Here at Wise Computer Solutions, we’ve seen far too many cases of bad network security. Unsecured WiFi networks, poorly configured firewalls, and easy-to-guess passwords – we’ve seen it all. Our mission is to help small business owners with computer and network needs, so we’ve written a free e-book on computer and network security. If you want to download a copy, you can do that here.
Over the next few weeks, we’ll be publishing a series of blogs on how to keep your computers and network secure. Make sure to like our Facebook page to catch the rest of the series!
Part I:
You probably think you’re safe from hackers. Most small business owners do. But according to Experian, over 75% of small businesses are vulnerable to hackers. If they gain access to your computers, they can delete all of your files in minutes. Or worse, they can steal your information and sell it. You may never notice anything different, but your social security number and other personal information is being used and sold by cyber criminals.
Make no mistake – this is a very real threat. USA Today found that 43% of companies in the United States have suffered a data breach in the past year alone. If you own a small business, you’re a prime target for hackers. The National Cyber Security Alliance found that 71 percent of security breaches target small businesses. But here’s the scary part – according to Experian, 80 percent of small businesses that suffer a breach go out of business within 18 months.
You read that right – out of every 100 small businesses that experience a data breach, 80 of them close down within 18 months. Businesses that have been breached lose money and the trust of their customers. Hackers don’t care that you’ve spent years building your business from the ground up – they can tear it down within days.
We’ve compiled the ten most common ways hackers can steal your information. Over the next few days, we’ll cover a few of them. If you want the full e-book now, click here. Otherwise, check back next week for the second part!