How to Better Protect Your Business from Cybercrime

By Breanne Wilson, CyberShield Global Contributing Writer

If you’re a small to medium sized business, there’s no doubt you’re working hard, day in and day out to drive results.  So why let those results be threatened by senseless and all-too-common cybercrime?

Unfortunately, cyber criminals around the world truly enjoy doing unbelievable amounts of damage to businesses like yours - from the comfort of their own computers.

According to recent data, these hackers are just getting started. And they target hard-working business owners like you.

Symantec’s 2016 Internet Security Threat Report states:

“There were over one million web attacks against people each day in 2015. Cybercriminals continue to take advantage of vulnerabilities in legitimate websites to infect users, because website administrators fail to secure their websites. Nearly 75 percent of all legitimate websites have unpatched vulnerabilities.”

So what can you do to better protect your business from cybercrime? Check out these tips below, brought to you by CyberShield Global.

Make sure any company computers you or employees use are updated with the latest browser software.

As hackers evolve, so do browsers like Firefox, Chrome, Internet Explorer and more. These browsers keep improving their security to try and stiff arm hackers who are trying to grab your business’ private information while browsing. 

If you’re using an old browser to conduct business, you’re exposing your business – and your valued customers’ information – to security flaws within outdated browsers.

Updated browser = updated security. It’s a no brainer and is yet another way to fight off cybercrime!

Update your computer’s operating systems, whether you use Apple or Microsoft.

Just as top security researchers highly recommend you update your computer’s browser, it’s also extremely important to make sure your computer’s operating system (OS) is updated.

Software developers are constantly trying to improve the security of your computer’s OS - so do your business a favor and take advantage of their constant improvements. The updates they make are often specifically designed to combat reported security threats from hackers who want to steal sensitive customer information.

So if you see a pop-up that says “software updates are now available,” simply click a few times, follow the instructions and restart your computer. Or if you’d like to do it right away, check for updates on your own.

On a Mac, click on “Software Update” within the Apple menu. If you have Windows, run “Windows Update.” Doing so will tell you all you need to know to make sure your OS is as secure as it can possibly be.

Encrypt your company’s wireless network with a password.

In addition to making browser updates and OS updates to protect your business’ sensitive information from hackers, it’s also crucial to encrypt your wireless network. And here’s why.

Leaving your wireless network open for any random person to use goes way beyond sharing the ability to surf the Internet - it leaves your business extremely vulnerable to cyberattacks from hungry hackers.

These hackers would love nothing more than a chance to use this open signal to hack into your computer and steal sensitive customer information like customer names, addresses, credit card numbers, social security numbers, passwords, bank account numbers and more – not to mention your own private business information!

These cyber criminals would jump at the chance to then take this information and use it to commit fraud – all because your WIFI network doesn’t have a password. Ouch!

Think of it this way: if you keep your home’s door locked so random people can’t come in and snoop around, why wouldn’t you keep the door to your computer network (and all associated information on your computer) locked as well?

Furthermore, if someone who uses your WIFI connection and decides to download illegal content from the Internet, guess who is held liable for that? YOU!

Secure your WIFI and ensure it has a password. It’s another quick and simple cyber security win with the potential to make or break your business.

Become a member of CyberShield Global to prevent costly security breaches.

Beyond browser updates, OS updates and WIFI encryption, there are countless methods hackers will use to steal your company’s and your customers’ sensitive information for their own profit.

If you become a member of the CyberShield Global community through purchasing one of two paid membership levels – Plus or Premium – you’ll get affordable access to customized security solutions.

Your membership helps you become part of a community of small and medium sized business owners who are doing just what you’re doing, every day – working hard. This membership will protect your business, and your customers, from cyber criminals so you can focus on what matters: driving results.

The above mentioned cybercrime security tips are easy to follow and can have a tremendous impact on the success of your business.