Cyber attacks on small businesses of fewer than 500 employees have skyrocketed from 18% of all attacks to 50% today, according to Symantec, one of the sponsors of a CyberCrime Business Forum attended by Arcadia Chamber President-Elect Denise Weaver and CEO Scott Hettrick this month.
Among the advice of panelists at the Small Business Forum held in the 54th-story City Club on Bunker Hill in Los Angeles in cooperation with the U.S. Small Business Administration, California Small Business Development Centers, and City National Bank, was to make every employee change their password today and not use any word that can be found in the dictionary (consider using a “Pass-phrase” instead of just a word, such as a non-familiar line from a movie).
Among the seven members of the panel moderated by retired U.S. District Judge George Schiavelli were included Arif Alikhan of Homeland Security & Law Enforcement for Los Angeles World Airports and Andy Kleinick, computer crimes detective for the Los Angeles Police Department.
Overlooking Disney Concert Hall and Dorothy Chandler Pavilion from 54th story during CyberCrime seminar at City Club in Downtown L.A. (click to enlarge)
After explaining that 87% of small businesses have no formal internet security policy and 77% believe that their business is safe from hackers, viruses, or any cyber security breach, the panelists offered these additional tips:
- Have a computer designated to handle nothing buy money
- Back-up frequently or risk losing everything forever.
- Create a legal agreement / policy for employees
- Taking data home on a flash drive is very dangerous as there is no security on the home computer
- Office computers are dangerous since they can be access by employees, janitors, etc.
- Cloud storage is safer since there is only access point and more secure since everything can be encrypted and backed up
- Never pay if you are victimized by “RansomWare.”
If you want to inquire about consultation on how to protect against CyberCrime, contact Michael_Nordstrom@Symantec.com or 713-598-1631.
