FTC Provides Cybersecurity Information for Small Businesses

May 22, 2017

FTC Wants To Help Small Businesses Spot Cyber Scams

Source: Nextgov, Mohana Ravindrahath, May 10, 2017

If you’re a small business owner receiving Facebook messages about a business grant you’ve won, you might be the target of a cyber scam—and the Federal Trade Commission wants to make sure you don’t fall victim.

FTC this week launched a new site designed to help small businesses protect themselves from cyberattack. They’re often easy targets, especially because they don’t have the financial resources larger organizations do to constantly monitor their networks, according to FTC.

The Facebook scam, in which criminals posed as a recipient’s friend to collect cellphone numbers, is just one example; the percentage of spear-phishing attempts directed at small businesses rose from 18 percent in 2011 to 43 percent in 2015, according to Symantec’s threat report.

The FTC site includes tips on detecting scams and video tutorials on how to fortify networks, among other strategies. The agency recommends small business owners and employees take extra care to update their software, back up files, create strong passwords and not leave their work-related devices out in public.  READ MORE….

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