How Hackers Exploit Employees to Access a Business Network

Cyberattacks are very common these days and have spread to every part of the world. Hackers work constantly to find vulnerable computer systems and networks to steal data and information from the user. Although the goals of cybercriminals may vary, a common motive of all hackers is to exploit sensitive information or hold it hostage for monetary benefits. This may include identity thefts, credit card frauds, and illegal use of social security numbers. Generally, cybercriminals use emails or software downloads to sneak in malware to the system. Below are three common ways in which hackers take advantage of employees to access a business network.  

Phishing Emails

Spam emails have been a nuisance ever since emailing emerged as a convenient and simple way of communicating. Cybercriminals use many tactics to convince employees that they are opening a genuine email. As soon as the employee clicks on the link in the email, a malicious code will be implanted on his/her computer. Hackers use that to gain access to the business network easily. Sometimes, the hacker may pose as a client or business contact and request payment details or even send an invoice. An unsuspicious employee may mistake that as an actual invoice and even pay it without thinking twice.

Another common way of breaking into the company’s network is by injecting malware through a software download. If an employee with administrative rights downloads a third-party game or software on his/her computer, hackers can use that to implant a virus or adware on the computer. The malicious code then opens a backdoor for the hacker to break into the business network and drain valuable data.

Many employees provide access to hackers without even knowing that they are being used to steal their company’s sensitive information. That is why most hackers target dupable employees to extract business data using many nefarious means.

Password Hacks

It is very important to secure the data in your network with robust password protection. This means that all your employees should keep their accounts secured with strong and high character count passwords. Passwords can be seen everywhere, from banking accounts to social media profiles. This may make remembering every password a bit difficult for all. However, its significance in protecting important data can never be underestimated. That is why you should have your employees use a combination of letters, numbers, and characters to create a strong password for their accounts. This way, hackers cannot decipher the password that easily and break into the company’s network to steal data. 

Another good practice is to recycle passwords and change them regularly. This will help to deter hackers from accessing your business data because they will find it difficult to crack the password. It’s also recommended to use different passwords for different channels. This will ensure that your data on other accounts remain safe in case a hacker decodes the password for, say, your social media profile. Experts advise using at least a 14-character long password. The more complicated the password is, the harder it will be to crack.

You can also put into effect strong password security measures throughout your company. You can provide password manager tools for your employees to help them maintain the passwords without having to memorize them or note them somewhere. There are many password manager apps these days that offer great security for your accounts by generating random passwords and changing them regularly. This will make your business network more secure against cyberattacks.

Fake Warnings

You may have seen a pop-up appearing on your computer screen out of nowhere when you were browsing a website. These pop-ups will warn you that a virus or malware has infected your computer and that you should remove it immediately. Sometimes, they may appear as a notification by an antivirus application. The warning message may even try to convince you into clicking a link on the pop-up window to clean the malware or virus. Yet as soon as you click on it, it will implant adware or other malicious code into the computer. This will then allow hackers to break into the network and steal sensitive data without you noticing it.

Sometimes, the pop-up may ask you to contact the tech support staff on the phone number provided. It may warn you that if you do not call, the data on your computer will be deleted. If you call the tech support staff using that number, they may ask for a fee to install the antivirus or other troubleshooting software on your computer. In worst cases, they may offer a free download of the software, which will inject malware into your computer to steal your data.

The best way to prevent data loss and prevent such cyberattacks is by keeping your employees informed about cybersecurity threats. You can consult with a managed IT service provider to schedule onsite training for your employees and educate them about the best cybersecurity practices. You can also see if there is any flaw in your existing network and upgrade to more powerful security measures if necessary. Overall, staying informed and employing the best practices can help to prevent vital information from being drained by cybercriminals.