be targeted by scammers.
- Whaling and Spear Phishing – Scammer use the information gathered about the business elsewhere to appear legitimate and commit frauds.
- Pharming – The scammer redirects you to a fake version of the website that you are trying to visit and collect the information.
Are you being phished – signs of attack?
- You get a mail from the bank or other business that you regularly deal with asking for detail verification.
- The website address is similar to that you use and asks for details that the legitimate site never asks.
- New icons appear on the screen from nowhere, and the computer becomes slow.
How to safeguard against phishing?
- Don’t click on any links or open an attachment from an email coming from a look-alike organisation that you deal with – bank or government organisation. Delete the email.
- Do an internet search for the name of the person or organisation.
- Look for secure symbol https:// – Most legitimate use SSL to encrypt the information.
- Never provide the credit card or personal details if you are in doubt.
Empower ICT – trusted amongst email security providers – suggest a firewall solution to safeguard your small business.
Malware
The scammers send email that contain links to something ‘interesting’. When you click on the link, you are taken to a website that looks legitimate. To view the video, you are asked to download a codec. Once it’s downloaded, the computer becomes infected with malware. Other popular ways include pop-ups that offer free file downloads – movies, games, adult content, etc.
Once the malware is installed in your computer, scammers access files or watch what you are doing on the computer. They may steal the personal details to make unauthorised purchases using credit card, may open fake bank accounts or use your identity to commit frauds.
Ransomware – a new malware variant
It is a new type of malware that get inside your computer, and blocks access to files and data (you can’t remove it by any means on own). The scammer asks for the ransom to be paid to unblock the files and let you access the device normally.
Infected computers display a message to convince you to pay ransom. Scammers may even pretend that they are police, and you need to pay fine for illegal activities. Some may demand to pay ransom to get the key to unlock access to the computer.
Are you under attack – signs of trouble?
- Pop up boxes appear on your computer screen.
- You are unable to access the file and do anything, and there is a message that you need to pay to get the computer unlocked.
How to safeguard against malware and its variants?
- Don’t open emails from strangers. Delete them.
- Only use reliable and secure links for movies, music, etc.
- Keep the security updated with the latest antivirus, anti-malware and use the best firewall to stop such emails at the entry point.
- Keep office network, computers, and mobile devices secure. Update the security software, change the passwords frequently and back-up data regularly.
- Ensure that the data back-ups are stored offsite and offline.
Empower ICT – Trusted for Email Security
We have helped many Australian businesses with ‘Sophos’ email security solutions. It stops ransomware and boot-record attacks at the entry point.
No malware can affect your devices as it checks the emails links for website reputation before they are clicked. The firewall blocks any stealth attacks due to inadvertently clicked links.
Security challenges of every business are unique. Speak to our consultants who will run a security audit and suggest the best solution specific to your business.
Contact Now – 1300 850 210.