How to Stay Protected in This Growing World of Cyber Threats?

The world is moving online. So much so that a parallel universe has been created to that effect. Now, when we say that we mean, that the amount of data that is being created on a daily level is completely unimaginable a few years ago. If you have a hard time getting it in, then you might get your interests back, if we tell you that on a daily basis nearly 2.5 quintillion bytes of data are created. Yes! that is huge. 

So, what does mean? It simply means that data is the new gold, the new crude oil or maybe the most precious asset for any organization.

Why do Businesses need to protect themselves?

With some businesses completely lying in the online sphere, it will not be wrong to say that data is God. They cannot afford to lose it. But what happened alongside this positive growth story is that another story also took shape and grew. The dark side. Yes, as the developers and businesses were growing, so were the ways and means to disrupt them. 

No wonder there have been growing incidences and reports of cyber-attacks across the world. And, no business can dare to ignore the threat. Hence, the need to protect themselves from these was felt across the spectrum. 

Let us try to boil down to the severity of the risks that are involved and yes, we will back it with numbers, so you do not have a hard time to believe.

• Mobile Users at Increased Risk: A recent study by RSA, a leading name in network security, mobile phone users face a higher risk than their desktop counterparts. The chances of phishing attacks are 3 times more in the former as compared to the latter. Unfortunately, these users are not aware of the various options at their disposal to protect themselves. Another study by AVG made a shocking revelation, that almost 89% of the mobile users are not aware that many applications can pass vital information like details of their cards. 
• Threat due to Social Networks: Are you fond of being always logged in to your social accounts, just for the matter of ease. How about if we tell you that by failing to log out completely you put yourself in the risk bracket where you can be a victim of an imposter who may not only put some malicious content but also go the extent of changing of your personal details. So next time just be careful!
• Threat to Business Data: Can you imagine a scenario where you come to your office in the morning and as you plug into your system, you meet a new hello from some ransomware? Scary, isn’t it! It happens not only to private firms but many governmental organizations in countries who boast of the most sophisticated technologies have fallen prey to it.

Hence, we rest the case that cybersecurity is essential going forward. Now, coming to the main pain-point.

Also, read: Security aspects to be contemplated by Mobile App developers

How do you Secure your Business in this Age of Vulnerability?

Growth always has two dimensions- the good and the bad. So, with new technologies, risk also grows in the same proportion. As more and more businesses shift to the cloud, they become more vulnerable and exposed. However, there is some good news too. Businesses and even individuals have smartly able to combat the threat. Let us see some of the possible ways of doing it.

• Be Updated: First things first. Remember in this world where everything is dynamic, the least you can do to protect yourself is to stay updated. Be aware of what is happening around you. Now, you may feel that what’s so big deal about it? The studies show that most businesses that rank high on the scale of vulnerability, are the ones who do not care to update their website or servers. Simple things but they happen to meet strong ends. Remember, hackers, are constantly evolving and trying to find new ways of adapting to newer technologies, just in the fight to get to that one loophole or weak-link so that they can barge in. All these are taken care of by default to a certain extent if you are updated.
• SQL Injection: These are the simplest ways that hackers use to enter into your web-space and take it on ransom. A hacker employs a URL parameter or any other web form for accessing the database and thereby manipulating it to their advantage. So how do you get around this? The best way forward is by making use of parameterized queries that are usually found in different web languages and are also very easy to implement.
• Using WAF: Believe it, that it is one of the best tools of security for your website. WAF or the Web Application Firewalls are plugins that are readily available online. What makes them popular is that they are quite cost-effective and you do not have to shell out much from your budget and also that they are very effective. The primary task they perform is that they are able to reach and read all kinds of data that are both sent out and received from your website. Now if you are wondering how does that matter, then understand the fact that is they intercept the data before it reaches your website then you can secure yourself beforehand. Additionally, they also help in tracking and keeping spam and malware away. As most of these WAFs are found on the cloud, you get increased security for your website, along with cheap maintenance. 
• Protection from Cross-Scripting Attacks: XSS or the cross-scripting affect your online business by injection of malicious JavaScript. What does that mean? It means that this JavaScript can further trickle down to your system, can run itself on your browser and even go to the extent of stealing some of the confidential files and of course routing them back to the hacker in command. Imagine the damage it can do to your website by taking all your cookies, cache, passwords and even some important bookmarks. You can possibly secure your website from these by getting some firewalls and other such applications. 
• End-to-end Validation: This is done to give your website that extra blanket of protection. All you have to do is to ensure that any data you have is validated on both the server and browser. Herein, the latter will be involved in looking out for some minor mistakes while the former helps in digging a bit deeper to search for any kind of malicious code, scripts and even the applications that could have been injected into your concern. This kind of double protection is highly useful in keeping the injection of various kinds of malicious scripts by way of different form fields. 
• Ethical Hacking: Seriously? Yes. One way to read the mindset of any hacker is to be one. Hacking has often been associated with the dark. It is all about what we are trying to protect your business from. Now think if you happen to be a hacker, you will also be able to go the same way these hackers travel to reach your weak-point. You will also do the same but with a different aim. You will also break into your security system and try to reach for any weak-point that has been missed or left unplugged. So, an ethical hacker will work in interests of the organization, often under an agreement to be allowed to break the system’s security to secure it further. Ethical hacking is an emerging field in the realm of software’s and many organizations are increasingly hiring them for being secure and safe. There are many certifications and courses that one can take up if one is serious about a career in this line. 
• Strategies for Securing your Smartphones: As the majority of users now access the internet on their smartphones, so the need to secure these becomes pronounced. Here are some quick signals and fixes:

1. Have a passcode. It sounds simple but is mostly effective.
2. Check for some unusual activity on your phone, for instance, some unwarranted activity, or excessive drain of your battery, etc.
3. Download only from secure and trusted sources.
4. Always have a backup of your data.
5. Be sure to understand what the app permissions mean and how they will be affecting your phone before randomly accepting them.
6. It is a good idea to have a security app.
7. No pirated apps.

Summary

This is an age of technology and vulnerability at two ends of the spectrum. A little less caution and the balance is skewed to the end you do not want to be on. So, it is better to make yourself safe rather than cutting out a sorry later. We have tried to enumerate some simple tricks that can widely help you in protecting your website from any cyber-attack. So, pick the one you most resonate with and secure yourself. Be safe!