Unfortunately, antivirus software will just not cut it anymore when it comes to protecting information stored digitally. There are countless ways for hackers and thieves alike to get around a basic antivirus firewall. Of course, this doesn’t mean you should completely uninstall antivirus programs, as they do a good job at what they’re designed to do.
However, antivirus software programs like McAfee or your built-in firewall are not enough to protect your business’s digital records or other assets stored on the computer or online. This article will aim to outline some vulnerabilities businesses face that antivirus software will not protect against. Be sure to read until the end, as there may be some tips you have yet to implement into your business or personal life.
Email Safety
There are probably a dozen new email scams invented every single day. According to this article, email is the most susceptible platform to digital attacks. You have to be careful when using your email for business-related matters, as clicking the wrong link could result in your information getting stolen.
Some general tips for staying safe while using email:
- Never click on links or download attachments from senders you don’t know. This is an easy way to download malware onto your computer.
- Never send personal or confidential information over email. It doesn’t matter if you trust the sender, it could be intercepted if it is received over a public network, for example.
- Like above, don’t send any confidential attachments over email. You can encrypt files using WinZip to ensure they are not compromised over email.
Train Your Employees
You can download all the antivirus software and firewalls you want, but if your employees do not know how to securely use the internet for work, then none of it will matter. All it takes is one password to get leaked to the wrong person for some potentially damaging consequences to occur.
Fortunately, cyber safety is an easy thing to teach to your employees. There are a plethora of security awareness courses online that you can have your team take to ensure they are all able to be trusted with potentially confidential matters. Check out AwareGo’s cyber security courses.
Depending on the business you run, establishing cyber security might be a vital component to keeping your business safe.
Two Factor Authentication
Two Factor Authentication, or 2FA, is a way to circumvent people losing access to their accounts once their password is stolen. With 2FA enabled, all new logins to an account would have to verify themselves using a pre-selected method. For example, if you were to log into your account on a new IP address for the first time, you would get a SMS code sent to your phone, and would input it after your login information.
Two Factor Authentication is a must-have for all business logins. It is not necessary for every time someone logs in, but the more frequent the 2FA prompt appears, the better.
Fortunately, a lot of web services will require two-factor authentication using SMS text for first-time logins in new locations. However, the transition has not been completed yet – and some websites don’t require 2FA for their users to use their services.
We recommend avoiding using places that don’t offer 2FA – as they will be more susceptible to cyberattacks. If you cannot find any alternative, then be extra careful with who has access to the password.
Wrapping It Up
In today’s age, simply downloading an antivirus program and calling it a day will not cut it. You need to be extra vigilant and careful when dealing with sensitive information on the internet. This article aimed to highlight some important tips businesses should know to keep themselves digitally safe from attacks.
We recommend following these tips if you are not already, and we hope you were able to learn a thing or two from this article!
