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One cybersecurity threat watcher reported an overall 91% jump from one month to the next. In some sectors, such as professional services and manufacturing, attacks rose more than 100%. Other industries that saw significant increases in threats were financial services, technology, healthcare and education.Aug 08, 2023
IT Consulting & Support
| Earlier this year, the rate of ransomware spiked to the highest levels ever observed by some monitoring organizations. One cybersecurity threat watcher reported an overall 91% jump from one month to the next. In some sectors, such as professional services and manufacturing, attacks rose more than 100%. Other industries that saw significant increases in threats were financial services, technology, healthcare and education. Analysts have varying theories to explain this shocking swell in cybercrime. But regardless of cause, business leaders should respond to rising cyber risks with swift preventative action. And one of the best immediate responses is emphasizing user education. Some studies suggest awareness training can lower the risk of users falling victim to socially engineered assaults like ransomware by as much as 70%. The effects are worth the effort, as a single data breach can cost an organization from tens of thousands to millions of dollars. Stopping even one incursion could translate into a huge savings. Cybersecurity training need not be complicated to work. For example, it might involve teaching users about “scareware,” one of the oldest, most common techniques for depositing malicious software like ransomware. Typical scareware campaigns involve emails, texts or web pop-up alerts featuring anxious language or jarring sounds. The messages exhort users to click or call immediately to download a critical update, unlock a frozen account or avoid imminent system failure. Scareware executions vary, but the detection rule is the same: Never trust urgent messages from sources other than your IT team. We can guide you in implementing essential cybersecurity practices. Call us if you’d like to discuss how to shore up your cybersecurity. |
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