In recent years, cyber-attacks have grown significantly in both large and small businesses.

In 2017, a Nationwide survey produced some alarming results. The responses from the survey come from more than 1,000 owners of small businesses. They show 61% of small- and medium-sized businesses reported experiencing a cyber attack in the past 12 months. These numbers were up from 55% in 2016.

Now, in 2021, those numbers are still on the rise. Not to mention, the types of small business cyber attacks are evolving too. Now, COVID-19-related cybersecurity attacks are increasingly common.

While there’s no way to guarantee that your business won’t ever experience a cyber attack, there are different options to minimize the risk. For starters, one of the best things you can do is be aware of the risks involved in the attacks and stay up to date with the current trends involved in cybersecurity. (By the way, we cover the top cybersecurity trends for 2021 in this post)

It’s also highly recommended that you hire a cybersecurity expert who can tailor their services to fit your business’s environment and specific needs. (More on that at the end of this post)

In the meantime, take a look at these common small business cyber attacks. The more you know about them, the easier it will be to spot them and stop them in their tracks!

Three Common Small Business Cyber Attacks

When it comes to your small business, cyber-attacks can have a devastating impact on your revenue, your reputation, and more. When you hear about these attacks happening, it’s usually one of these three types:

Malware

Malware, or malicious software, refers to infectious bits of software that can be downloaded from websites, email, or rogue USB drives.

Spotting malware can include suspicious pop-ups, noting a change in your Google/homepage links, and noticing a significant slowdown on your PC. You might also note your PC is just generally “acting funny.” It could be freezing, crashing, or showing security warnings. All of these are signs your PC could be infected with malware, and you need to address them right away.

Phishing/Spear Phishing

Through phone calls or email, social engineering tricks users into giving critical information that will allow for access to sensitive systems, bank accounts, or wire transfer mechanisms.

In the four years since this post was first published, phishing scams have become even more common and complex. Take a look at this post to learn more about protecting and preparing yourself.

Brute Force Attacks

Hackers and cybercriminals use automated tools to test passwords in business networks. These tools can crack easy passwords or passwords associated with a user account that uses the same password as a compromised website (i.e., if your information was stolen in the Target hack and you use the same password there as you do at your office).

Protect Your Small Business from Cyber Attacks

Being aware of the typical small business cyber attacks is a significant first step. But you also need a dedicated cybersecurity team on your side to give yourself the best chance of successfully fighting them off. And that’s where we come in!

We know you deserve more than just security on the sidelines, and we’re here to deliver. Give us a call today to see how we combine traditional IT managed services with advanced cybersecurity management: (502) 440-1380

Need more information on our services and customizable packages? See them here.

Did you learn a lot from this post on the common small business cyber attacks? Here are three to read next:

Our Top 10 Tips for How to Prevent a Ransomware Attack
4 Reasons Why Your Small Business is an Easy Target for a Cyber Attack
Cyber-Security Insurance- Does Your Healthcare Facility Need a Policy?

This post was first published in 2017, but it was updated in 2021 just for you.