Several myths and misconceptions about cyber security prevent organizations from properly safeguarding their technology. Some of them may have been true in the past, but today, they work against us. As there are new breaches, hacks, and attacks daily, inadequate preparedness could result in a catastrophic outcome. So, how do you stay ahead of things? First — by knowing what’s real and what’s misinformation. Here are five common cyber security myths debunked to ensure your organization is properly assessing its risk of cyber attacks.
1. Antivirus software can protect my devices completely
There is no such thing as 100% protection in the cyber security world. Antivirus is a great line of defense, but with technology evolving, so is malware. Even if you are using a reliable antivirus, it can only minimize the damage and control the aftermath of cyber attacks. Therefore, don’t rely on antivirus software alone. Organizations must adopt a comprehensive cyber security plan that encompasses everything from incident response to employee training.
2. Once I delete something from the Internet, it is gone forever
If you post a controversial tweet or picture to the internet, you can always delete it at any time. Nobody will notice anyway, right? Think again. Several websites can recover deleted content from days, weeks, months, or even years ago. Whenever you post something online, it leaves a digital footprint. So, be cautious of what you choose to share on your social media accounts and websites because it will stay with you forever.
3. Hackers only target large business corporations
Cybercriminals do target financial institutions, government agencies, hospitals, and large conglomerates. However, that doesn’t mean small businesses and individuals are immune from cyber-attacks. Hackers do not discriminate — whether big or small, whatever seems easy to them is the main goal. SMEs are easy targets because they have less budget and lack the resources for the security defenses an enterprise or a large corporation can afford and access. According to a 2020 data breach investigation report, over 28% of data breaches took place on small business accounts.
4. There are only hackers in cyber security
Many fields fall under the cyber security domain, such as security operations centers (SOCs), governance, incident response, malware analysis, reverse engineering, information security, cryptography, security engineers, threat intelligence, vulnerability assessments, and Red Teams. Not all cyber security experts are hackers and vice versa. A lot of hackers are regular people and can be hard to spot. Just because you know someone in the cyber security field does not mean they can hack or fix your technical issues.
5. If it never happened to me, why should I care?
Many organizations assume that they are unlikely to experience a security breach because of the industry they’re in or the nature of their business. However, no one is immune to cyber-attacks. With more employees working from home and in hybrid workplace setups, organizations have less control over networks and devices remotely. Cyber threats are continually growing in sophistication and complexity, and organizations need to stay ahead of this ever-changing landscape.
Get the Right Cyber Security Solution with Mindcore
Mindcore is your trusted source for reliable and cost-effective cyber security services, whether you’re a small business or a large enterprise. Our team provides customized IT solutions in New Jersey and Florida, from penetration testing to data backup and recovery, to safeguard your critical assets from being compromised. Contact us for more information or to schedule your consultation today.
