Mary Thought She Was Being Helpful…
Mary was running late for work when she pulled into the parking lot. As she hurried into the office, she noticed a thumb drive on the ground. Picking it up, she saw it was labeled “Sally’s Dance Recital”. Being a mom herself, she wanted to find the rightful owner and so she put it in her pocket.
A little while later after catching up on email, Mary remembered the thumb drive. She thought for sure she could find the owner’s information on it and get it back to them. She put the drive into her laptop and opened it up. It contained a bunch of pictures. Clicking on one, Mary began to look for clues…
Little did she know she had just launched a virus into her corporate network. While Mary was searching for the owner, the virus was searching for critical information that could be used for financial gain.
Bad guys are constantly looking for ways to get into company files and are getting more and more creative every day. In this instance, their intention was to trick someone like Mary by making her believe the thumb drive merely contained innocent pictures–and it worked.
Security Awareness: What To Watch Out For
Security awareness is everyone’s responsibility. Now more than ever we need to think about what we are doing when it comes to securing our information. Hackers will use all sorts of tactics. This can include getting you to click on and launch a virus–or give out personal information that can lead to a security breach.
Some tricks to watch out for include phishing emails. These fraudulent messages are made to look like they came from someone you know but are a hacking attempt. If you receive an email asking for financial information or passwords, always call the person who sent it and verify. Never provide sensitive information by email.
Another is scam phone calls. Congratulations, you just won $5,000! All you need to do is verify your banking information and we will wire you the money. Uh-oh, now your bank account has been drained. Wiring money is an easy scam with little accountability to recover your losses.
Next are text messages. We have a great offer for you, just click on the link for more information… Great, now we have your personal information up on the Dark Web! Never click on to-good-to-be-true offers.
As mentioned before, look out for loose thumb drives. If you ever find one laying around, never plug it into your computer. Give it to your IT team or turn it in to the police.
Finally, QR codes–never scan a QR code if you don’t know what it is for. It may take you to a site looking to steal your information.
Stay Vigilant, Stay Safe
Being aware of what is going on around you and thinking before you click are ways to help prevent accidentally exposing yourself to security breaches. Another effective tool that many organizations use is security awareness training.
Security awareness training (SAT) is a critical tool in equipping individuals and organizations with the power to stay safe online. SAT provides best practices for identifying phishing attempts, safe browsing habits, and can offer insights into the latest cyber threats. By using SAT, you can empower your employees to make informed decisions that safeguard sensitive data and prevent cyber incidents.
TREYSTA offers comprehensive security awareness training that caters to diverse needs. Through engaging modules and real-world scenarios, TREYSTA’s training equips individuals with practical skills to recognize and respond effectively to potential threats.
Make TREYSTA an invaluable partner in fortifying both your personal and organizational security through effective security awareness training.
Remember, security awareness is everyone’s responsibility. Stay safe and stay vigilant. Enable your employees to make smart decisions with power of security awareness training! Contact us today to schedule a free consultation and take the first step toward a more secure future.
Find out why businesses in Harrisburg, Hanover, York, and throughout Central PA and Northern MD trust TREYSTA as their technology experts.
