We are all a little guilty of getting distracted at work from time to time. With Christmas coming up, some workers are doing their holiday shopping while they are at work. Almost half of the people with social media accounts have admitted to falling for shopping scams. So, if your team is doing some last-minute Christmas shopping from work devices, how can you be sure that your business is protected?
According to new research, a whopping 47% of people have clicked on links hoping to get a great deal only to find out it was a scam, after giving financial and personal details to cyber criminals. That could mean they’re not only putting their own data and money at risk but your device – and even your network – could be exposed, too.
Shopping scams aren’t the only thing tricking people online. 36% of people have been fooled into sharing their personal data after clicking a phishing link. Phishing is when you get an email that seems to be from a legit person or brand you trust, but it’s not. The same percentage of people have also fallen for gift card scams – that’s where criminals gain victims’ trust and persuade them to buy gift cards or online vouchers.
If an employee innocently clicks a malicious link or downloads an infected file using their work device, it could be devastating for your business. The risks go beyond the loss of data and reputation. The cost of downtime, while you get back up and running again, is enough to put many people out of business for good.
So, what can you do to protect your team and business from these kinds of scams right now and throughout the year? (as we know it's not only Christmas shopping that distracts people)
Having the right cyber security tools in place, like firewalls, antivirus software and strong password management is crucial. You should also make sure your team gets the proper training they require as they are the best line of defence against cyber-attacks.
Make sure they’re aware of the latest scams, and that they know the warning signs to look out for. Advise everyone to check that links are genuine, websites are the real deal and be suspicious of offers that look too good to be true.
And have a strong plan in place that kicks in the moment a security breach is spotted. Employees should all know to report any incidents immediately, and whom they should inform. Acting quickly often lessens the impact of a data breach and makes it faster and less expensive to fix.
As always, we are here to help whenever you need us!
Until next time, keep fit and have fun!
(TYYV) The Yada Yada Version:
Shopping links are a good way for cyber criminals to trick people into handing over their personal data and yada yada yada don't let your team fall victim to these kinds of attacks, make sure you protect your business.
