Believe it or not, even big companies miss the warning signs that their company is being hacked. Some would even take months for them to realize that their valuable data is already out in the open and being feasted over by notorious online criminals. Big companies would sometimes have a hard time to know they are hacked, even with all the fancy IT department that they have. What more to SMBs who don’t even have the luxury of having in-house ITs?
Of course, some hackers are very smart that they don’t even seem to leave footprints. That’s why knowing about cybersecurity is vital nowadays. So vital that even you, who’s not even an IT person, can tell that your company is being compromised by hackers.
Here are the 11 Red flags that may mean your company’s data is breached:
1. Frequent Attempts To Connect To Your Domain
There are numerous indications that someone has hacked a system, ranging from unusual outgoing messaging to excessive inbound switch and server activity to excessive database searches. However, in most cases, the first indication is an unusually high number of attempts to log in to a domain account for whom several password retries have been logged. In order to avoid that, adding multifactor authentication is a smart place to start. You should also do external penetration testing to find holes in your larger data services.
2. Attempts To Access Non-Standard Firewall Ports
Alerts regarding numerous, repetitive failed login or access attempts on non-standard firewall ports can help you find breaches. It is possible to centrally manage alerts and log messages from all of a company’s security equipment by installing security information and event management tools. Companies that are prepared are much more likely to become aware of a breach or an active hacking effort in real time.
3. Unusual Messages from ‘Business Contacts’
Production environments that generate a lot of warnings or logs and strange messages from “business contacts” that are actually spear phishing efforts could be signs, but by then it’s too late. Attacks must be avoided at all costs. It’s crucial to regularly teach and remind staff members about appropriate practices because concerns like reusing passwords and falling for phishing scams are still very prevalent.
4. Ransomware Messages
Ransomware causes productivity losses worth billions of dollars and ransom payments worth billions of dollars. Ransomware is stopping operations at small and large businesses and even reputable government institutions. According to data, releasing the ransom does not restore the systems’ functionality. In case you need to restore the systems, make sure you have tested data backup and recovery procedures in place.
5. Unusual Network Traffic
Knowing that you are being hacked can be accomplished by tracking anomalous network traffic and its source. Then, you can research methods for blocking persistent harmful connections or consult IT professionals.
6. Irregularities in Login
The most typical method by which people are hacked is credential theft. Keep an eye out for strange access patterns, such as accessing at odd times or from strange locations, or many failed login attempts. The usage of two-factor authentication should be firmly enforced by businesses to prevent hacking.
7. Suspicious Emails
More than 80% of security incidents, according to experts, are the result of phishing attacks. To keep the business secure, employees must use smart judgment. Therefore, it is essential to routinely train your staff on phishing scams and deception techniques so they can practice cyber hygiene and avoid endangering the company when working from home.
8. Slow Computer or Network Operations
If your system is performing slowly, there may be malicious software running in the background or a data breach that is sending files outside of your network. Check your task manager and network activities right away to see if you can find anything unusual.
9. News About A Breach Of A Service You Use
We learn about a hack involving services we frequently use every few months. The dark web is then used to sell the data. After obtaining our personal information, hackers utilize strategies like spear phishing, luring, and pretexting to break into networks and gather more data. Team members must take part in training several times a year to prevent being a hacker’s victim.
10. Increased Assistance Requests
We’ve discovered that a surge of support requests for anomalies like “I can’t find a file” or “this email just disappeared” frequently follow an event. Although they could seem innocent at first glance, when combined, they often indicate a possible problem. Your users’ understanding of risk and where you stand is your greatest advantage.
11. Login Requests that are Unrecognizable
The first sign that something is wrong will show up in your email or as a text message on your phone if you’re using multifactor authentication. When using multifactor authentication, the user must know both the password and a second channel to confirm their identity. Unknown requests to log in using one of your multifactor methods are a surefire indication that a hack attempt is ongoing.
You may know a thing or two about cybersecurity, or you don’t. But it is important in today’s time to at least try to learn about it. You have managed to build your business from the ground up and keep it afloat amidst any crisis, for sure you don’t want some criminal to just take almost everything from you. Now is also the best time for you to consider hiring a cybersecurity company, some hackers are sophisticated and it may be hard to know if you are being breached. It is always a great choice to rely to experts.
If you are ready to proceed on hiring a reputable cybersecurity company, feel free to talk to us today.