Four out of five of the top causes of data breaches are down to human or process error. In other words, human mistakes that could’ve been remedied with cybersecurity training or more careful consideration of security practices.
So, what are the types of misdemeanors that lead to major data breaches? And what can you do differently to reduce the risk of it happening to you?
Failure to update softwareSoftware may have technical vulnerabilities which hackers can use to access your systems. When software creators locate these vulnerabilities they release patches to fix them. These patches come in the form of simple updates.
You have probably heard about the notorious Equifax breach, which compromised millions of records. It was later revealed that hackers broke in through a patchable vulnerability.
This should be a lesson. You must update all software and servers regularly. As soon as hackers learn of a vulnerability they actually seek out companies who may not have updated their software yet.
Weak or stolen passwordsYou’d think that people would realize the importance of strong passwords by now. But, surprisingly, weak or stolen passwords are still a common cause of data breaches.
Network security company, WatchGuard attempted to crack over 355,000 government and military passwords as part of an investigation. Astonishingly, they managed to crack 50% within just two days. Some of the most common passwords they found were “123456” and “password”.
Hence, you and your colleagues need to create strong, unique passwords for every one of your accounts. Passwords should never be written down anywhere ei ..
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