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Data Breach 101: 4 Signs That Your Business Has Been Hacked and How to Fight Back

Posted on December 11, 2020December 11, 2020 by Larry

It is mind-boggling to find out that your company’s security has been breached and that your confidential data is exposed. A data breach is the worst possible nightmare a company can face because you can never be sure of what hackers took away. Although there could be others, here are the most common tell-tale signs that your business has been hacked and ways to fight back:

  1. Login Troubles

If users cannot access their accounts even after entering the correct password, it could be a red flag. The first possibility could be that the hacker logged in and changed the password. The other possibility could be that the IT department could have flagged the account after the hacker tried too many times to log in.

Your IT department could implement multi-factor authentication to make it extremely difficult for unauthorized personnel to access your accounts. The IT team could also regularly perform checks to establish which account credentials are not working. It would also help to seek IT consulting services elsewhere just to be sure that your data is secure.

  1. File Changes

Some hackers may leave footprints, such as file modification or deletion, to avoid detection. If you are keen enough, you will mostly notice these types of changes. You should never assume that you made the changes and forgot.

Your IT department needs to develop algorithms to differentiate between routine file changes and those indicative of a data breach in real-time. They can also ensure that the company’s files stored in the computers are encrypted and that every staff adheres to this policy.

  1. Unusual Account Activity

After gaining access to a computer, most hackers will try to elevate the privileges of the account owner. The other route they take is that of going up the ladder to find accounts with higher privileges.

Your IT team could enable a multi-factor authentication system to delay the hackers’ attempts to access your files. This technique will greatly increase the chances of the attacks getting spotted.

  1. Unwanted Software Installation

Over time, your staff will familiarize themselves with the software that they regularly use. If your staff notice any unwelcome installations that are not related to their work line, they need to inform the IT department. It is not their call to determine whether the installed software is harmful or not.

You need to train your staff to perform regular checks on the software installed, not forgetting the browser plugins. If this problem persists, they should notify the IT team to take over.

Prevention is better than Sorry

It is cost-effective to prevent hacking than to hire specialists to try and recover stolen data. You can start by ensuring your staff uses complex passwords that may give hackers a difficult time to crack. To protect your business from a data breach and fend off common threats, use multi-factor authentication and file encryption.

To stay ahead of most hackers, consider taking a proactive approach rather than waiting for the nightmare to befall your company. Ensure that you regularly find ways to improve your data security.

(Cover Image Source: Pixabay)

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About Us

My good friend Ben started this site many years ago.  Ben said this about himself, “am a follower of Christ, a rabid computer geek, small business owner, and breaker of things. He is married way above his station in life and has three wonderful children who have made driving him insane their mission in life.”

Well back in 2019, Ben suddenly passed away from cancer and he asked me to continue the site. I like Ben, am a follower, a computer geek, a small business owner, and the father of 5 great children.

I miss Ben everyday but run this site in his honor. Thanks for visiting and enjoy!

-Larry S.

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