12 Feb Don’t think your business is a target? Think again
You might think that cyber criminals are only interested in large companies or those with huge financial assets. After all, that’s where the big bucks are, right?
Think again.
Recent reports have shown that cyber criminals are casting their nets wide, targeting businesses of all sizes, from mom-and-pop stores to global enterprises. And they’re doing it with the help of something called “botnets.”
You may have heard about the rise of malicious botnets, and you’re probably wondering, “what on earth is a botnet, and why should I care?” Botnets are the secret weapons of cyber criminals. They’re armies of compromised devices, all under the control of a single, malicious puppeteer. These can be anything from your computer to your smart refrigerator.
A new report observed “massive spikes” in the activity of these botnets, with over a million devices involved in malicious activities at one point. To put it into perspective, that’s a hundred times the usual levels of botnet activity.
10,000 devices doing malicious stuff each day, with 20,000 being the highest number researchers had seen. Then, in December 2023, things took a crazy turn. The number skyrocketed to 35,144. Two weeks later, it surged even further to 43,194.
It didn’t stop there; researchers witnessed the largest spike to date, with 143,957 distinct devices in simultaneous use. On January 5th and 6th, numbers spiked up to more than a million devices!
Why are they doing this? The motive behind these actions becomes clearer when we consider that these botnets are being used to scan the internet, searching for weaknesses in websites, servers, and even email systems.
Think of the internet as a fortress with many doors and windows. These cyber criminals are looking for unlocked doors and open windows to sneak in. They specifically focus on certain ‘ports’ that serve as entry points.
What can you do to protect yourself from these cyber threats?
It’s all about strengthening those doors and windows. Here are a few simple steps:
- Keep your software, operating systems, and applications up-to-date. Regular updates often fix vulnerabilities.
- Install a good firewall and reliable antivirus software to protect your devices.
- Educate your employees about cyber security best practices, such as avoiding suspicious links and emails.
- Enforce strong, unique passwords for all your accounts and devices.
- Regularly back up your data to prevent loss in case of a cyber attack.
- Keep an eye on your network for any unusual activity.
- Consider hiring a cyber security expert (that’s us) to assess and enhance your security measures.
If we can help you keep your business better protected, contact today!