Importance of application security for small businesses
The internet has made the world smaller! It allows businesses, patrons, partners and vendors across the globe to collaborate virtually. Be it cloud computing, corporate emails or maintaining a website, cyber security should be part of every business’ plan.
Big names are on the hit-list of the hackers, but small businesses aren’t safe too. Even if you aren’t the owner of a giant business house then too your virtual business is vulnerable to the hacks and viruses. The statistics indicate that being soft targets small businesses are more prone to cyberattacks.
Risks for small businesses-
A study has shown that 43% of cyber attacks target small businesses and the reason for last year’s attacks was the emergence of “work from home”. All the internet connections are not too secured to keep the company’s data safe. Now if your company’s data is hacked then the risks include:
Your reputation would be damaged in the eyes of your customers and investors.
Loss of important data of your customers, employees, and company.
Loss of money due to cyber-attack and ransom that would be demanded by hackers.
You will lose precious time while recovering the data thus damaging productivity.
Maybe your company will be penalized for not taking safety measures for your application.
And the worst fear of every company owner, your company can be closed.
Benefits of application security-
If you are an owner of a company then you must have an application as it increases the chances of getting more customers and investors. Due to this mentality, every company has its application so it is better to protect your application from attacks. Some of the benefits are given below,
It will improve the “Trust factor” of customers, which will benefit you in the future.
Most importantly it will reduce the risk of cyberattacks.
It will protect your customer’s and company’s data.
Improve your brand image.
Will safeguard you from any penalization.
Real data proofs of cyberattacks-
In 2019, ransomware attackers demanded $13,000 to release encrypted files.
Due to cyber attacks, companies had to pay an average of $53000.
1 out of 99 emails are Phishing emails and 30% of the time it is opened by us.
Small businesses are prone to credit theft as well.
New data breaches hiked by 424% last year, and that is threatening for all company owners.
Ways to Improve your application security-
Now you know all the facts, risks, and benefits of using application security and we will move on to the solution of this problem-
There are many types of cyberattacks and to know each of them and their respective risks you should educate yourself first. Some of them are phishing, SQL injection, Zero-day attack, etc.
Educate your employees! You can suggest them to use a strong password, not open doubtful emails, not ignoring company security guidelines.
Perform security testings of all kinds to ensure the utmost safety of your application, such as client-side application security, Network Security, System Software Security, Server-Side Application Security.
Hope this article helps shed some light on how important it is to keep your business safe and secure!
If you are an IT professional or a software engineer you must need the email security solution for your company in order to keep your corporate emails safe.
Here we are discussing the essentials for email security and for that, you should first know about the vulnerabilities found in email servers,
Common vulnerabilities found in email servers-
Phishing– Phishing is the process of stealing data via email. It is different from normal stealing, as in this stealing cyber attackers steal your login data, passwords, credit card numbers, etc. This is done by sending a malicious link to the user by writing something urgent on the mail which forces the user to open the mail and as soon as he opens the mail he gets trapped.
Malicious attachment– It is also a type of email theft where the user is duped to open the email by sending a malicious attachment and when you click “enable content” you are hacked, my friend.
Ransomware- It is a type of malware in which the attackers send an email with a message to encrypt the data only when the user pays the ransom( money). In some cases, it comes with a deadline.
Email Spoofing– It is a trick used by cyber attackers to dupe users to open the email. They use the email address of the person you may know as the face value so that you can be trapped.
How to avoid them?
Now to avoid the above email hacks you should have the below email security in your system-
Spam Filters– You get 100’s of marketing emails every day and that’s why your email inbox clog. That’s where the attackers take advantage by trying to push that phishing email into that box. Spam filters separate these emails from the marketing emails.
Antivirus Protection– Spam filters used to separate the emails but they remain there in the spam folder for a very long time and that’s when Antivirus protection comes into play. Antivirus scans all the incoming emails and blocks their entry into the system forever.
Data Encryption– Even if you have used all the above software then also you have to encrypt your data so that your message wouldn’t be leaked in transit.
Image and content control– The cyber attacker uses image content for phishing as people click on images very easily and that’s why you should scan all the image content coming in your email.
The consequences of the mentioned vulnerabilities can be damaging and threatening for your business reputation and finances. It is essential for businesses to be safe and follow certain guidelines as preliminary precautions. Email is the heart of an organization, it is of utmost importance to ensure the privacy, confidentiality, integrity of your email resources at all times.
It is always a good idea to time to time get your email systems audited by cyber security professionals. It will help you understand the risks and mitigate them before attackers do.
The new example of cyber-assaults through malware and ransomware concerning COVID-19 is ‘Fearware’. The cyber aggressors are abusing the fear of Covid-19 to make the loss fall prey to cyber-assaults.
The creators are bringing new and flexible software’s relating to COVID-19 for upgrading the information. Moreover, they are arranging phishing messages and phishing UPI accounts in name of COVID-19, which are encouraging Cyber frauds.
Following are a part of the scenes reported in India and different nations. A few models/Case Studies imply examples of Cyber Security Risks as a segment of COVID-19 unsettling influence.
Malware Attacks
The awful spread of COVID-19 is transforming into an opportunity for cybercriminals to spread malware or dispatch cyber-assaults. Another sort of malware attack is possible with the utilization of ‘Covid Maps’ – The successful attack of this malware is disastrous as now the attacker can operate the victim’s device.
These are some tips to prohibit Malware to gets injected in your computer—and your livelihood:
Do not click on UNKNOWN messages with joins/introduce the application from obscure sources.
Secure your networks.
Install Anti-Virus/Malware Software
Think about who sent you the message.
Re-think Before You Click
Keep Your Information Private.
Use Multiple Strong Passwords for various records.
Avoid using Open Wi-Fi.
Update Your Anti-Virus Software time-to-time.
Email Based Attacks
Through World Health Organization mail in name of creating awareness for the sake of COVID-19 as a common method by the fraudsters and spreading malware to control the gadgets of different peoples.
The email seems as though it’s from the WHO, sent by Tim Hardley, head medical services official from WHO’s provincial office for the Americas. A Google scan hurls no outcomes for such a WHO official.
The connection has malevolent and conveyed a modern, multi-layer payload dependent on the Lokibottrojemailan (Trojan: Win32/Lokibot.GJ!MTB).
Message-Based Attack
Fraudsters practice phishing, smishing in this they will try to fool you through amazing fake offers and ask for your personal or private information through a book or SMS message. Smishing is behaving like an arising and developing danger in the realm of web security.
How to Avoid Fraud
To forestall such frauds, these are the thing that one should not do:
Never share subtleties, for example, registration OTPs on the call, debit card number, expiry date, or any other media.
The bank never requests such subtleties. Abstain from tapping on obscure links or forwarding and doubtful SMS.
Never share your UPI MPIN with anybody.
During this season of vulnerability and expanded online action, cybercriminals are effectively attempting to misuse the momentum COVID-19 story with attacks pointed toward exploiting the circumstance. It is significant now like never before to know about online tricks and dangers as they are expanding in volume and complexity.
