10 Cyber Security Myths

When it comes to maintaining your cyber security both personally and professionally, there are many notions that are often accepted without scrutiny. It’s important to keep in mind that in this day and age, a lot of what we know is not entirely accurate. In this post, we’ll outline and debunk 10 of the top cyber security myths that we’ve encountered.

Myth 1: Cyber attacks are only a problem for large organizations.

The reality is that cyber attacks can happen to any size business — from large corporations down to small businesses like yours. The difference is that the stakes are higher for larger companies and they tend to invest more resources in protecting their systems. Even if you’re not a target today, it’s important to assume that you could be tomorrow and take steps now to protect your organization from becoming a victim of cybercrime.

Myth 2: Using a firewall is enough to protect my company’s systems.

A firewall can be an effective form of protection against external threats, but it will never be able to provide complete protection against internal threats. A firewall can only protect against known threats, so if there is a new vulnerability or attack, it won’t be detected by the firewall until it’s too late. In addition, firewalls tend to focus on protecting the perimeter of the network, which means that internal users could still get infected with malware or phishing attacks if they don’t know how to recognize them or how best to avoid them.

Myth 3: The companies my organization deals with have never been hacked.

There is no reason to assume that your business partners are immune to cyber attacks or have proper cyber security protections in place. Your partner may think they are immune because they haven’t been attacked yet, but this doesn’t mean that they won’t be targeted in the future. Cybercriminals don’t target one specific company or industry; they will target anyone who has valuable information or intellectual property on their computers or networks.

Myth 4: We know when our systems have been compromised.

This is a common misconception among IT workers, as well as business owners and executives who are not as familiar with the technical aspects of cyber security. It’s easy to imagine that your company’s tech team would notice if hackers were attempting to break into your system, but this is often not the case.

The truth is that many cyber attacks are successful because the target has no idea that they’ve been compromised until it’s too late. In fact, most cyber attacks are carried out by skilled hackers that can remain undetected for long periods of time in order to steal data or monitor their target.

Myth 5: You can avoid being attacked by staying away from suspicious links and emails.

This is one of the most common myths about cyber security. While it’s true that you should be wary of links, websites, or attachments in emails that you don’t recognize, there are many other ways in which hackers can gain access to your data. Cybercriminals may pose as someone you trust in order to trick you into giving them access to your server or network.

Additionally, when cybercriminals deploy ransomware into a system, they often are able to move laterally across devices to infect multiple at once. Even if you didn’t click on the suspicious link, but someone else did, your device can still get infected.

Myth 6: Mac and Linux operating systems are more secure and do not need as much cyber protection.

While there are fewer attacks on these two operating systems, they still get attacked by hackers. In fact, many of the attacks on these two operating systems are carried out by exploiting vulnerabilities in Adobe Flash Player or Java. Even though there are fewer attacks on these two platforms, businesses should still protect them with proper cyber security measures.

Myth 7: We don’t need to worry about back-ups or system recovery until we’re attacked.

This is one of the most dangerous myths out there. Your data is one of the most valuable assets to your company and should be backed up regularly. Cyber attacks are not the only way that data can be lost. Assume that cyber attacks are inevitable, so you need to have a plan in place for when they happen. Having a backup system and data that can be recovered quickly can help you get back up and running quickly should your system be compromised.

Myth 8: Improving security will make using our computers difficult and inconvenient.

There is no doubt that cyber security can be challenging at times. It can definitely feel inconvenient to remember a new password every 90 days or use multi-factor authentication, but it’s a necessary step towards good cyber protection. With the right tools and resources, you can ensure that your organization stays protected from the ever-growing threat of cyber attacks. While it may take some time to get up and running with a new security system, you should not let this deter you from making changes.

Myth 9: Mobile devices are very secure and cannot be used for malware attacks.

Mobile devices are just as vulnerable to malware as your desktop computer. The difference is that the security tools on mobile devices aren’t as robust, so if you’re using one, it’s up to you to protect yourself. It’s important to keep your device updated with the latest patches and software updates from the manufacturer, as well as any apps that you use. This will help protect against known vulnerabilities and prevent unauthorized access or activity on your device.

Myth 10: Our data is too secure for cybercriminals to infiltrate our system.

Cyber security is more than keeping your data secure. Cybercriminals are getting more sophisticated in their attacks, so better technology by itself doesn’t necessarily mean better cyber protection.

The best way to protect against these threats is through a combination of both traditional and innovative approaches. By combining advanced technologies such as machine learning with more traditional ones like firewalls, network monitoring, and employee education, organizations can stop cyberattacks before they happen.

What is Cyber Liability Insurance?

Cyber liability insurance is designed to protect businesses from the financial impact of a data breach or attack. It provides coverage for legal costs, notification costs, credit monitoring services, and other expenses related to a cyber event. If a company suffers a breach that impacts its customers’ or employees’ personal information, it may be liable under state or federal law. This could result in fines and penalties, lawsuits from consumers and even potentially adding a class action lawsuit to the mix. Cyber liability insurance helps protect against these risks and can offer protection against third-party claims as well.

Cyber security is a shared responsibility. Establish an effective cyber security posture by identifying the vulnerabilities within your organization, assessing the impact and risk of those vulnerabilities, building an action plan based on prioritizing your critical functions, and implementing operational controls to mitigate the risk exposure.

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