An article by CNBC earlier this year reported that there had been a substantial rise in cybercrime amid the Covid-19 pandemic, costing companies billions. The report stated that:
“According to a new study from cloud computing company Iomart, large-scale breaches are growing in intensity and frequency in 2020, with the number of breaches increasing 273% in the first quarter, compared to the same time last year.”
To support these claims further, Cybint Solutions wrote in an article that the US FBI had reported a 300% increase in reported cybercrimes since the start of Covid-19.
This significant increase is something all companies with an online presence will be worried about. The reasons for this increase cannot be attributed to one factor alone. The author of the CNBC article Ellen Sheng alludes to the fact that the increase in people working from home resulted in less secure sites and devices being available for hackers to target.
This is because companies may have found it harder to administer their websites, and have therefore opened themselves up for attacks, which in the past, would not have occurred, and initially they may have had to, in the words of Ellen Sheng, “take some shortcuts with security.”
The majority of attacks start with an email, as highlighted by stats reported by Fintech News, where the cybersecurity data for 2020 outlines that 75% of cyber-attacks start with an email.
One example of how this can happen is via a ‘phishing email’ arriving in an inbox. Phishing is the act in which a person disguises themselves as a trustworthy company to obtain sensitive information or data, such as usernames, passwords and credit card details via online communications.
Website owners will receive emails from individuals pretending to be a company they are currently working with, but in actual fact a ‘phishing’ email has been sent containing a dubious link. After clicking on the link, hackers may be able to gain access to sensitive data and cause serious damage to a site.
How an agency can help
By hiring an agency to manage your website, you will not have to fret over dealing with the technical aspects of your site, allowing you to focus on your day to day business activities. The agency will handle these elements – for example, your domain name and hosting environment - and all forms of contact with your providers will go through them.
Here at BBI Brandboost we have the resources and experience to help protect your site. As part of our website management services we maintain and manage all necessary procedures on a website, including scanning for malware. If you have been hacked and are unsure what to do, or are looking to secure your site before a breach can take place, then please get in touch.