Many small businesses think they are not a target for cybercriminals because they don’t have any huge financial assets or ultra-critical information. It’s tempting to think this, but it’s just not true.
Over and over this is proven not to be the case, and a new recent report validates that businesses of all sizes are being targeted; from tiny mom-and-pop shops to large global corporations. The report further goes into the details of how they are utilizing “botnets” to do so.
What are botnets and how do they affect my security?
Botnet is such a vague sounding techie term it probably doesn’t make you raise an eyebrow or care about what they are. You should care though because they are one of the tools that cybercriminals use frequently.
They are essentially a network of compromised devices, anything from your laptop to your smart refrigerator, that a criminal can weaponize without you knowing. They use these groups of devices to attack organizations, such as sending out spam emails, launching cyberattacks on websites, or stealing personal information.
Why is it a problem right now?
There have been recent “massive spikes” in the activities of these botnets, with over a million devices engaged at once. That’s a hundred times the usual activity.
Typically a botnet consists of about 10,000 devices engaged in shady activities. The most that has ever been recorded is twice that at 20,000 devices.
In December things took a massive uptick and jumped to over 35k devices and then 2 weeks later over 43k devices. That exponential increase has kept going and hit over 143k devices being used at once. In early January that number hit over a million devices.
That’s a massive number of compromised devices.
What are these botnet devices doing?
Overall, all of these compromised devices are being used to scan the internet, looking for vulnerabilities in websites, servers, email systems, or anything they can find access to.
In lay terms, they are walking around the neighborhood and checking every door and window to see if it’s locked or if it can be jimmied open.
That means everyone is being checked, including your business.
How can you safeguard yourself against these cyber threats?
It all boils down to fortifying those metaphorical doors and windows.
Here are some straightforward steps:
✅ Keep your software, operating systems, and applications up-to-date. Regular updates often patch vulnerabilities.
✅ Install a robust firewall to shield your network and devices from outside entities.
✅ Utilize a modern detection and response cybersecurity system that monitors your network for unusual activity (antivirus alone won’t cut it).
✅ Educate your employees about the best cybersecurity practices, such as steering clear of suspicious links and emails.
✅ Enforce strong, unique passwords for all your accounts and devices.
✅ Routinely back up your data to mitigate losses in the event of a cyber attack.
✅ Consider enlisting the expertise of a cybersecurity specialist (that’s where we come in) to assess and enhance your security measures.
If we can assist you in bolstering your business’s protection, don’t hesitate to get in touch.