So we’re just coming off the worst data breach in US history, the Equifax data breach. In computer servicing, we see this all too often. This is how to protect yourself from data breach.
So this is the first thing we tell clients in our Boston computer service shop: get a strong password! Because 81% of hacking breaches start with weak passwords [like 1234567, password, baseball]. That’s up from 50% just two years ago. Hackers love to take advantage of weak, or default passwords. If you had the same password for years, they’ll use that for a target also.
Then there is this question. Who is behind all these breaches and hacks? According to Verizon, 75% are done from the outside. Then they say organized crime caused over half of them. Furthermore, 73% of breaches are about money. If that’s not scary enough, there is a community of hackers. In fact, there are small time hackers who will sale your ID to bigger groups for as little as five dollars! But who are they after? Once again, Verizon data says so far in 2017 24% of breaches hit financial facilities. While another 15% hit medical facilities. They targeted weak, stolen and venerable information. Does this still not concern you? Keep in mind banks and medical places make up for 16% of all the business in the USA!
I don’t know about you, but what’s more alarming is that hackers hit up 59% of places that aren’t banks or hospitals. These could be government entities, IT support firms, entertainment firms, even where your kids go to school! Now we know most of the breaches are all about money. But what’s really scary is that 27% of them have even a more sinister motive, like revenge, sex-motivated, or even to start a war. This is why we you need to know how to protect yourself from data breach. Making a strong password is a great start. Include letters and numbers, and make the password personal. Make it something only you would know (example: Your elementary school and what year you started there). How do you protect yourself against this growing threat?