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The world of cybersecurity is constantly changing and adapting to new circumstances. Every year, Canadian businesses face a torrent of new cyber threats–but they can also access more security measures than ever before.
In 2023, businesses across Canada must equip themselves to handle cyber threats and attacks of all kinds. Luckily, it isn’t as hard as you might think–with research, preparation, and new security measures, your business will be safer than ever this year! In this article, we’ll discuss five of the most prominent cyber threats for businesses in 2023.
Social Engineering and Phishing Attacks
Phishing attacks are some of the most common cyber threats modern businesses face. In a phishing scam, a cybercriminal will pose as a legitimate source, such as a bank or a government site, and try to trick you into giving away sensitive information, such as credit card numbers.
Always be wary of unsolicited emails and any email containing grammatical errors– a hint that it might not be from a legitimate source. If an email looks suspicious in any way, never open the attachment or links provided in that email. Always verify that an email is legitimate before opening attachments or links.
Malware
Malware covers a broad range of cyber threats, from Trojan horses to ransomware. Malware typically makes its way onto your computer when you download something from an email, website, or infected file. Once it’s on your computer, it could do a number of things, such as deleting files or stealing your information.
Always have a high-quality antivirus installed on all business-related computers. If an email or website looks suspicious, don’t click any links or download anything from them–better safe than sorry!
Ransomware
Ransomware is a common form of malware where a cybercriminal takes your information ‘hostage’ after the malware infects your computer. They will then ask for a large sum of money in return for the information.
Fortunately, there are many ways to prevent ransomware from affecting your business. Always have a backup plan in place, educate your staff on good cybersecurity practices, use antivirus software, and keep software up-to-date. When you have the proper security measures in place, you are significantly more protected from ransomware attacks.
Business Email Compromise
Business email compromise (BEC), also known as email account compromise, is a serious threat to small businesses across Canada. Every business sends and receives emails on a daily basis, making it the perfect target for cybercriminals.
In a BEC scam, you’ll receive an email from a seemingly trusted and legitimate source. For example, you might receive an invoice from a client you work with regularly. However, these emails aren’t actually legitimate–they’re from cybercriminals masquerading as trusted individuals or companies.
To identify a BEC scam, inspect the email address and the contents of the email. If the address does not exactly match the address of the individual it’s claiming to be, it’s actually a spoof. Emails containing typos or anything that seems out of place might also be from a cybercriminal. If you want to be completely certain, call the company or individual to verify that they sent the email.
Human Error
It might not seem like it, but simple human error is the cause of a significant portion of data breaches. While human error doesn’t typically involve any malicious intent, it can still be extremely destructive.
To prevent human error, be sure to educate your team on cybersecurity. Create a cybersecurity culture in the workplace to ensure that protection remains a top priority, and implement security measures such as multi-factor authentication to ensure that slip-ups won’t land your business in trouble.
Reliable Cybersecurity and IT Companies in Edmonton
The best way to protect yourself from cyber threats in 2023 is by outsourcing cybersecurity to a trusted managed IT provider. Alt-Tech Inc. provides managed IT services to small businesses in Canada so that they can maintain powerful, affordable protection against all kinds of cyber threats. Contact us today to get started.
