When someone tries to get your personal or sensitive information for the purpose of hurting you or your reputation, that is called phishing. Spear phishing is when specific individuals are being targeted by the hackers.
The sole purpose of the hacker is to gain info about a person or company, hence all the resources will be directed one way instead of the random phishing methods.
Since most of people’s data are stored digitally these days, phishing scams are directed to servers and work computers.
Every company, no matter how clean it is, is vulnerable to phishing scams. Some hackers may even steal your passwords just to empty your bank accounts instead of blackmail. Companies are also targeted by competitors to clear the way for them. Once your company is out of the industry, the other one strives as a monopoly.
There are so many reasons as to why you should ensure your company doesn’t get involved in phishing scams, but that is not what you want to know, right?
Let’s jump straight to how you can protect your business from the phishing scams then:
Hiding your Wireless network
One way a person can get your personal data is by hacking into your company’s network and accessing your files. There is usually a bit of valuable data they can use from these files.
You can prevent hackers from hacking your network by making them think that there is no network to hack. Of course there are tools that expose the hidden networks, but some hackers are too lazy to use them. Your company, therefore, is now safe from the lazy hackers who probably would have succeeded in hacking you.
Using LAN networks if possible
For a large company, having wires running around the building ruins the great outlook of the offices. It is also costlier to have a wired network than a wireless one in a large building.
It is, however, more secure to have a LAN connection with cables rather than WiFi. For a hacker to join the network, his computer must be physically connected to your company’s router.
He or she will be detected easily while trying to join the network with a LAN cable. If WiFi is a must in your company, just keep the important files in a closed network.
Check for unauthorized devices
Even if you are not using WiFi, a person can still join your network by using special devices that create a bridge between your PC and their network. The devices can be planted on one of the computers’ USB ports and the hacking begins.
You should regularly check if new devices have been attached to the PCs. You can also implement a policy that disallows anyone from connecting anything to the company PCs.
If you are sure you will not be adding any devices to your current connections, you can also disable the extra USB ports that could be used I hacking.
Using WPA instead of WEP
I don’t know why router manufacturers still give the option of WEP as a security measure, but you should always avoid that type of security protocol while creating the WiFi networks.
Networks secured with WEP are easily hacked and are not good for any company.
Avoiding harmful sites
Sometimes, workplaces can be a bit… boring. Some employees may be tempted by the awesomeness of the web and start surfing. Most are pulled deep into the web where spams and malware are waiting for them to make a move.
Most of these places are torrents sites and definitely some porn sites, at least the free ones. You should take measures to avoid this type of situation. Of course you can always fire the guy who clicks on a malware, but you may end up firing half of your staff.
The best way to prevent such circumstances is by blocking all the known sites that are not relevant to the company’s purpose.
Using anti-malware software
Would you rather spend all your time blocking all the torrent and adult sites, which may also influence you too, or just have something doing all the work for you?
Option 2 is usually the one chosen, especially when you find out that you can get it for free. Yes! There are free antimalware software that actually work. Instead of blocking a certain IP, they just quarantine anything that may harm your PC.
The anti malware software also block annoying ads that may disrupt your company’s operations. Sounds great right? Well, better to be safe than firing all your employees because a slow day teased them.