With 2020 coming to a close, now is the time to look to 2021 and beyond – especially as it relates to the ever-changing digital world we live in. While only time will tell what the new year has in store, we anticipate that our online presence will continue to grow rapidly. With that, we expect more cybersecurity challenges to emerge. Below, we’re discussing our cybersecurity predictions for 2021. By understanding what digital security might look like in the coming year, you can take the right precautions to protect yourself. Cybercriminals Will Continue to Target Remote Workers It’s expected that many businesses will continue remote operations at least into the first half of 2021. We already saw some of the cybersecurity impacts of remote work in 2020, and we anticipate that this will continue to be an issue well into the new year. Specifically, hackers will likely target more remote

There's no overstating the importance of security on your website, regardless of whether you use it to promote your growing business or as a personal blog. Unfortunately, countless threats are lurking on the web today – and your site could be targeted at any time. Fortunately, by following our website security checklist, you can avoid some of the most common cybersecurity mistakes that site owners make. 1. Set Up DDoS Protection Distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks have become an increasingly common threat in recent years. These attacks work by flooding your site's server with fake traffic, slowing down your website or even causing a complete server outage. If you don't already have DDoS protection in place as part of your hosting plan, now is the time to implement it. There are various DDoS protection options available; many work by "screening" traffic as it comes into your site to make

The digital world is teeming with cybersecurity threats ranging from phishing schemes to distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks and everything in between. Therefore, keeping your data safe online has become more challenging than ever before.  Unfortunately, people often fall victim to threats when they make common cybersecurity mistakes. By being aware of these errors and how to stay safe, you may be able to avoid becoming another cybersecurity statistic.  Let’s take a closer look at five of the most common security mistakes people make online: 1. Assuming You're Not a Target Even if you’re aware of the many risks that exist on the web, you might have adopted an “it won’t happen to me” mentality. Unfortunately, online security breaches are more common now than ever – and it seems as though no one is safe from being a target. With this in mind, protecting your data begins with understanding

These days, keeping information safe online is a greater challenge than ever. Security risks seem to lurk around every corner of the web – and even some of the most seemingly "secure" websites have been compromised by online attacks. If there’s one field that faces an even higher than usual risk when it comes to data breaches and other security concerns, however, it's the healthcare industry. This is especially true during these unprecedented times when healthcare offices are handling high volumes of sensitive patient data. Healthcare Industry Special Considerations and Risks With the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic and flu season converging simultaneously, it's no wonder that data security is an even bigger concern among healthcare professionals. Combine this with laws and regulations like the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), and it's easy to see why so many medical offices are under additional strain this year. Not only are healthcare

Downtime is every website owner's worst nightmare. Unfortunately, it can happen to the best of us – and it never occurs at a "convenient" time. Unexpected site downtime can not only cost your business thousands of dollars (or more), but it could also tarnish your reputation. By knowing how to handle downtime when it occurs, you can minimize the impact it has on your site or business. 1. Confirm the Outage If a regular user has alerted you of the downtime, it's always best to confirm for yourself that your site is down. Check out the issue on your own and ask a few other people you trust to visit your website and see if it loads. 2. Determine the Cause Once you've confirmed that your site is actually down, it's time to get to work determining the cause. There are many potential sources of website downtime, ranging from a

There are so many security threats lurking around the web today that it can be difficult to keep up with them all. From distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks to phishing schemes and everything in between, there's a lot to worry about. One growing security threat that you won't want to overlook, though, is ransomware. Not only have ransomware attacks become more common, but they have also become more accessible to hackers across the globe. One increasingly popular ransomware package that cybercriminals are using in record numbers is Emotet. By knowing what Emotet is and how it works, you can take the necessary measures to protect yourself and your data. Emotet: What Is It and How Does It Work? Emotet is a malware-as-a-service (MaaS) package, which allows cybercriminals to purchase malware and use it to their liking against unsuspecting victims. The MaaS model is extremely problematic because it allows people

Internet of Things (IoT) devices have become extremely popular over the last several years. From personal assistants to wearables and everything in between, these gadgets are designed to make our lives easier in a number of ways. Unfortunately, they can also be prone to some serious security vulnerabilities that may put your personal information at risk. By being aware of these threats and what some of the most vulnerable IoT devices are, you can take the steps you need to keep your data safe. Common IoT Security Risks Whether you're using IoT devices at your place of business, home, or both, there are some inherent risks to know of. In corporate settings, IoT products are often not protected in the same way that larger network devices are. As a result, the network management and security tools your business has in place may not apply – which could mean that your

In September 2020, Cynet released an in-depth report on their findings regarding the impact COVID-19 (Coronavirus) has had on cybersecurity thus far. Some of the findings weren't much of a surprise; for example, it wasn't unexpected that hackers would exploit the pandemic as a means of carrying out cyber-attacks. However, there were some interesting discoveries that both consumers and business owners with an online presence should be aware of. This includes information related to an increase in attacks among certain industries and malware attacks carried out through a method known as spear phishing. Meanwhile, the Cynet report also identified an increase in new attack methods, which is troubling. Below, we’re taking a closer look at Cynet’s findings and what you can learn from them. Increases in Industry-Specific Attacks While there has been an uptick in attacks across all industries, the reality is that some sectors seem to be getting hit harder than others in

With so many threats lurking on the web today, it can be difficult to keep up with them all. However, one cybersecurity risk that you don't want to be oblivious to is spyware. This has been a common online security threat for decades – so having a solid understanding of what it is and how it works can help you better protect yourself and your data. What Is Spyware? Generally speaking, spyware refers to any software that is programmed to collect information from your device and pass it along to a third-party without you knowing. These programs often send sensitive information like your online account usernames, passwords, and even your Social Security number to hackers and criminals. But how does spyware get on your device? In many cases, malicious software is hidden within another seemingly legitimate download. For example, you might download an app onto your device without realizing that the virus

Distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks have become an increasingly problematic digital threat over the last decade. However, 2020 has been a particularly bad year for these events, with research finding that the number of DDoS attacks increased significantly in the second quarter of the year. Specifically, the Kaspersky study found that attacks were up 30 percent when compared to the first quarter of 2020 – and a whopping 217 percent compared to 2019's second quarter. Why the Rise in DDoS Attacks? The 2020 second-quarter rise in DDoS attacks is a deviation from "the norm," as spikes in these events are historically more likely to occur during the first quarter of the year. This is because the first quarter is usually peak season for businesses, making them prime targets for hackers. Of course, 2020 has been a very different year in many ways. With more businesses shifting their operations online in response