
The travel website, Orbitz, announced that hackers took credit card information of 880,000 customers between January and June of 2016. Equifax in July of 2017 revealed 147 million records were affected. And the list goes on. More data breaches are hitting the news every week.
Check out these stats from 2017:

When surfing the internet while not at home or at work, use these tips to stay safe and secure, when connecting to an open network:
- Always make sure the open wi-fi network you are connecting to is the one you actually want to connect to. When we are in a public library, or a coffee shop; we are usually provided with a public wi-fi network where we can connect without a password. Here’s the catch, anyone can create a public network with the same name! When you connect to the free wi-fi at your local coffee shop, a hacker may intercept your connection in the made-up, and unsecure, wi-fi network. Wherever you’re at, verify the name of the network with staff. Mark the connection as “Public Network” when prompted, and turn off file sharing. Turn on a firewall too for added protection!
- Use a VPN (virtual private network)! A VPN is the best way to protect yourself when connected to public wi-fi. A VPN client encrypts the data between your computer and the internet. There are free and paid services on the internet. Make sure to log in to your secure VPN as soon as you connect to public wi-fi.
- Check the lock icon in the URL bar in your web browser to ensure that it’s a safe connection. Chrome, Firefox, and Opera all offer extensions to ensure your browser connects to only secure sites.
- Update your software! Update your operating system through a secure network and watch for browser updates and install them when available.
- Ready to get snazzy? Enable two-factor authentication. Even your login details can be hacked as you’re signing in on public Wi-Fi. With two-factor authentication you add a layer of protection. Try to use different, strong passwords for different services.
Treat your data like the life of your business depends on it. How long can your business operate without its critical information? Studies show that backup and disaster recovery is integral to a business’s success. Did you know that the Small Business Administration (SBA) estimates that 45% of companies that suffer from a data loss, close their doors after 6 months (or sooner).
It’s estimated that 87% of all data leaks/infections are caused by human error. Someone clicks on a web link or an attachment and opens the document to infect your computer or server. Training and education are important to teach your employees how to identify a suspicious email or attachment. The rule that states, if it looks too good to be true… It probably is. When in doubt, delete the message instead of opening it.
Comprehensive data security is difficult to achieve, but it’s more important than ever. From desktops and laptop devices, to mobile devices, data storage drives, and servers, your technology needs and deserves protection. If you want to know more about the recent wave of data breaches and how it can affect your business, contact your trusted IT Professional.
Elite Networking & Consulting offers their clients a cloud-based software product that provides a high-end security solution that stops infections from attacking your data, including an Anti-Ransomware module that stops this horrible infection from attacking your computer. This is the benefit of working with an IT Professional.
If you would like additional information on the Security Solution that is offered by Elite Networking & Consulting, please either call us at 855-767-9685, ext. 700 or send an email to service1@elite-nac.com.
For more information about data breaches, please visit this website: https://breachlevelindex.com/