Cybersecurity threats happen every day. The news is filled with stories of giant corporations that have become victims such as the Colonial Pipeline, Facebook and JBS.
These large-scale incidents are noteworthy, but did you know that nearly all cyber threats are financially motivated, and no amount is too small? That means you’re at risk, too.
A cybersecurity attack is when thieves steal or take control of information. Items ranging from a corporation’s customer list to passwords to your own personal family photos are at risk. And if you own a small business, your company data is in danger as well.
That’s why Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance includes data breach and cyber extortion coverages in its business owner policies. These coverages can help your business recover from a cybersecurity attack.
More effective, however, is to avoid an incident in the first place.
“Any computer can be of value to an attacker,” says Andrew Marsh, Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance director of information security. “Any system or account a criminal can access can be used to attack you or someone you know.”
One of the easiest and most effective ways to protect your information is by enabling multi-factor authentication on any account you use to access email or online services. Multi-factor authentication is also known as two-step authentication and can be enabled in minutes on many services individuals or businesses may use.
One common way cyber criminals gain access to your information is through a phishing attack, which is a fraudulent email attempting to trick people into revealing personal information such as passwords or credit card numbers. If you are unfamiliar with the sender, never click on a link in the email. Make sure it is from a reputable source and watch for obvious and subtle grammar and spelling errors.
“Unfortunately, small businesses add value to a criminal’s objectives,” Marsh says. “They often don’t follow the same stringent protocols a larger company does when it comes to cybersecurity.” A simple ransomware attack, which is when a cybercriminal takes over a system and charges a ransom to release control, can put a business in jeopardy or cause significant disruption, he added.
To make sure your family-owned or small business has adequate coverage, visit infarmbureau.breachresponse.com and use the Data Risk Calculators offered through Cyberscout – one of many Indiana Farm Bureau member benefits. If you need more coverage or have questions, contact your local Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance agent today.
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