{"id":75370,"date":"2023-12-01T00:00:47","date_gmt":"2023-12-01T05:00:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/todaysveterinarybusiness.com\/?p=75370"},"modified":"2023-11-29T18:08:09","modified_gmt":"2023-11-29T23:08:09","slug":"cybercrime-security-protect-and-defend-1223","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/navc.sitepreview.app\/todaysveterinarybusiness.com\/cybercrime-security-protect-and-defend-1223\/","title":{"rendered":"The Hidden World of Cybercrime"},"content":{"rendered":"

No business is immune to cybercrime. Unfortunately, smaller companies are easier to victimize because they frequently lack the organizational depth, expertise, and technical and financial resources of larger businesses. They also are more likely to use outdated computer operating systems. Would you believe that 10% of companies reportedly still use Windows 7?<\/p>\n

During a presentation at the 2023 VMX conference, the presenter, an attorney specializing in cyber-related exposure, was quoted as saying, \u201cThere are two types of businesses \u2014 those that have been hacked and those that don\u2019t know they have been hacked.\u201d The assertion might be slightly exaggerated, but a critical point was made.<\/p>\n

Ransomware is the most common form of cyberattack. It typically focuses on charging a ransom to prevent a hacker\u2019s destruction of critical business computer data or its release into the public domain, typically the dark web. Lacking the resources to address a ransomware incursion immediately, some businesses see paying the ransom as an inviting solution. Unfortunately, studies show that agreeing to such a demand increases the likelihood of a recurrence. After all, the infiltration became a proven payday for criminals.<\/p>\n

Think Outside the Box<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Given the global outsourcing of services, veterinary businesses look to vendors, a relationship that often requires sharing sensitive data. Partners such as call centers, point-of-sale credit card processors, payroll administrators and cloud-based data storage providers handle sensitive information on behalf of businesses. Still, the customer (your veterinary practice, for example) bears ultimate responsibility for protecting the information and responding appropriately in case of a breach.<\/p>\n

An IBM Institute study revealed that almost half of all data breaches<\/a> occurred while the information was with a third-party vendor. Therefore, when you do something as simple as transmitting point-of-sale credit card information to your financial institution, you likely incurred significant cyber exposure. It doesn\u2019t matter whether you save the credit card in your computer system because hackers can access the data during its electronic transmission or from the point-of-sale device\u2019s cache.<\/p>\n

A Google search illustrates how easily and inexpensively someone can use the dark web to purchase information about an individual or business.<\/p>\n