Cybersecurity News Reports That Insider Threats Have Grown by 47%

 

Insider threats are a top cybersecurity risk for any company, and that risk is growing rapidly. Recently in the news, statistics from the Ponemon Institute report show that insider threats have climbed by 47% over the last two years. Whether they come from malicious sources or just simple human errors, insider threats have the potential to devastate a business. 

Malicious insiders are finding it very profitable to sell data on the Dark Web, especially COVID-19 healthcare and research data. An expanding market for credentials tempts staffers into taking advantage of lucrative opportunities to sell their access credentials, especially if they’re highly privileged. Over 25% of cyberattacks caused by insider threats come from malicious insiders.

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Unintentional insider threats are less ominous and more common. More than 60% of breaches caused by insider threats are caused by staffers who aren’t trying to damage the company – they just made a mistake. Unfortunately, that mistake can be the door to a data breach that results in your information hitting the Dark Web, plus and expensive and time-consuming recovery, sometimes with regulatory penalties topping it off. 

For your clients, Learning how to define insider threats and having some examples of potential threat vectors to consider can help demonstrate why this is an issue that they should take seriously. Creating an effective defense against insider threats includes choosing a dynamic cybersecurity risk protection platform with multiple solutions that work together to mitigate the risk of a bad actor gaining access to systems and data.  

Malicious insiders will almost always be looking for a way to profit off of the data or access that they’re selling, and they’re most likely to turn to the busy data markets on the Dark Web. With a solution like Dark Web ID, companies can find out fast if their data or credentials appear in Dark Web markets because of our 24/7/365 monitoring and analysis – empowering them to act to solve a problem before it becomes a catastrophe. 

Fight back against insider threats to avoid data disasters with Dark Web ID.

Watch this 10-minute technical demonstration video of Dark Web in action.

Bit by bit helps client networks run smooth and secure.. visit our website at www.bitxbit.com/texas 877.860.5863

An Ounce of Prevention is Worth a Pound of Cure

 

We’ve all heard this old saw, and it’s still popular for a reason: it’s right. Taking strong preventative measures now to protect your data saves both time and money later. More than 50% of businesses had a data breach in 2020 – and that’s a time-consuming money pit for any company. By taking the right preventative measures now, you can lower your risk of a data breach later.  

One of the most important preventative measures to take right away is updated training about current phishing threats. Right now, cybercriminals are using many new tricks to mount phishing attacks. While your staff may be aware that they shouldn’t open unexpected attachments, do they know not to click surprise links, or open unanticipated PDFs, or accept unverified Zoom invitations? Updated phishing training prepares them to resist these threats and protect your data.  

Coupling phishing resistance training with 24/7/365 Dark Web monitoring guards your data on two fronts. Not only are you preventing bad actors from getting a front door key to your data with improved phishing resistance, but you’re also making sure that cybercriminals aren’t sneaking in the back door either by watching for Dark Web threats. By combining multiple solutions that work together well, you can maximize the ways that your security solutions help prevent data loss – because strong, sensible preventative measures always pay off.

Bit by bit helps client networks run smooth and secure.. visit our website at www.bitxbit.com/texas 877.860.5863

Australian Cyberattacks Prove That Threat Resistance Training is Always a Good Investment

 

Sophisticated cyberattack risks are growing throughout the world, and the attacker isn’t always just a group of opportunistic cybercriminals. A recent explosion of cyberattacks against targets in Australia has been reported to be linked to potentially malicious state-sponsored actors, creating a new level of worry for cybersecurity architects.  

Ransomware has become an even greater menace for Australian companies. Government officials have warned that ransomware that is delivered through spear phishing attacks is suspected to be part of the overall larger attack picture in this wave of attacks. Therefore, it’s clear that frequent, high-quality phishing defense and resistance training is essential to protect a company from ransomware attacks. 

Ransomware is devastating to any business, as was recently demonstrated by two incidents at Australian drinks conglomerate Lion. Systems at the beverage company have been infected twice in the last month alone, freezing essential production and operations technology just as it began to ramp up its post-pandemic production.   

Get tips to help secure a remote workforce fast and insight into the unexpected risks that remote operations bring in our Remote Working Cybersecurity resource package. 

A dynamic solution like  BullPhish ID is the right choice for state-of-the-art phishing resistance training. BullPhish ID’s constantly updated educational tools allow staffers to learn through video and be tested on that knowledge with online quizzes – with pre-made phishing kits including the latest threats available in 8 languages for quick deployment. These features also make it an ideal vehicle for remote training because training shouldn’t stop just because staffers aren’t in the office.  

Updating a company’s cybersecurity stack to boost ransomware defense should always include upgrading phishing resistance training. Dark Web monitoring is a great place to start when constructing a strong cybersecurity defense, but every building block in that defense is important – and improved phishing resistance with BullPhish ID is an easy and affordable block to add.

Watch this 10-minute technical demonstration video of BullPhish ID in action.

Bit by bit helps client networks run smooth and secure.. visit our website at www.bitxbit.com/texas 877.860.5863

The Ransomware Tide is Rising Worldwide

No industry is immune to ransomware attacks. Just last week, hackers attempted to breach more than 30 news sites owned by a major US media company in an audacious attempt to deploy WastedLocker ransomware. The hacking gang, known as Evil Corp, was attempting to use this method to infect the systems of employees of over 30 major US private firms using fake software update alerts that popped up after the targeted employees browsed news at the affected news sites.  

It’s common for employees to access non-work websites from their work machines during the workday. Everyone checks a few headlines or looks up the weather. In this case, the employees’ computers were set up to be used as a stepping point into their companies’ networks. There hasn’t been any reported further action, but that doesn’t mean that there wasn’t a successful compromise at one of the targeted firms. 

By 2021, it’s estimated that a ransomware attack will take place every 11 seconds. So, what’s the most common way that ransomware is delivered? Phishing. Whether it’s a malicious link, a spurious PDF, a poisoned SMS, or the old classic infected attachment, ransomware is the threat that really keeps IT staffers up at night.  

A phishing resistance training and testing solution that is consistently updated with the latest threats can help companies effectively defend against ransomware attacks by improving their defense against phishing. BullPhish ID delivers, with easy to understand, engaging training campaigns including video components that clearly explains today’s threats. The simple set-up, grouping, and deployment tools allow you to manage campaigns any way you need to get every staffer enlisted in the effort to guard against ransomware.

Bit by bit helps client networks run smooth and secure.. visit our website at www.bitxbit.com/texas 877.860.5863

Cryptocurrency Scam Raises Business Breach Risks After It Hits Thousands of Victims Worldwide

Cryptocurrency has been revolutionary in creating a new world economy, and it’s the primary vehicle for transactions on the Dark Web. After lots of splashy coverage in mainstream news organizations around the world, the fascination for it has spread from Dark Web markets to average internet users – making them the perfect targets for cybercriminals. 

In a recent scam, cybercriminals were able to pull off a multi-stage operation that exposed the personal data of thousands of users worldwide including 147,610 victims in the UK, 82,263 Australians, 4,149 South Africans, 4,147 people in the US, 3,499 folks in Singapore, 2,491 Malaysians and 2,420 people in Spain, and other countries. 

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The data was obtained through an interesting style of phishing scam. Users were lured in by an SMS message “starring” a locally famous celebrity (in this case a local journalist) who had “built a fortune” through cryptocurrency trading. Victims who clicked the link were then directed to a unique landing page that had an article quoting a local news personality that dovetailed believably to their region. Each unique SMS link also contained some personal information for the target.  

When the target clicked anything on the fake article landing page, they were then directed to a bitcoin investment platform, where the personal information that had been carried through the process in their unique link was then automatically filled in – and they were asked for their balances in other bitcoin accounts, which were now accessible to the thieves.  

As scams that are hatched through SMS and messaging applications become more common, they can also become an unexpected threat to businesses. Staffers frequently handle personal correspondence on their work devices, especially as more companies employ a “Bring Your Own Device” policy. Interacting with scam messages like these can give cybercriminals an opening to strike. Staffers need to understand that phishing isn’t just an email problem – it’s a problem everywhere.  

Updated phishing training with a dynamic solution like BullPhish ID gets everyone up to speed on potential types of phishing, with easy to understand lessons about common attacks served in bite-sized pieces and delivered through engaging videos to keep lessons memorable, plus online quizzes to test retention. BullPhish ID offers plug-and-play training content in 8 languages, bolstering a business’s cybersecurity by strengthening its best defense against phishing – their employees. 

Watch this 10-minute technical demonstration video of BullPhish ID in action.

Bit by bit helps client networks run smooth and secure.. visit our website at www.bitxbit.com/texas 877.860.5863

Strong Cybersecurity Pays for Itself – Data Breach Costs Exceeded $1.2 Trillion for US Companies in 2019

     

Data breaches have enormous consequences for companies, including recovery and repair expenses, reputational damage, potential regulatory penalties – all of which spell financial loss. This week, a new report illustrates just how significant the financial consequences of a data breach can be. In 2019, some major data breaches spelled disaster for heavyweight firms. With more than five-billion records compromised in 2019, breaches are estimated to have collectively cost companies $1.2 trillion, nearly double the sum from 2018. 

Healthcare was the most targeted sector in 2019, with 382 total breaches, a startling 100% year-over-year increase. It’s shaping up to be number one in 2020 as well. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic has incited cybercriminals to increase their attacks on the healthcare sector, which will certainly increase risks in the year ahead. In addition to healthcare, banking, insurance, education, government, and retail were among the top targets of cybercriminals.  

Taken together, personally identifiable information was the most sought after commodity. In response, it’s clear that companies need to take action to secure their systems and data now, especially as remote work compounds the risk of a cybersecurity incident. While today’s threat landscape is expansive and pervasive, every organization can improve its defensive posture by addressing the most prominent risks, including unauthorized access, phishing scams, and malware. 

https://www.techrepublic.com/article/data-breaches-cost-us-companies-more-than-1-2-trillion-last-year/ 

Bit by bit helps client networks run smooth and secure.. visit our website at www.bitxbit.com/texas 877.860.5863

460 Million Records Reported Stolen in May

A tally of May cybersecurity instances found that 460 million records were compromised last month, marking another staggering total in an already-historic year for cybersecurity. However, the sum only represents the beginning of the problem, as many data breaches are going unreported as companies fear regulatory repercussions and customer blowback. In addition, many data breaches also expose reams of sensitive personal data, making it difficult to quantify the full scope of the problem. 

Find out how records sold on the Dark Web can endanger your data in unexpected ways. 

For businesses, this information has two prominent implications. First, there is a growing need to identify compromised data on the Dark Web. As more records are stolen and distributed in the dark corners of the internet, companies need eyes and ears to know if their information is among the mountain of stolen data. 

What’s more, the sheer number of compromised records makes it more important than ever for organizations to put additional barriers between their IT infrastructure and bad actors. If your staffer is reusing a password from a compromised retail account or using their pet’s name to log in, that can put you at risk for a breach by making it easy for cybercriminals to find a way into your systems.

Dark Web ID can help keep accounts secure by alerting you when your staff’s compromised information hits the Dark Web. This cost-effective solution gives you peace of mind and gives you an opportunity to mitigate threats (like your staffer’s unwittingly compromised login credentials) before they become disasters. 

https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/over-460-million-records-exposed-in-breach-incidents-reported-in-may/

Bit by bit helps client networks run smooth and secure.. visit our website at www.bitxbit.com/texas 877.860.5863