Are you too smart for cybercriminals?

hacker

It’s a commonly believed myth that cybercriminals are highly-intelligent superhumans…but it is quite simply not true. In fact, as is the case with most common crimes, hackers and cybercriminals are quite often just opportunists and common criminals.

Experts have found that established criminals are enlisting the services of unethical hackers and young “script kiddies” who use programs developed by others to infiltrate computer systems. Alan Woodward from the University of Surrey says that “they’re switching from drug trafficking and all the rest of it to cyber-crime because basically there’s a much better return on it…Criminals are lazy as well as clever. That’s why they don’t walk into banks with shotguns anymore. It’s easier to go and steal stuff online.”

So, this leads us to question…are YOU too smart for cybercriminals?

The issue is, while cybercriminals might not necessarily be particularly intelligent, they are relentless. Europol (the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation) has identified a range of increasingly common methods used by 21st-century offenders including digital payment attacks, ransomware, selling illicit material on the dark web and stealing people’s personal data to commit fraud or identity theft. Rather than relying on one complex, well thought out scam, hackers can bombard your business with innumerable attacks in the hope that one will be successful.

Follow our simple tips to outsmart the cybercriminals.

Do your research

Cybercriminals are relying on yours and your employee’s ignorance. Stay ahead of the game and do your research on the latest scams and educate your employees so they’re fully aware of the signs to look out for.

Implement effective software

Leaving your computer system without an effective anti spam software is similar to leaving the front door of your home unlocked, and open to criminals. We’d recommend implementing software that offers you your computer infrastructure professional protection against viruses, cybercriminals and hackers, and eliminates up to 99% of spam such as MailCleaner. MailCleaner offers a variety of packages suitable for every business from small companies to large corporations. Get in touch today to find out more about how we can protect your organisation.