Did you know?
With a new cyberattack happening every 39 seconds, security experts predict that cybercrime will be among the top three threats to global security within the next five years, next to natural disasters and extreme weather.
Data breach statistics from 2018 revealed over 6 million accounts got hacked per day – that’s 158 per second. These numbers have skyrocketed since then, so it’s become more important than ever to be digitally safe.
But what if you do fall victim to a cyberattack?
7 IMPORTANT THINGS TO DO IF YOU GET HACKED
Change your passwords – The more complicated your password is, the harder it will be for a hacker to steal. Hackers know many people use the same password for many accounts, making most of your data vulnerable. Don’t use old passwords or ones that are easy to guess. Passwords should have numbers, letters, spaces, special characters and lower/upper case. Use a password manager to safely store passwords.
Verify account details – After changing passwords, ensure you double check the shipping information is still correct where relevant. Check whether any compromised sites had your credit card details stored and delete the info. If the hacked account used third-party apps check your settings and permissions. Delete any apps you don’t remember installing.
Communicate the hack – Let your contacts, friends and family know you’ve been hacked. Not only may they see suspicious posts you didn’t make, but hackers could gain access to other accounts by using an affiliated account as more people are likely to click on an email or message from someone they know. Check your socials for suspicious posts/private messages.
Beef up your security – If the company that held your data wasn’t the source of the cyberattack, chances are your personal computer or devices were compromised by malware. Ensure you scan your computer for malware and viruses and install/update security/anti-virus software. You may need to backup data and reinstall your operating system.
Secure your financial accounts – Check no fraudulent purchases are being made with your credit card/online payment information.
Check for new accounts – Check your inbox, sent and trash items for suspicious emails of setting up new accounts with your compromised email, as that’s what hackers will try to do. If a major breach happened at a reputable company, like Facebook or Microsoft, you’ll be notified – but verify it’s a publicly documented attack before clicking on any emailed links to restore your account/reset passwords post-breach.
Talk to your Broker – Your broker will help identify any cyber insurance gaps and help you ensure you are adequately covered against any financial or personal harm caused by a cyberattack.
Sources: Inc.com; Varonis.com; whatismyipaddress.com; avnet-cyber.com.
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