What is Hacking?

“Hacking is the activity of identifying weaknesses in a computer system or a network to exploit the security to gain access to personal data or business data…System hacking means using computers to commit fraudulent acts such as fraud, privacy invasion, stealing corporate/personal data, etc.,” explains Guru 99.

While many of us may think of hackers as individuals sitting in a black room pouring over code and exacting an attack, the reality can be different. Though a great many hackers are financially motivated humans, others are nothing more than algorithms built to guess your password.

Cybercrime can also be executed by organisations or state-sponsored groups using advanced tools and techniques. However, less skilled hackers also can do plenty of damage if given the opportunity.

How to Protect Yourself: The Basics

Now that you know how valuable your sensitive information is to hackers, here are some ways to beat them at their own game.

1) Never run an outdated operating system or software.

It’s a chore that often gets pushed, but this ongoing task should be your #1 cyber safety priority. When a new computer software or operating system update comes out, it’s usually because there’s a new security patch. And you can bet hackers keep track of every vulnerability associated with each version.

2) Always make sure your antivirus is up to date.

You can’t spend every minute of every day scanning your system for potential threats – but an updated antivirus programme can. Not only will they detect when there’s a possible problem, most can also neutralise the threat before it has a chance to cause chaos.

3) Use good password hygiene.

Security Scorecard defines this as, “the practice of ensuring passwords are unique, difficult to guess, and hard to crack.” It’s also recommended to use a digital password manager to keep track of them and enable two-factor authentication whenever possible.

4) Leave attachments from unknown senders unopened.

The more sceptical you are of the sender, the less you should trust the attachment. They can be a malware nightmare. Even if you do know the sender, if the email sounds or feels “off” or it’s from someone you haven’t heard from in a long time, best to avoid downloading anything.

5) Avoid links in spammy or suspicious emails.

Suspicious Sam send you a spammy-sounding email with a link instead of an attachment? Delete it and report it.

6) Be wary of who you give personal info to.

Sensitive information shouldn’t be sent over email if it can be avoided. Instead, a secure web portal or, in a pinch, a phone call, is a safer course of action. Just make sure you can verify who’s on the other end of the line before proceeding.

7) Only trust company contact info you find online.

Email signatures and voicemails mean nothing. If you want to make sure you’re not unwittingly giving out sensitive info to a potential hacker, look up an organisation’s contact info online instead of going by what they give you. (Yes, even if it seems legitimate.)

8) Carefully assess unknown URLs before clicking.

Approach unfamiliar or iffy-looking URLs with caution. If in email form, you may want to hover over the link and see that the URL matches what’s being presented.

9) Watch for suspicious financial activity.

See an unknown transaction on your account? Make sure to inquire with your bank. You could have had a breach and not known.

As our devices become more varied and the networks they access more interconnected, their exposure to hackers has exponentially increased – and so have their vulnerabilities. If you’re not as proactive about protecting your business from cybercriminals as they are about compromising it, you’re as good as hacked.