Data breaches are on the rise, and even if you don’t feel like your company is at risk, you might be wrong. 2021 has seen a massive 17% increase in data breaches among US businesses, which means now is the time to be on the lookout for warning signs your business might be getting scammed.
[Related:10 Surprising Managed IT Statistics Every Small Business Should Know]
Excessive Failed Login Attempts
One obvious red flag that your business might be getting scammed or hacked is an alert of several failed login attempts. If you’re using a multifactor authentication system you may receive an email or text message notification that someone is trying (and failing) multiple times to log in.
Once you can confirm that no one on your team is behind the failed logins, then you can be certain that something else is going on. Businesses should always use multifactor authentication, since it will require anyone trying to log in to provide not only the password, but verification through an additional channel for security.
Strange or Suspicious Email Messages
A major warning sign that your business might be getting scammed is if you are receiving suspicious email messages. This could be a sign of phishing, which is when scammers posing as reputable companies trick people into offering up their personal information via email.
Experts warn that 80% of cybersecurity incidents stem from phishing attempts. This breach of data with one employee’s email could further compromise the rest of the company depending on what information is stolen.
[Related: 5 Industries With the Highest Cybersecurity Risks]
Slow Network Operations
Sometimes an extra slow computer system could be a sign that something bad is happening behind the scene. Data breaches that move stolen files or install malware in the background can clog your system and make everything run in slow-motion. Investigate the network activity to see if anything else suspicious is going on.
Government Agency Imposters
Regardless of how official someone conducts themselves online, they’re not always who they say they are. A common scam used to exploit small businesses revolves around government agency imposters. Individuals impersonate government groups online and try to convince companies of expired business licenses, missing tax files, or overdue fines.
In order to protect your business, you should ensure that whoever you’re exchanging information with has the proper credentials.
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Tech Support Scams
Tech support is an important investment in your company, and not something you should cut corners on. If your business doesn’t look at it that way, you could fall victim to a tech support scam. These scams come in the form of a pop-up message, phone call, or email informing you that your computer security is at risk.
Calling themselves professional IT companies, these scammers will try to get access to your computer and your money to fix issues you don’t really have—yet. This is why investing in quality managed IT companies like CMIT Solutions of Richardson is so important.
[Related: 4 Strategies for Long-Term Business Success]
Connect with CMIT Solutions
Don’t worry about becoming the victim of phishing attempts, malware, and other tech scams. If you need assistance with boosting your cybersecurity, CMIT Solutions of Richardson has your back.
We provide 24/7 security monitoring of your systems, including anti-malware and anti-virus protection, and can also assist you in backing up your sensitive data via backup services like cloud hosting.
Contact us today and let’s get started!
