I can't check my Twitter feeds or news services anymore without reading about a new hack or data breach. Scary thing is, many of them are very preventable.
Here's a sample from some recent news items and high profile hacks of the past:
- RSA Security. One of the world's leading security firms was hacked when an employee of their parent company opened a simple phishing email.
- Wikileaks leaked piles of unredacted diplomatic cables after founder Julian Assange wrote a password down on a piece of paper.
- John McCain's presidential campaign leaked non-critical but embarrassing campaign emails when they sold a BlackBerry without first wiping it.
Just a sample folks, but the list goes on. You get the point. Doing the simple things right can save you a lot of heartache down the road.
Read More: Protecting Yourself Against 3 Common Online Attacks
Comments
William, you’re absolutely correct that many attacks are preventable – easily preventable, in fact. A handful of high-profile data breaches have created the perception that companies cannot adequately protect their information and interactions against today’s sophisticated attacks. This perception is incorrect.
Older security products are no longer effective as cybercrime evolves. Companies must evolve their security posture to keep up. Symantec urges everyone to work with their security vendors and solution providers to ensure they have deployed the latest technologies to mitigate attacks. Vendors don’t release new versions just to generate revenue; they do so because older technologies become less effective over time.