Spotting Scammers
Scammers are experts at disguising themselves as potential matches. They often create fake profiles using images taken from other sources and use false information to appear more attractive than they really are. Here are some red flags that could indicate you’re dealing with a scammer:
-The person is overly eager to move the conversation off the dating site or app onto another platform such as email or instant messaging.
-The person insists on meeting in person or sending money before any real conversation has taken place.
-The person requests financial information or asks for money directly or indirectly.
-The person refuses to video chat or talk on the phone despite repeated requests from you.
-The profile contains little personal information but lots of generic statements that could apply to anyone.

Avoiding Scams
While it’s impossible to guarantee that you won’t encounter any scammers, there are steps you can take to minimize your risk and protect yourself from becoming a victim of an online dating scam. Start by doing your homework before signing up for any dating site; check reviews and do an online search for the website’s name + “scam” or “fraud” and see what comes up—if there have been reports of scams related to the website, it may be best to stay away. Make sure you understand all the rules and policies concerning user privacy and data protection before signing up for any site; if something doesn’t seem right, don’t hesitate to look elsewhere for a safer option. And when communicating with someone online, always remember that if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is!

Online dating can be an enjoyable experience if you know how to protect yourself from scammers who are out there looking for innocent victims. By being aware of common warning signs and taking extra precautions such as doing your research before signing up for any website, communicating only through secure platforms, and never giving out sensitive financial information or sending money directly or indirectly, you can greatly reduce your risk of becoming a victim of an online dating scam while still having fun in the process!

The post Spotting and Avoiding Online Dating Scams appeared first on Network Doctor.

What Is a Poll or Quiz?
A poll is a survey that allows users to answer multiple questions in order to gather information. A quiz is a game-like survey that tests the user’s knowledge about a specific topic. Both polls and quizzes are popular on social media platforms, such as Facebook. In fact, millions of people take part in them every day.

Are Polls and Quizzes Dangerous?
Polls and quizzes are not inherently dangerous; however, they can be used as an avenue for hackers to gain access to your computer or files if you are not careful. For example, some hackers will create polls or quizzes that require users to download software in order to participate. This software often contains malware that can infect your computer and allow hackers to gain access to your personal information. Additionally, there have been instances where hackers have created fake “prize giveaways” through these types of surveys; when unsuspecting users provide their personal information in order to enter the giveaway, their data is then stolen by the hacker.

How Can You Protect Yourself from Hackers Using Polls & Quizzes?
The best way to protect yourself from falling victim to these types of malicious activities is by being aware of what you are downloading or providing when participating in polls or quizzes on social media platforms such as Facebook. Never download any software without doing research into the program first (e.g., reading reviews). Additionally, never provide any personal information unless you know who it is going to; if you do not trust the source, it is best not to provide any details at all. Finally, make sure your anti-virus software is up-to-date so it can detect any malicious programs before they can infect your computer or steal your files/data.

Facebook polls and quizzes may seem harmless enough but they can be used by hackers as an avenue for gaining access to your computer or files if you’re not careful. The best way protect yourself from this type of attack is by being aware of what you’re downloading and providing when participating in these types of surveys online; always do research into any programs associated with these surveys before downloading them, never provide any personal information unless you know who it’s going to, and make sure your anti-virus software is up-to-date so it can detect any malicious programs before they can cause damage. By following these tips, you should be able stay safe while still taking part in online polls and quizzes!

The post Can Facebook Polls and Quizzes Hack Your Computer or Files? appeared first on Network Doctor.

Back Up Your Data
Data loss is a real risk when it comes to tech; if something goes wrong with your system, you could lose all the hard work you’ve put into it. To avoid this scenario, make sure you back up your data regularly. This way, if disaster strikes, you’ll have all your information stored safely in another location—allowing you to quickly restore your system or recover lost files. Fortunately, there are plenty of cloud-based backup services available today that make backing up your data quick and easy.

Keep Your Software Up to Date
Software updates can be annoying—they take time out of our day and often require us to reboot our systems—but they’re essential for keeping our tech running smoothly. Software updates usually contain bug fixes and patches that address security vulnerabilities. Because of this, it’s important that you keep all your software up to date at all times; otherwise, hackers may be able to exploit these vulnerabilities and gain access to your system. Fortunately, many software programs now offer automated update notifications so you don’t have to manually check for new updates every time one is released.

Protect Yourself from Phishing Attacks
Phishing attacks are becoming increasingly common as cybercriminals look for new ways to gain access to sensitive information. These attacks typically involve emails or text messages that appear legitimate but contain malicious links or attachments that can compromise your system if opened or clicked on. To protect yourself from phishing attacks, make sure that any emails or text messages you receive are from a trusted source before opening them; if something looks suspicious or too good to be true (like an unexpected gift card offer), don’t open it! Additionally, make sure that all employees in your organization are aware of phishing attacks and know how to spot them so they can stay safe online as well.

Technology is here whether we like it or not—so it pays off to familiarize yourself with tips like these which will help keep your technology running smoothly and securely. Taking proactive steps such as backing up data regularly, keeping software up-to-date and protecting yourself from phishing attacks will go a long way towards safeguarding both yourself and your business from the myriad threats posed by technology today!

The post Tech Tips Everyone Should Know appeared first on Network Doctor.

Know the Risks
The first step in protecting your business from cyber threats is understanding the risks. That means knowing what hackers are after, how they’re going after it, and what they can do with it once they get their hands on it. Knowing the risks will help you identify possible vulnerabilities in your system and develop strategies to protect yourself against them.

Develop a Security Plan
Once you understand the risks associated with cyber security, it’s time to develop a plan for how to protect your data and systems from those threats. This includes setting up firewalls and other measures to keep out malicious actors, as well as implementing policies that require employees to use strong passwords and avoid clicking on suspicious links or downloading unknown files. It’s also important to regularly update software, systems, and applications so that they are up-to-date with the latest security patches.

Train Your Employees
No matter how secure your system may be, it will only be as secure as its weakest link—your employees. To ensure that every employee understands their role in maintaining a secure system environment, provide regular training sessions on cyber security best practices such as using complex passwords, avoiding phishing scams, recognizing potential threats such as malware or ransomware attacks, reporting suspicious activity immediately, etc. Regularly testing employees on these topics is also an effective way to ensure that everyone remains vigilant when it comes to cyber security issues.

Staying cyber secure is an ongoing process that requires constant vigilance and effort from everyone involved in your organization. By understanding the risks associated with online activity and developing robust plans for protecting yourself from them combined with regular employee training sessions will help ensure that your business remains safe from malicious actors in 2023 and beyond!

The post Staying Cyber Secure in 2023 appeared first on Network Doctor.

The post Cyber attacks are at an all-time high appeared first on Network Doctor.

The top five mistakes organizations make with their Business Continuity Plans involve a lack of employee education about implementing them.

How? Read on.

1. Not Testing Your Business Continuity Plans

The only way to ensure your Business Continuity Plans will succeed is to test it prior to needing it. Your employees’ actions are what will make the BCP work, and their cooperation is what minimizes your loss of productivity during a disaster and unplanned downtime.

Plan tests in advance, and make sure your employees understand:

• What do they say to clients while connections are down?
• Where will your employees work if they can’t work in the office?
• Who is their point of contact during a disaster?
• What are their roles and responsibilities during the crisis?

Business Continuity Plans Error #1: Not explaining the plan to the employees, and not testing their preparedness in advance.

2. Actions Speak Louder Than Words

Good Business Continuity Plans include every aspect of recovering from a disaster, including planning for your employees during the crisis. Depending on the nature of the disaster, you may need to consider medical support and monetary aid for your employees in addition to business recovery factors.

Contact your local medical providers and clarify what kind of medical aid would be provided, whom to contact, and what you need to do to ensure your employees receive medical attention if it’s needed following a disaster. You may also need to put away some “rainy day funds” to help your employees recover from the disaster.

Your employees’ perception of your organization’s ability to provide for them will go a long way towards making sure you have employee buy-in of your BCP.

Business Continuity Plans Error #2: Not thinking logistically when it comes to employee care following a natural disaster.

3. Not Enough Physical Planning

What would you do if a fire broke out in your offices? Do you have evacuation routes clearly marked, and do your employees know where they are? What plans have you made for communications during a disaster? Do you have emergency communication plans in place?

When you were in school, fire drills were a part of life. Planning and testing your “escape routes” are no less important now than it was then. Discuss emergency plans that include evacuation routes and streamlined emergency communications to make sure your employees are prepared and can calmly implement your disaster strategies if necessary.

Business Continuity Plans Error #3: Not planning your natural disaster survival strategies or routinely testing them.

4. Lack of Communication

Being reactive instead of proactive is a mistake, no matter what the situation. Your employees need to trust that you will keep the lines of communication open, providing them with the information they need to know in real-time during a disaster.

Create emergency channels or a toll-free hotline so employees can stay connected and updated. Encourage employees to stay connected with management and each other during the crisis so employees have the information they need when they need it. Make sure your employees have contact information in advance to keep them connected and informed in the face of a disaster.

Business Continuity Plans Error #4: Not having a proactive support system in place for employees if a disaster should occur.

5. Out of Sight, Out of Mind

Your responsibility to your employees doesn’t end when the crisis is over. Most business owners are too busy trying to mitigate the impact a disaster has on the organization to check up on employees. Remember that your BCP is more than just cloud backup and recovery; this is the time your employees need to know that you are there for them.

Some of your employees may have special needs and most of them will be far more interested in taking care of their own families than thinking about your organization.

Do you have a crisis intervention team? Make sure you designate some employees as follow-up personnel, checking up on fellow workers after a disaster.

Business Continuity Plans Error #5: Not having a plan in place to follow up on employees after a disaster.

Need Help Creating Comprehensive Business Continuity Plans?

Network Doctor is available to help your business create comprehensive Business Continuity Plans that include your employees’ considerations alongside your organization’s needs. We specialize in cloud backup strategies for additional reliability and security. Contact us today for a free, no-obligation assessment, and let us talk you through it.

The post 5 Mistakes to Avoid in Business Continuity Planning appeared first on Network Doctor.

Here are 8 reasons why you should purchase cyber insurance to protect personal information and private data.

1.  Data Is Not Covered by Standard Property Insurance

Data is critical for any business’s success, yet it’s not covered by standard property insurance. It’s difficult to measure data from the standpoint of property insurance, which is why you need the expertise of a cyber insurance company to help you in this area.

2.  Everyone Is a Target

Although you usually hear about big businesses being targeted by cyberattacks, it doesn’t mean that small businesses and individuals can avoid being possible targets. In fact, a small business is far more likely to be an easy target because it doesn’t have the financial support to hire an entire IT team to protect its online data at all times.

3.  Credit Data Results in Severe Penalties

If you were to lose any kind of credit data, either from your business, your employees, or your customers, you will have to pay high fines. Credit card crime is a $7.5 billion industry worldwide and is growing every day. The sooner you insure yourself, the better protected your business will be.

4.  Social Media Claims

Unfortunately, social media is a very touchy subject. We share many things on social media both as companies and as individuals, and sometimes we end up making a huge mistake in what we post. If one of your employees makes a defamatory remark, shares your business’ private data, or you happen to be faced with copyright infringement, cyber insurance will help you cover the costs incurred.

5.  Third-party Data Liability

Third-party data is very valuable to businesses and is used all the time to create products and marketing strategies. However, if this data is ever leaked or you happen to lose it, you’ll have to pay huge fines as a result. Lawsuits frequently result from such instances, so you need cyber insurance to cover the costs.

6.  Media Coverage is Expensive

If your business makes a mistake that results in data leaks, not only will you have to deal with lawsuits, but you will also have to deal with the media. You will need to inform both your employees and all of your customers of what has happened and what the next steps are to fix the problem. This costs a lot of money that your business may not be able to spend.

7.  Covers Electronic Business Downtime after a Cyber Attack

Your electronic system downtime after a cyber attack will also not be covered by standard business interruption insurance. On the other hand, cyber insurance will offer coverage for any lost profits during this time so that you can continue to grow your business and provide for your employees and your customers.

8.  Cyber Insurance Protects your Reputation

Yes, everyone can make a mistake, but customers are not likely to forgive you for one that involves their personal data. If you happen to be the victim of a data breach, you will need the help of a cyber insurance company to mend your reputation with your customers. Again, without being covered, expect to pay a lot of money because you may have to issue refunds or the like in order to bring your customers back.

The post 8 Reasons to Purchase Cyber Insurance appeared first on Network Doctor.

Nearly every company, of every size, is exposed and vulnerable to cyberattacks. Your company’s privacy, confidential information, and operations are at risk of exposure. This is a massive problem for organizations, which is why more and more people are turning to cyber insurance to protect their businesses from a dangerous, and costly, situation. In 2020 alone, cyber-attacks have cost businesses $150 million to rectify. While both big and small companies are affected by cyberattacks, they really can take a toll on small businesses. Shockingly, 60 percent of small businesses close after falling victim to a cyber attack.

Why every company needs Cyber Insurance

Cyber insurance is essentially an insurance policy that protects businesses from the fallout of cyberattacks. It is often referred to as cyber liability coverage or data breach insurance. Having this insurance policy will help you with financial support for lost files and information, as well as minimizing the stress and disruption that come with this unfortunate event.

Coverage Explained

Let’s dive deeper into the world of cyber insurance and understand what it entails and how to make the most of it. Juergen Weiss, head of Global Financial Services, Research, and Advisory at Gartner, has a great definition of cyber insurance:

“The formal definition of cyber insurance is essentially a contract between an insurer and a company to protect against losses that are related to computer- or network-based incidents.”

However, this doesn’t mean that cyber insurance will cover everything or protect you against any possible attack. Like any insurance policy, you need to understand everything behind it and how it may serve you and your business. Cyber insurance policies include coverages both supplementally and others automatically. Meaning that there are first-party coverages as well as third-party coverages. First-party coverages are associated with costs your company incurs due to a cyberattack. Whereas third-party coverages protect companies from a lawsuit.

Difference between the types of Cyber Insurance Coverage:

• Network Security Coverage

This coverage is essential for protecting the company’s privacy and information. If a company’s network security were to fail, whether it was ransomware, malware infections, data breaches, or cyber extortion demands, cyber insurance would cover this.

• Privacy Liability Coverage

Privacy liability coverage protects your customers’ and employees’ confidential information. Highly sensitive information that is exposed due to a data breach, threatens the security of the company. It is crucial to protect the privacy and information of your company with privacy liability coverage.

• Network Interruption Coverage

Most companies are dependent on technology to function. If a company’s network were to crash, network interruption coverage covers lost profits, fixed expenses, and even extra costs that were spent during the duration the network was down.

• E&O Coverage

E&O (errors and omissions) coverage protects your company from cyber events that hold up the operation and performance of the business. If a company is unable to deliver services or fulfill obligations due to a cyberattack, this coverage will cover the losses.

• Media Liability Coverage

This coverage protects your company from intellectual property infringement. This includes both online and printed advertisements as well as social media content.

What Does Cyber Insurance Cover?

The answer depends on who your policy provider is and the size policy you purchase. As with any insurance policy, the higher the coverage, the more you will need to pay for it.

However, because cybersecurity is such a huge issue around the world, many companies are doing everything in their power to make it accessible to as many people as possible.

In general, a basic cyber insurance coverage will include the immediate costs that are associated with falling victim to a cyberattack.

In the words of Mark Bagley, VP at cybersecurity company AttackIQ,

“Cyber insurance policies are designed to cover the costs of security failures, including data recovery, system forensics, as well as the costs of legal defense and making reparations to customers.”

What Does Cyber Insurance Not Cover?

It’s important to know this Cyber Insurance policy doesn’t cover every type of claim. You may need to have a more comprehensive plan like other businesses that cover: General Liability, Commercial Property Insurance, Professional Liability Insurance, and Employee Practices Liability Insurance.

The coverage examples described here are hypothetical claim scenarios and are intended to show the types of situations that may result in claims. These scenarios are not based on actual claims and should not be compared to an actual claim. Whether or to what extent a particular loss is covered depends on the facts and circumstances of the loss, the terms and conditions of the policy as issued, and applicable law.

The post Why every company needs Cyber Insurance appeared first on Network Doctor.

The post Audio maker Bose reveals data breach after ransomware attack appeared first on Network Doctor.

With so many cybercriminals using increasingly sophisticated weapons, your financial institution’s cybersecurity strategy needs to address these six trending threats.

1. Cyber Security Threats to the Financial Sector Targeting the IoT

Even though you haven’t thought about how the IoT increases your vulnerabilities, the hackers certainly have.  2020 has seen several IoT botnets deployed in attacks such as  Dark Nexus, LeetHozer, Mozi, and Hoaxcalls, and the trend isn’t likely to stop any time soon.

Stopping IoT Cyber Security Threats to the Financial Sector: Network Doctor recommends a cybersecurity strategy with a combination of multifactor authorization, timely installations of security patches, and rigorous cybersecurity hygiene habits.

2. Supply Chain Attacks

Supply chain attacks are hacks that occur through a third-party vendor. One of the most notable supply chain attacks hit Equifax in 2019, stemming from, of all things, an HVAC vendor. In fact, 56% of organizations, according to a CSO article from 2019, have had a breach caused by their third-party vendors.

Shockingly, although the average number of vendors with access to sensitive data is 471 per organization, only an estimated 35% of companies have a true understanding of what outside parties have access to sensitive data.

Stopping Supply Chain Attack Cyber Security Threats to the Financial Sector: Third-Party Vendor Management is a part of Network Doctor’s services. The best ways to detect supply chain attacks is by routine monitoring and auditing of all third-party vendors.

3. Insider Cyber Security Threats to the Financial Sector

Whether it is a disgruntled employee, an employee who unwittingly uploads a malicious file, or any other form of employee error, 60% of all cybersecurity threats come from inside the company itself. Phishing emails, spoofing, and business email compromise are frequent weapons for hackers to gain access to a network.

Once inside, they can mine for sensitive data, launch a ransomware attack, or remain undetected for days, weeks, and even months.

Stopping Insider Cyber Security Threats to the Financial Sector: Network Doctor understands that the largest amount of insider threats come from lax employee cybersecurity awareness training. Training employees to spot threats along with teaching them a “zero trust” mindset is one of the most important parts of your overall cybersecurity strategy.

4. Global Operational Risks

Every financial organization wants to expand, and many of them have a global reach. With growth, however, comes an increase in the chances of a cyberattack. Financial institutions are especially attractive to hackers because most of them are looking for the largest monetary gains they can find.

Stopping Global Operational Risk Cyber Security Threats to the Financial Sector: Constant assessment of your business’ risk is a key factor for stopping global operational risks. Monitor the dark web routinely to make sure your organization’s information isn’t for sale and find an MSP that offers dark web scanning as part of their service offerings.

5.DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service)

A DDoS is one of the more serious cybersecurity threats to the financial sector. In a DDoS attack, the hacker slams the target with so much unwelcome traffic that the network is overwhelmed and can’t keep up. Hackers use this approach to crash a network so customers and employees can’t conduct business.

Even an inexperienced hacker can launch a DDoS against a targeted organization. DDoS malware is for sale on the dark web, and a week’s worth of destruction costs the hacker only $150. It’s estimated that nearly one-third of downtime is caused by a DDoS attack.

Stopping DDoS Cyber Security Threats to The Financial Sector: Network Doctor recommends a cybersecurity strategy that combines reputation-based AI antivirus, redundant network resources, and moving applications to the cloud.

6. Ransomware is One of the Growing Cyber Security Threats to the Financial Institution

It’s estimated that ransomware against financial institutions rose ninefold in the early part of 2020. Ransomware is usually unleashed by an employee via a phishing attack and will halt the functionality of the network until the ransom is paid. Paying the ransom may not be enough, as hackers will release all captured data on the dark web despite the monies paid to retrieve it.

Stopping Ransomware Threats to the Financial Sector: Since most ransomware infections rely on human interaction, such as clicking infected links, Network Doctor recommends a cybersecurity strategy that focuses on employee training. In addition, having rigorous anti-spam and anti-malware protections set up for your organization’s email is an important step.

Is Your Financial Organization’s Cyber Security Strategy Up to the Challenge?

Check your current cybersecurity strategy to make sure it is giving you all the protection you need. The basic strategies you need to make sure you have covered are:

• Routine cybersecurity awareness training
• Regulatory compliance
• Data encryption for all data
• Multifactor authentication for all employees and clients
• Incident response and business continuity plans
• Rigorous antivirus and anti-spam protection
• Routine assessments and event monitoring
• Timely security patching and upgrades
• Simulations and testing of your cybersecurity strategy

READ NEXT: How solid is your IT plan?

The post 6 Ways Financial Institutions Can Improve Their Cybersecurity Strategy appeared first on Network Doctor.