In 2018 Musmne, FIFA, Facebook and Bundestag became the latest victims of
major Internet security breaches. While many media publicized breaches affect larger companies, government and other organizations in the US, companies in the UK and Europe are being increasingly targeted.
Major Breaches
- The Bundestag security breach saw the personal information of hundreds of politicians in the German houses of parliament being compromised -by an insider.
- In 2018, British Airways came clean about a 15-day security breach that laid the personal details of 380 000 card payments bare.
- Also in 2018, the business dealings of Facebook CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, brought the activities of data mining companies sharply into focus and made it clear that companies and individuals cannot rely on the security systems of the websites we use for protection, in fact, often the reverse is true.
In the e-commerce industry, there are hundreds, if not thousands of sites in operation. The confidentiality of identification and financial data cannot be placed at risk, making safe data handling of vital importance. If customers do not feel adequately protected, they may opt for a better-protected competitor. Modern-day clientele can be just that fickle.
Are we prepared?
The biggest data breaches in the UK make it clear that online security is now a top priority.
At the same time, a study of CEO cyber security preparedness makes it clear that many businesses are woefully under aware of the threat and which measures must be taken to protect online security in the future.
Because of this fast-evolving scene, business owners now view a VPN service as one of the most comprehensive security features businesses should employ for online security. Opting for one of the best VPNs on the market means SMEs obtain a packaged service, as opposed to a single security feature. When surfing on a VPN, any hacking and data mining apps will only see the location of your VPN provider, hiding your real identity and location.
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Since there are no company details shared such as network ID, router information or where in the world the server or customers are, a VPN acts as armor that cannot be penetrated by modern-day hackers or data miners
Why protect online data?
Cybersecurity isn’t new. Anti-virus, spy and malware protection programs have been around for decades, and data mining protection applications are fast becoming the new wave of security. But in the fast-changing landscape of online networking, new solutions must adapt. Technologies employed by companies change quickly and these new-fangled ways of conducting business must be secured.
While one security system may beef up security for certain data, new channels may be vulnerable.
Impact of the Dark Web
The Dark Web has become a serious threat to online security and credentials can be bought and sold for large sums, making significant breaches a greater possibility than ever before. Millions can be exchanged in pursuit of sensitive information, including card data, client lists and contact details.
Is it really that urgent?
If the attacks on large companies don’t seem to apply to smaller concerns, consider that hackers on the Dark Web target smaller niche markets too. Is there a real threat to SMEs?
While larger companies are often under greater threat, every business needs to be prepared for potential vulnerabilities.
Cloud Security and Privacy expert, Jon-Michael C. Brook, explains that the pace of security updates lags behind chosen technologies. Online security has evolved from the days when businesses knew they needed a firewall and some kind of browser protection. The use of cloud technology means that these protections are not enough. Supply chains are now very complex, which means there are many more potential danger points.
But that’s not all
Hackers have changed. Hackers used to write their own codes to breach weak points. Now the code is shared and readily available to online thugs. Even more dangerous is that cyber breaches make use of the same tools that security manufacturers use making it easier to get in.
Efforts to make websites and activities more user-friendly for consumers create a creates a weaker barrier. But let’s not forget the motives of the average modern hacker. In days of yore, hackers were motivated by a sense of malevolent, or anti-establishment pleasure. These days the real motivation is money and lots of it. Data and private records and data can be worth hundreds upon thousands. A VPN acts as a failsafe barrier ensuring that not even the location or computer ID is revealed.
Bear in mind that if a company’s data is compromised, the company is held responsible for the breach and leak of personal or business data. Social security information, passwords and routing numbers can also be used for identity theft. Whether you run a (B2C) or (B2B) concern, the security of sensitive data should be popping up on your radar, and prompting questions about how using a VPN might just save your company reputation and protect your future online security.
