2015 December 02 Archive - EXEIdeas

Thinking of starting a small blogging business? You’re going to need more than just your quick wit and grammar guide. Cyber crimes are on the rise, and small businesses are the ones that are feeling it the most.According to the House Small Business Committee, 20% of all cyber crimes occur in businesses with fewer than 250 employees. If you’re starting a small business, it’s important to put a few security safeguards in place.Here are a few tips to help get you started…Beef Up Your Petty Passwords:Want to know the easiest and most common way hackers break into your network? By cracking really crappy passwords.More than 50 of us use the same password for most—or maybe all—of our online accounts. While this may make it easier to remember (hopefully), using the same password over and over isn’t doing you any favors. In fact, by rehashing the same password, you’re inadvertently making it easier for hackers to crack it.The first step in securing your business’s security is to improve your password. Make sure it has at least 10 characters, and make sure you use both upper- and lower-case letters. Include a few numbers, too.Finally, if your password is something personal like your spouse’s name, pet, child, etc., then change it. That type of information is easily found online, and it’s the first thing hackers will try when attempting to log into your accounts.Update Your Software:Software updates were created to help protect against outside threats. Developers spend countless hours testing and retesting different variations to make sure your software is secure. Whenever they find a hole or a known way of attack, they patch it with a software update.The second most common way hackers attack your small business is by finding flaws in your software. While there is no perfect, catch-all fix, keeping your software updated is the best defense available.Whenever you’re prompted to update your software, take the time to do it. By putting those pesky updates off, you’re opening your software up to threats.Use A VPN:Finally, the last step you should take in securing your online business is arming yourself with a VPN. What’s a VPN, you say? A VPN stands for virtual private network. They help anonymize your traffic and encrypt your data. Hackers can’t see what you’re doing, and people aren’t able to collect information on your online habits.There are plenty of free VPNs currently on the market, but most are questionable at best. It’s worth paying a few dollars a month for a premium subscription. VPNs are usually easy to install and are compatible with Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, and pretty much every other operating system you can think of.There you have it! While this is definitely not a comprehensive list, it’s a solid start. Take advantage of these simple tips and make sure your small business is safe from outside threats.