Local expert warns businesses of cybersecurity risks
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (WNKY) — October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, and a Bowling Green technology expert is reminding local businesses that cyberattacks can happen to anyone, regardless of the size of their company.
David Mantlo, CEO and president of ISTT, Inc., says compromised email accounts and unauthorized access to company networks are two of the biggest threats businesses face.
Small businesses are targets, too
It’s easy for a small business owner to assume hackers are more interested in larger companies. Mantlo says that’s a dangerous assumption.
“The notion that maybe this doesn’t apply to you or you’re too small to actually have a target on your back is a major fallacy,” Mantlo said.
Cybercriminals often target large numbers of businesses and individuals, hoping just a few will fall for their attempts.
What happens when hackers get in?
The damage can be costly. Mantlo says hackers can steal company information, sell it on the dark web or even shut down business operations.
They can also use a company’s financial records to figure out how much money to demand in a ransom.
“Many times if they have the ability to review that, that gives them an estimating point to begin a ransom process so they know what you might be willing to pay to avoid going out of business,” Mantlo explained.
He says businesses should regularly evaluate their risks, keep computer systems updated and have a plan in place to detect problems before they get worse.
Keeping your personal information safe
Cybersecurity isn’t just something to think about at work. Mantlo says families should also take a closer look at how they protect their personal information.
That includes being careful about saving passwords on computers and using the same password for multiple accounts.
“So maybe we’re going to have a conversation around as a family using a password manager so that we’re not also using the same password for Netflix that we do for a Chase Bank,” Mantlo said.
He also encourages parents to include their children, especially teenagers, in conversations about online safety.
For businesses, Mantlo recommends cybersecurity training for employees. He says those lessons can make a difference outside the workplace, too, as workers share what they’ve learned with their families.
His advice for both businesses and individuals is to start by understanding what information they have, how it could be accessed and what they can do to better protect it.
