Preventing a Cyberattack Through Social Accounts

Preventing a cyberattack through social media accounts is becoming increasingly important as workers continue to use social media. Cybersecurity threats are increasing, and hackers can attack your operation from anywhere. Ransomware episodes continue to grow in number, size, and sophistication. Today, more of these cyberattacks begin by exploiting their targets through social media accounts. As a result, independent Cyber Insurance agencies and the insurance carriers they represent are on the front line of defense against cybercrime. 

Preventing a Cyberattack Through Social Accounts

Social media is unmatched as a tool for connecting people and building networks. But unfortunately, the ease of use and compelling content that enriches our lives also creates many security issues. For example, hacks that begin on social media are increasing as cyber criminals learn new ways of tricking users into providing sensitive information. 

Employee Social Media Security Is Only as Good As the Training They Get. 

Preventing a cyberattack through social media accounts happens when you tell employees how to handle the situation. Employees must be aware and alert that these threats are real and dangerous. Their vigilance depends on training to spot and avoid hackers. Additionally, you should educate them about the severe consequences of a lax security attitude.

It’s vital to train employees to spot phishing attempts for email and social media. Also, they must recognize what computers or devices are safe for personal social media accounts.

Keep Close Tabs on Company Social Media Admin Accounts.

Only a few people should have access to admin control over your company’s social media accounts. Moreover, those who have access to them should train on how to spot and stop cybercrimes. Spear-phishing attacks require no personal information from the victims. Instead, the attackers use fake accounts to lure people into clicking malicious links. This attack method is called social hacking.

Hackers have used social hacking to send malicious links to steal sensitive data. The links are cleverly formatted to look like they came from someone you know. Hackers know familiarity is the first step in lowering their target’s defenses. It increases the likelihood of clicking on the link. Thus, it will infect the computer. About 50% of spear-phishing attacks result from attacks delivered via social media. Therefore, it’s crucial to make your employees aware of how hacking their personal information can affect them and the company.

Cybersecurity Training Is No Longer Optional.

Preventing a cyberattack through social media accounts happens through awareness. The rise in cyberattacks on businesses of all sizes make it imperative for companies to employ thorough cybersecurity awareness training. Developing an ongoing training program to walk employees through different threats. Likewise, it will help them understand how to protect themselves is the first step in preventing cybersecurity events.

Remind employees and staff about these company policies regularly: 

• Minimally allow admin access only to those who need it. 
• All employees should update their social passwords and make sure they’re using strong ones routinely. 
• Social media platforms are blocked on company computers to prevent employees from posting information about their companies online which helps hackers with social engineering efforts. 

Preventing a cyberattack through social media will help your business thrive. Social media is a terrific tool for businesses. Still, it also poses threats to them. Thus, employees must be aware of the danger. Then, they must know how to take necessary precautions when using social media platforms. 

Enhanced Spear Phishing. 

This type of social media hack tempts victims by using a fake account to entice them to click on links to malicious software. Hackers use enhanced spear-phishing to steal sensitive data such as usernames and passwords. For example, hackers target military personnel with spear-phishing techniques to access classified information. 

Hackers directly target people who use social networks such as Facebook and Twitter to send malicious links. These cybercrooks seek people who frequently communicate with others through social networking accounts. Once they compromise an account, it’s simple for the hacker to post messages with malware links while posing as the victim. 

Employees have to be careful about their social media use. A recent example is a hacked account sending a message that a friend had died with a malicious link to their supposed obituary. It works so well because it is devious as it pulls on heartstrings and clouds judgment in the heat of the moment.

Recognizing Cyberattack Threats and How They Work Is Essential.

Social engineering hacks are more challenging than ever to detect and pinpoint as they hit with an array of phishing, ransomware, and pretexting. Your business continuity relies on your ability to detect cyber attacks quickly and initiate your predetermined response plan.

All organization members must know how to recognize social engineering attacks. Likewise, it only takes one employee to make a mistake by clicking a bad link. Then, that decision could cause them to provide sensitive data to a cybercriminal posing as a friend or known person.

It is crucial to consistently remind all members, vendors, and others who access your site to be hyper-aware of hacking through social accounts. You can’t say or warn about these threats enough. 

Help Employees Learn to Detect and Stop Hack Attacks. 

Train them always to be suspicious when they receive requests for: 

• User information or to provide login credentials. 
• Financial data, internal documents, and contracts. 
• Any personal information, however innocent the request seems.
• Clicking on odd or suspicious links – especially if the forwarding URL is unknown.
• Taking phone calls making requests, or asking about questionable or peculiar circumstances.

Train everyone to know there is never pushback for being proactive. It’s better to misread a situation than not. For example, an apology can undo a mistaken action, while cleaning up after a cyberattack is brutal. 

Insist Upon and Maintain Device Security

The widespread use and availability of mobile devices attached to the internet are a boon to business and personal life. Additionally, your employees must know what actions to take before leaving office. They must lock and secure their devices before leaving for the day. They must understand why security breaches are installing unapproved apps or using personal devices during work. They need to realize they can only use approved mobile devices.

Make Multi-factor Authentication (MFA) and Password Management Mandatory

Implementing MFA and strong Password Management Policies are critical to secure computers and mobile devices. Make using a different password for every account and routinely rotating random passwords compulsory. And make it known without question that sharing passwords or personal information is forbidden. 

Employee Awareness Is a Huge Deterrent to Cybercrime.

All employees should receive training to require identification from all unknown sources that message them over any channel requesting information. In addition, they should know how to communicate with management about suspicious emails.

Training employees to be aware and skeptical of email messages and other communications is a crucial and ongoing job. Besides being extra careful with emails, it is an intelligent practice to flag email messages from external sources. Empower your employees to ask questions when receiving messages from unknown sources.

Cybersecurity Is Only as Good as Your Software and Best Practices

Best practices for software and hardware physical security are precautions you must take to secure your organization. Planning to integrate your security practices into your system from the outset will improve your organization’s cyber defenses. Regularly updating your software and hardware keeps your system working optimally and helps you detect and thwart threats. It’s a mission-critical step to protect your company from new security issues.

Using the Proper Technology Is a Key to Cybersecurity Success

Technology providers must be open and honest about their practices. Also, vendors should provide manuals and guides to help clients know what actions they need to take to protect their businesses. Choosing the right security technology is a critical component of a well-designed cybersecurity strategy. It includes evaluating the provider’s staff, training, assistance, and following up. 

Stopping Cybercrime Before It Starts

You might think the primary job of your local independent insurance agent is to be there with help to recover from losses and get claims paid, and you would be right. But there’s more to it because we know that advising our clients on preventative measures can help them avoid claims from cybercrime and the pain it brings should it happen — plus, proactive deterrence helps lower premium costs.  

We’re here to provide you with the most comprehensive Cyber Insurance coverage at competitive rates and assist you in taking proactive steps to avoid having to make claims for cyber security losses. We welcome the opportunity to review your coverages and attendant risks and use our expertise and industry contacts to help you safeguard your business and employees.

About Dickstein Associates Agency

Dickstein Associates Agency has distinguished itself as a leading provider of personal and business insurance in the tri-state area since 1965. We pride ourselves on being advocates for our clients and providing them with quality and affordable coverages. As Trusted Choice™ independent insurance agency, we partner with various national and regional carriers, allowing for flexible coverage for each client’s unique circumstances. For more information on how you can leverage all your insurance to work best for you, and how we can secure the best insurance in the marketplace suited to your specific needs and business objectives, contact us today at (800) 862-6662 or www.dicksteininsurance.com.