The Top 5 Data Breaches Of 2024 And What You Need To Know About Them

This year has been a busy one for cybercriminals, with some massive data breaches making headlines and costing companies millions. From health care giants to project management platforms, no industry is immune to the risks. But what do these breaches mean for small to midsize businesses? The same vulnerabilities exist for you, and the consequences of not addressing them can be catastrophic.

Let’s recap five of the most significant breaches of 2024 so far and discuss how your business can stay protected.

01

 

 National Public Data

A couple of months ago, a hacking group claimed to have stolen 2.7 billion personal records from a background checking and public data-brokering site. The data includes sensitive information like Social Security numbers, addresses and more. Portions of the data have been released on the dark web, though experts are still evaluating its accuracy, as the combined populations of the countries listed amount to only about half a billion. However, it’s likely that many Social Security numbers have been compromised.

Since this breach affects so many people, everyone now has an incentive to monitor their financial and online identities closely, and it’s imperative that they do so immediately. A practical step is freezing your credit to protect against identity theft and unfreezing it when needed for activities like applying for loans or credit cards. Find out if you were exposed here!

02

 

Ticketmaster

A significant data breach at Ticketmaster exposed the personal and financial information of over 560 million customers. Hackers accessed the company’s database during April and May, stealing sensitive details such as names, e-mails, phone numbers and payment information. This breach exposed serious flaws in Ticketmaster’s security, raising concerns among consumers. Many victims reported unauthorized transactions and identity theft following the incident. Additionally, this breach added to the legal troubles of Ticketmaster’s parent company, Live Nation, which was already facing a lawsuit from the US Department of Justice for anticompetitive practices.

03

 

Change Healthcare

In February 2024, Change Healthcare was hit by a massive ransomware attack that exposed the personal information of over 145 million people. This breach, one of the largest in health care history, compromised sensitive data, including names, addresses, Social Security numbers and medical records. The incident had far-reaching effects on patients, health care providers and insurance companies, prompting many in the health care industry to reconsider their cybersecurity strategies to prevent similar attacks in the future.

04

 

AT&T

In March, AT&T was the victim of a data breach that compromised the personal information of approximately 73 million current and former customers. This giant breach included sensitive data such as Social Security numbers, account details and passcodes. The breach was linked to data from as far back as 2019, which surfaced on the dark web in March 2024. This incident is part of a series of attacks on AT&T, following a 2023 breach that impacted 9 million users. In response, AT&T launched an investigation to contain the malware while maintaining services for current customers. The breach has also opened the company up to the possibility of multiple class action lawsuits.

While you may not manage millions of customers like AT&T, your business can still fall victim to cyber-attacks. It’s crucial to protect your network by implementing robust security measures, training employees on password and phishing prevention, and maintaining an active cybersecurity strategy.

 

05

 

Dell

In May, Dell experienced a security breach when a hacker known as Menelik used a brute-force attack to infiltrate one of their resellers’ client portals. This breach exposed 49 million records containing sensitive data, including customer names, e-mail addresses, payment information and account details. The incident sparked significant concerns about Dell’s cybersecurity practices, leading the company to issue a public apology and pledge to enhance its security protocols. In response to the breach, Dell has faced increased regulatory scrutiny and may encounter legal challenges as more details about the impact emerge.

 

What Does This Mean For You Personally?

We have several blogs on what to do if you’re affected by a data breach, but the most important action is to freeze your credit and check your bank account. Websites like www.haveIbeenpwnd.com can tell you if your e-mail has been exposed in a breach.

 

What Does This Mean For Your Business?

While these breaches happened to major players, small to midsize businesses are far from off the radar. In fact, SMBs are increasingly targeted because they often lack the robust security measures that larger companies have. Cybercriminals know this, and the stakes couldn’t be higher: a single breach could cost your business thousands in downtime, lost data and damaged reputation.

 

Protect Your Business With A FREE Security Risk Assessment

If these stories have you thinking about your own vulnerabilities, that’s a good thing. The best defense is a proactive one. We’re offering a FREE Security Risk Assessment to evaluate your network for potential risks. Our experts will assess your system’s vulnerabilities, help you patch the holes and ensure your business is fortified against attacks.

Don’t wait until you’re the next headline – get your FREE Security Risk Assessment today! Click here to schedule or call our office at 833-279-5869.

Was Your Information Compromised From The National Public Data Breach?

National Public Data confirmed in September 2024 that a hacker has compromised the personal records of millions of individuals. The information exposed includes the names, e-mail addresses, mailing addresses, phone numbers and even Social Security numbers of up to 2.9 billion people. Here’s what you need to know.

What happened?

National Public Data, a consumer data broker that specializes in providing criminal records, background checks and other forms of data to private investigators, consumer public record sites, human resources, staffing agencies, the government and more, was hacked. The incident is believed to have started in December 2023 when a third-party bad actor attempted to gain access.

In April, a cybercriminal named “USDoD” posted the stolen data online in a popular criminal community. On August 6, the stolen dataset resurfaced, this time posted for free to several breach forums for anyone to access and download.

The sensitive, personally identifiable information released included names, addresses, phone numbers, e-mail addresses and Social Security numbers for millions of people, some of whom are deceased. The data also contained previous addresses and, in some instances, alternate names.

The official data breach notice that was filed in Maine indicated that 1.3 million records may have been breached; however, some lawsuits are suggesting as many as 2.9 billion records have been exposed.

As the investigation continues, many cyber experts are finding that some of the data released was inaccurate, and aside from the Social Security numbers, most of it is already public and easy to find online.

So why is this breach dangerous if the information can be found with a quick Google search?

There are several reasons to be concerned. Having all this critical information in one place makes it easy for criminals to use the information needed to apply for credit cards and loans or open new bank accounts.

The information included, such as childhood street names or the last four digits of your Social Security number, are often answers to security questions and can help hackers bypass authentication and access your private accounts.

Some cyber experts are suggesting watching for a surge in phishing and smishing (phishing over SMS) attacks as well.

Can you be affected even if you’ve never heard of National Public Data or purchased data from them?

Yes! Just because you haven’t interacted with them doesn’t mean other organizations, businesses, landlords, etc., haven’t leveraged their resources to dig up information on you.

What should you do to protect yourself?

Step 1: Check to see if your data has been exposed. You can use tools like https://npd.pentester.com/ to find out if your information has been compromised. If so, it’s important to take immediate action.

Step 2: Request a copy of your credit report and then freeze your credit. One of the best ways to protect your identity is to freeze your credit and set up alerts. This prevents criminals from opening up new lines of credit in your name. To do this, contact all three major credit bureaus – Equifax, TransUnion and Experian – and request a freeze.

The process is free and should take you less than 10 minutes per site to complete. If there are others in your house over the age of 18, it’s a good idea to freeze their credit too. Anyone with a Social Security number is vulnerable following a breach of this size.

Once you have a copy of your free credit report, review it for anything that you didn’t authorize. Don’t forget to set up alerts and review your credit regularly.

Step 3: Watch out for phishing scams. As mentioned, many cybercriminals will try to leverage this information to scam you through phone calls, text messages, e-mails and even social media sites. Be cautious!

 

A data breach is devastating for everyone involved – the business hacked and the customers or employees whose data is leaked. As a business owner, it is your responsibility to make sure you are taking the highest precautions to protect your business and its data. If you want to do a full assessment and find out if any of your information has been leaked or if your network is vulnerable to a breach, we’ll do a FREE Security Risk Assessment. This deep dive into your network will provide you with a blueprint for security steps to take. To book yours, call our office at 833-279-5869 or click here.

5 Signs It’s Time To Update Your Software (And How To Do It Safely)

Software updates can feel like a nuisance, but skipping them is one of the easiest ways to leave your systems vulnerable to cyber-attacks. Hackers are constantly looking for weaknesses, and outdated software is like an open door to your network.

But how do you know when it’s time to update, and should you always trust your computer to tell you? Here are five clear signs it’s time to update, plus tips on how to handle updates safely.

01

 

Your Software Is No Longer Supported

If the software provider has stopped releasing updates for your current version, it’s a major red flag. Unsupported software often has known vulnerabilities that cybercriminals can easily exploit. Check for announcements from your software providers about end-of-life support and upgrade as soon as possible.

Tip: Don’t wait for the software to “break” before updating. Plan ahead and migrate to newer versions while you still have full support.

 

02

 

You Notice Slower Performance

A sudden slowdown in your software’s performance can be a sign that it’s out-of-date. Newer versions of software are optimized to run more efficiently, and skipping updates might leave you with buggy, sluggish software.

Tip: If you notice performance drops, check the settings for pending updates or visit the provider’s website to manually download the latest version.

 

03

 

You Receive Security Alerts

Has your antivirus or security software flagged vulnerabilities in an application you use? If so, an update is likely overdue. Cybercriminals thrive on exploiting security gaps in outdated software. Always pay attention to security alerts and take them seriously.

Tip: Use a trusted antivirus tool that can integrate with your software and alert you when updates are needed. Make sure you verify the authenticity of any update alerts before clicking.

 

04

 

You Haven’t Updated In Over 6 Months

If it’s been more than six months since your last software update, you’re probably due for one. Many providers release updates on a regular schedule to patch vulnerabilities and enhance features.

Tip: Set a reminder to check for updates regularly, rather than waiting for the computer to alert you. This is especially important for critical software, like operating systems and antivirus programs.

 

05

 

New Features Have Been Announced

Sometimes updates come with more than just security patches – they also bring new features. If you hear about exciting new functionality that you don’t have, it’s a sign you’re behind on updates.

Tip: Keep an eye on announcements from your software providers. Follow their blogs or sign up for notifications so you’re always aware of improvements.

 

How To Update Safely

While updating software is crucial, you should always be cautious about how you do it. Here’s how to ensure your updates are safe:

– Verify The Source: Always download updates directly from the provider’s official website or trusted app store. Avoid third-party sites or suspicious links.

– Back Up Your Data: Before any major update, back up important data to an external location. This ensures that if something goes wrong, you won’t lose critical files.

– Restart Your Device: Once the update is complete, restart your computer to ensure that the new features and patches are properly installed.

By staying on top of software updates, you’re not only improving performance but also protecting your systems from potential threats. Don’t wait until it’s too late – keep your software up-to-date and ensure your network stays secure.

Need help managing your software updates? Call us at 833-279-5869 or click here to schedule a consultation.

The S.E.C.U.R.E. Method To Stop Phishing E-mails

Phishing attacks are the most common cybercrime attack for one reason…they work. Every day, over 3.4 billion spam e-mails reach unsuspecting users’ inboxes. Phishing e-mails have held the top spot as the most frequent form of attack for years because they’re easy to implement, easy to scale and continue to fool people. AI tools like ChatGPT are now making it even easier for cybercriminals to create e-mails that look and sound like they’re coming from humans instead of bots and scammers. If you’re not careful, the effects of phishing scams can be detrimental.

Since it’s Cybersecurity Awareness Month and phishing e-mails are one of the top causes of attacks, we created this simple guide to help you and your team successfully identify phishing e-mails and understand why it’s so important to do so.

What can happen? Here are 4 significant dangers associated with phishing attacks:

1. Data Breaches

Phishing attacks can expose your organization’s sensitive information to cybercriminals. Once your data is exposed, hackers can sell it on the dark web or hold it for ransom, demanding thousands, millions or even more for its return – and they likely won’t return it anyway. This can result in financial and legal repercussions, damage to your reputation and loss of customer trust.

2. Financial Loss

Cybercriminals often use phishing e-mails to steal money directly from businesses. Whether it’s through fraudulent invoices or unauthorized transactions, falling victim to phishing can have a direct impact on your bottom line.

3. Malware Infections

Phishing e-mails can contain malicious attachments or links that, when clicked, can infect your systems with malware. This can disrupt your operations, lead to data loss and require costly remediation efforts.

4. Compromised Accounts

When employees fall for phishing scams, their accounts can be compromised. Attackers can then use these accounts to launch further attacks or gain unauthorized access to sensitive company data.

And the list goes on. However, there are actions you can take to prevent becoming the next victim of a phishing attack.

Here is the S.E.C.U.R.E. Method you and your employees can use to help identify phishing e-mails

S – Start With The Subject Line: Is it odd? (e.g., “FWD: FWD: FWD: review immediately”)

E – Examine The E-mail Address: Do you recognize the person? Is the e-mail address unusual? (e.g., spelled differently) or unknown (not the one they usually send from)?

C – Consider The Greeting: Is the salutation unusual or generic? (e.g., “Hello Ma’am!”)

U – Unpack The Message: Is there extreme urgency to get you to click a link or download an attachment or act on a too-good-to-be-true offer?

R – Review For Errors: Are there grammatical mistakes or odd misspellings?

E – Evaluate Links And Attachments: Hover over links before you click them to check the address, and do not open attachments from anyone you don’t know or weren’t expecting to receive mail from.

It’s also important to have a cybersecurity expert monitor your network and eliminate e-mail spam before your employees can make a mistake. Make sure you’re taking proper precautions to protect your network. These phishing attacks work and happen all the time. We don’t want YOU to be the next victim.

If you need help training your team on cybersecurity best practices or implementing a robust cybersecurity system, or just want a second set of eyes to examine what you currently have in place and assess if there are any vulnerabilities, we are ready to help. Call us at 833-279-5869 or click here to book a call with our team.

The End Is Almost Here! Windows 10 Will No Longer Be Supported As Of October 2025

Microsoft will NO LONGER support Windows 10 after October 2025! While these PCs will still work after the official end date of October 14, 2025, Microsoft will no longer provide product key free services that keep your device working properly and securely. These services include:

  • Security updates
  • Non-security updates
  • Technical support

Why Is This Important For Business Owners?

  1. Security Risks: Without regular updates, your computer will become more vulnerable to viruses, malware and hackers. This could put your business data at risk, which is why upgrading to a newer version of Windows is crucial.
  2. Software Compatibility: Many software programs are updated regularly to work with the latest operating systems. After Windows 10 reaches its end of life, some of your favorite programs might not work as smoothly or could stop working altogether.
  3. Compliance Issues: If your business deals with sensitive information or follows strict regulations, using an outdated operating system could lead to compliance issues. It’s important to stay current to avoid potential fines or legal problems.

What Are Your Options?

Microsoft encourages users to migrate to the latest version before the end-of-life date. This can present challenges for some PC owners, as not all devices currently running Windows 10 are compatible with Windows 11. If you try to upgrade one of those PCs to Windows 11, but the device does not meet the stringent hardware requirements of the new software, you’ll encounter an error message.

If your device isn’t compatible with Windows 11, you have a few options. You can:

  • Buy a new PC that is compatible
  • Pay for Microsoft’s Windows 10 security updates (available for up to three years but no longer free!)
  • Switch from the Windows operating system to Linux
  • Try to upgrade “incompatible” PCs, using a technical loophole
  • Ignore the deadline and put your business at risk (we do NOT recommend this one!)

Whatever you decide, make sure to back up your data! Before making any changes, always back up your important files. This ensures that nothing gets lost during the upgrade process.

Planning Ahead

It’s important to be proactive about the transition. There has been some discussion that Microsoft will extend the deadline, but that’s not a strategy you want to bet your business on. You don’t want to wait to take action until you’re out of options and your business is at risk because you no longer have security protection.

The best step is to work with your IT provider to determine what option makes sense for your organization. If your computers are fairly new, paying for ongoing security updates might make sense. If your devices are older and nearing the end of their life anyway, new PCs could be the way to go. An experienced IT team or a tech consultant can help you with the upgrade process. They can make sure everything runs smoothly and minimize any downtime for your business.

If you’re looking for someone to guide you in making the right decision, get in touch with our team to schedule a FREE 10-Minute Discovery Call. During this quick conversation, we’ll be able to map out the next steps to take to start transitioning to Windows 11 efficiently. To schedule, call us at 833-279-5869 or click here.

The CrowdStrike Outage: How To Avoid A Future IT Crisis

When 8.5 million Windows devices, including those at airlines, banks and hospitals, suddenly displayed the “Blue Screen of Death,” people began to panic. “We are under a cyber-attack!” most speculated. Fortunately, that was not the case, but the real reason behind the outage is alarming and something every business owner should be concerned about.

So, What Happened?

On July 19, 2024, millions of Windows devices crashed, triggering an endless reboot cycle and an unresolvable blue screen. This issue caused massive global disruptions. Airlines had to ground flights, leaving thousands of passengers stranded in airports and unable to book new routes home. Electronic health record software was knocked offline, forcing providers to cancel or delay nonemergency procedures, surgeries and medical visits. Several major banks also went offline, leaving customers unable to access their accounts. These were just some of the significant issues caused by what is now labeled the largest IT outage in history. Almost brings back those Y2K fears, doesn’t it?

If It Wasn’t A Cyber-Attack, What Caused It?

Many worried that the outage was due to a cybersecurity attack, but the source of the problem was a botched software update from CrowdStrike, a leading cybersecurity company. The team behind their endpoint detection and response (EDR) platform, Falcon, configured what should have been a routine sensor update. This update, specifically for Microsoft Windows, unknowingly had a flaw, and due to its tight integration with Windows OS, it resulted in widespread system crashes when it was pushed through.

How could a multibillion-dollar organization release an update with such a serious flaw? Representatives for the company later explained that it was due to a gap in their testing software. The issue stemmed from a flaw in the content validator tool, which failed to detect the problem in the update, leading engineers to believe everything was ready for release. As a result, the update forced Windows systems to enter an endless reboot cycle, displaying the infamous Blue Screen of Death.

As the situation unfolded, CrowdStrike immediately acted to fix the issue, but the damage was already done. Reports from insurers now estimate the outage will cost US Fortune 500 companies upward of $5.4 billion.

Why Should This Concern You?

This event reinforces how integrated technology is in our lives and underscores the significant impact a single software flaw can have on global IT infrastructure. When it comes to your company’s technology management, there is no substitute for having three things:

  1. A reliable, knowledgeable IT professional managing your network.
    Accidents happen even in large organizations, as seen with CrowdStrike, but you can reduce your odds of being caught up in an issue like this by working with an experienced IT team. Their expertise and knowledge in updates, backups and constant awareness keep your operations running smoothly and prevent minor hiccups from escalating into full-blown disasters.
  2. Rigorous software testing. If you have a reliable IT team, they should handle this for you.
  3. A robust disaster recovery plan. Mistakes will happen, and you need to be prepared to take action quickly so you can continue doing business and mitigate damage quickly. Many organizations affected by this outage had to pause business because they had no action plan for a disaster like this. Don’t be caught without plan B if something like this happens in your organization.

Don’t wait until you’re hit with a crisis to take action. Ensure your business is prepared by partnering with an experienced IT team. We offer a FREE, no-obligation Network Assessment where our team of experts will evaluate your current systems, identify potential vulnerabilities and develop a comprehensive plan to safeguard your business against future outages. Your company’s security and continuity depend on it.

Call us at 833-279-5869 or click here to book your FREE Network Assessment today!

How Can You Prevent Becoming A Victim Of Medical ID Fraud?

Don’t become the next medical ID theft victim. Here are a few steps you can take to protect yourself:

  • Check For Health Care Breaches: Use a searchable database, like this one, to find out if your health care information has been compromised.
  • Secure Your Records: Store paper copies of medical records in a safe or lockbox to prevent unauthorized access. If your health care organization’s system is compromised and records are lost, altered or unable to be accessed, you will be glad you did this.
  • Shred Documents: Shred any documents with personal information before disposing of them.
  • Monitor Your Medical Records: Regularly request and review your medical records from your health care providers and look for unfamiliar treatments, diagnoses or other discrepancies.
  • Review Insurance Bills: Carefully review explanation of benefits (EOB) statements from your insurance provider for any services you did not receive and question unfamiliar or unclear charges. Contact your insurer immediately if you see any charges or services that you don’t recognize. Afterward, report any billing errors to the credit bureaus at IdentityTheft.gov.
  • Dispose Of Prescription Labels: Remove labels from empty prescription bottles before discarding them! These labels can contain information that, believe it or not, can be used to steal your identity.
  • Monitor Your Credit: At AnnualCreditReport.com, you are able to get three free reports a year to keep an eye on any suspicious activity.

Health care will always be around and will also always be a target for hackers. Attacks on hospitals, doctors’ offices and other medical facilities will continue. It’s important that you are taking proactive measures to protect yourself. We can help you find out how you’re at risk with our Dark Web Scan. Using this technology, we can quickly find out if your information has been put up for sale on the dark web or if you’ve been a victim of a data breach. To book your Dark Web Scan, call us at 833-279-5869 or click here.

 

 

How Do You Know If You’re A Victim?

Here are 10 signs that your medical ID may have been stolen and is currently being used by cybercriminals:

  1. Unexpected Medical Bills: Receiving bills for medical services you didn’t receive is a major red flag.
  2. Collection Notices: Being contacted by debt collectors for unpaid medical bills that aren’t yours.
  3. Errors In Medical Records: Finding inaccuracies in your medical records, such as treatments you never had, incorrect diagnoses or unfamiliar medical histories.
  4. Insurance Issues: Your health insurance claims are denied because your benefits have been maxed out or you’re told you’ve reached your coverage limit, despite not using the services.
  5. Notification From Your Insurance Provider: Receiving alerts from your health insurance provider about claims or services you don’t recognize.
  6. Unknown Accounts: Discovering new health insurance accounts or medical records under your name that you didn’t create.
  7. Discrepancies In Your Explanation Of Benefits (EOB): Your EOB statements from your insurer list medical services you didn’t receive.
  8. Being Denied Insurance: Having difficulty obtaining life or health insurance because medical conditions that you don’t have are listed in your records.
  9. Calls From Medical Providers: Receiving calls from doctors or medical facilities about appointments or follow-ups for treatments you never had.
  10. Unfamiliar Prescriptions: Notices about prescriptions being filled in your name that you did not authorize or receive.

See next weeks article for learning how you can prevent becoming A victim of medical ID fraud.

 

 

what is Medical Fraud? & a short history

Medical fraud is an intentional deception or misrepresentation made by a person with the knowledge. that the deception could result in some unauthorized benefit to himself or some other.

Health insurance is designed to provide access to necessary treatments, preventive services and emergency care to individuals and families in need, and, apparently, now it’s also used to hand out paydays to scammers.

In February of this year, Change Healthcare fell victim to a cyber-attack that impacted thousands of health care providers, insurers and policyholders nationwide. Reports from this incident suggest that around 50% of all US medical claims could be at risk! To put that into perspective, if you’re in the waiting room with nine other people, there’s a good chance that five of you could fall victim to medical identity theft within the year. The aftermath of this fraud is staggering, affecting countless individuals and their access to health care. Once your medical information is exposed online, these identity thieves can use it to file false claims, buy expensive prescriptions and more, and it will all be conveniently billed to your account.

The worst part is how some people are finding out they were affected. Some are facing tax or mortgage fraud, but others are going to the doctor to find out if they need a procedure, but instead of getting a surgery date, they’re handed a rejection letter from their insurance provider, claiming the company won’t cover it because they’ve exhausted their benefits from multiple other procedures this year. But the thing is, THEY didn’t have any other procedures this year. Someone stole their medical ID and used it for their own procedures.

And it’s not just individuals you have to worry about. Manipulative organizations can use your medical information for fake billing schemes. What happens is that they submit false claims for medical services you never requested, received or knew anything about, then they collect their payday, and stick you with the bill. In July, 193 defendants, including 76 doctors, nurse practitioners and other licensed medical professionals, were charged for their alleged participation in several different health care fraud schemes that resulted in 2.75 billion in false billings to federal programs. Medical fraud happens!

 

See next weeks article for 10 signs on that you are a victim of medical fraud.

Travel Smart: Essential Cybersecurity Practices For A Hack-Free Vacation

Summer is a popular time for business owners and employees to step out of the office and take a well-deserved vacation. Even if their “out of office” e-mail responder is active, many people will periodically check in on work at least once while traveling. Unfortunately, studies show that working outside of the office – whether it’s a few simple check-ins on vacation, connecting to the Internet at a local coffee shop or even business travelers out on work trips – can lead to major cybersecurity issues. If you or your employees will be answering urgent e-mails from the airport or accessing network documents in the hotel lobby, it’s essential to maintain strong cybersecurity best practices to avoid exposing the company’s network to hackers preying nearby.

In this blog post, we’ll cover what cybersecurity best practices are necessary for you to take before and during any trip to keep your network secure from hackers.

Why Cybersecurity Matters While Traveling

Cybersecurity might not be at the top of your vacation checklist, but ignoring it can turn your dream getaway into a horrible nightmare. Cybercriminals know summer is a prime time to attack because people are more likely to let their guard down while on vacation. For most vacationers, the focus is on enjoying time out of the office instead of ensuring they’re following cybersecurity best practices, making them an easy target for hackers.

To minimize the risk of a cyberattack while traveling, here are a few best practices to cover with anyone on your team who might connect to the Internet while on vacation.

Before you go:

  1. Back up your data – If your device gets lost or ruined, you’ll want a copy of your data available to be restored.
  2. Update your software – Make sure your operating system software, web browsers and apps have all been updated to the latest version. Outdated software can impact your device’s ability to defend against malware.
  3. Protect your devices – You should always lock your device using a PIN, passcode, fingerprint or facial recognition feature, but if you don’t already, set this up before traveling. If you leave your device unattended and someone attempts to access it, they will have full access to your private information if it’s not locked.
  4. Enable “Find My Phone” – This feature will allow you to locate your device if you lose it, but it also gives you the power to remotely wipe data or disable the device if it falls into the wrong hands.

While traveling:

  1. Use a Virtual Private Network (VPN) – A VPN encrypts your Internet connection, ensuring your data is secure even when you use public WiFi networks. Before you leave, set up a VPN on your devices and use it whenever you access the Internet.
  2. Don’t connect to public WiFi – While public WiFi offers convenience, these networks can be a hotspot for cybercriminal activity. Avoid unprotected networks whenever possible. (Yes, that means no checking your e-mail on the beach unless you have a VPN!)
  3. Manage location services – Location tools are useful for navigating new places but can also expose your location to criminals. Turn off location services when you’re not actively using that feature, and consider limiting how you share your location on social media.
  4. Enable Multifactor Authentication (MFA) – MFA adds an extra layer of security to your accounts by requiring a second verification form, such as a text message code, authenticator code or fingerprint scan. This feature should be enabled for all accounts containing sensitive information before leaving your house.
  5. Disable auto-connect features – Some devices automatically seek and connect to available wireless networks. These features can give cybercriminals access to your devices if you connect to the wrong network. Disable this option so you only connect to wireless and Bluetooth networks you know and trust.

You should be able to relax on vacation. Taking these simple precautions can help you keep your device secure so you can enjoy your time off and don’t have to worry about dealing with cyber issues when you get back to work.

However, it’s important to know that these steps aren’t fail-proof. To truly ensure that your company’s cybersecurity measures are up to standard, it’s important to work with a professional IT team that can monitor your network 24/7, patch any vulnerabilities that pop up (which happens regularly) and alert you if something seems suspicious.

To help you prepare for your vacation and have peace of mind knowing your business is secure while you or your employees are working remotely, call us at 833-279-5869 or click here to schedule a FREE IT Security Risk Assessment with our cybersecurity experts today. We’ll evaluate your current cybersecurity solutions, identify potential vulnerabilities and help you implement a strategic security plan to keep your company safe.