Understanding that in today's highly connected and digitalized society, even minor computer issues can quickly spiral out of control is important in making decisions about your IT purchases and investments.
This article illustrates the cascading effect that occurs when minor computer security concerns are neglected.
Imagine what would happen if one user's password were exposed due to a breach in security on another service - even seemingly minor breaches can set off a series of devastating security breaches that are never resolved quickly enough.
We will explore how this situation could escalate to more severe issues.
Step 1: Log into Your Email Account
A recent Google study has found that 66% of people confess to reusing passwords across multiple websites (or all).
hackers can gain entry to an email account of an unsuspecting victim if they know their password for their email address. Once inside, these hackers can see incoming and sent messages, contact lists, and any sensitive data within that account.
Step 2: Exploiting "Forgot Password" Features
Once hackers gain control of an email account they can exploit the "forgot your password" feature to gain unauthorized access to other online services. They can intercept password reset emails by initiating them themselves and use that information to change passwords of other online accounts - effectively locking out their owner while giving themselves unwarranted access.
Step 3: Unauthorized Access to Other Services
Hackers have access to multiple services associated with an email address by taking control of its password reset function and gaining entry. These include social media accounts, online banks accounts, ecommerce platforms and cloud storage among many others.
Utilizing this intelligence, they can then use this knowledge to launch additional attacks.
Step 4: Exploitation and Damage
Once hackers gain access, they could exploit these accounts in various ways. They might use them for illegal transactions like money theft or launch targeted phishing campaigns against trusted contacts of their victim.
Preventing Escalation of Security Incidents: The Importance Of Robust Security Practices
Establishing robust security practices is crucial to prevent computer security incidents from becoming major breaches, so here are a few measures you should keep in mind to help keep minor security problems from worsening into serious breaches.
Strength, Unique Passwords
To protect each online account it is imperative that a strong password be utilized. A strong password should contain uppercase letters, numbers and special characters; password managers can assist with managing complex passwords for you.
Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)
Implementing two-factor authentication provides an additional layer of protection, even if your password has been compromised, because 2FA requires another verification method like receiving a code on trusted devices in order to gain entry.
Undergoing Regular Security Audits
It is vitally important that your online accounts and system undergo periodic security audits, so as to detect suspicious activity, review privacy settings, update software applications to their latest versions, which often come equipped with security patches and updates are often done at regular intervals.
Security Awareness and Education
Make time for yourself and your team members to educate themselves on best computer security practices. Keep informed of emerging threats and phishing scams; and exercise caution when encountering emails, links or attachments that appear suspicious.
As soon as you suspect or detect a security breach or identify suspicious activity, take swift and decisive action to mitigate damage and address it quickly. Change passwords immediately and contact a managed services provider immediately for help in assessing damage.
When left unaddressed, minor computer security problems can quickly snowball into major issues. Reach out to us now so we can prevent these minor issues from turning into bigger ones - call (404) 932-5940 now for help!
