IT
Protectors – Bondgate IT ’ s expert team is seeing new scams emerge on WhatsApp , Telegram and numerous other platforms .
“ Everyone should be aware that when they ’ re logging on to wifi at their local coffee shop or fastfood restaurant , where they ’ re warned that the network may be insecure , that that ’ s a warning that should be heeded ,” he said .
One of the key pieces of advice Bondgate IT would offer is to make sure you don ’ t use the same password on every platform , website or app you visit .
When someone reuses passwords , it is easier for hackers to use that one password and go through all their accounts .
“ People are asked to change their passwords regularly and , of course , you should do that if you think you ’ ve been hacked , but the key precaution is to not have just the one password .”
While Damien admits some of these precautions can feel like a bit of a pain at times , he stresses they ’ re worth it for the heartache they can potentially avoid .
“ Having multiple passwords works ,” he says . “ But one of the best precautions of all is MFA – multi-factor authentication – where you log in and a message is sent to your email or phone to confirm it ’ s you .
“ Sometimes it might feel like an inconvenience , but Microsoft estimated that more than 80 per cent of all online fraud could be stopped if everyone used MFA .”
One thing is for certain – hackers are growing more resourceful , inventive and devious and that ’ s one of the reasons Bondgate IT offers businesses a free diagnostic of their existing systems .
“ We are constantly evolving our approach to cybersecurity and how we operate because the scammers are doing the same ,” said Damien .
“ It used to be a case of installing an antivirus and putting up a firewall but these days cybersecurity is a multi-layered approach .
“ It can be complex because attackers are very inventive and , globally , fraud is a multi-billionpound industry and if you ’ re not careful you can be caught out . We saw a case on the news not long ago where a haulage company that had been going for more than 100 years down south was put out of business with the loss of more than 170 jobs as a result of one successful cyber-attack .
“ That ’ s why we do risk assessments , we engage for free , to gain an understanding of what a company needs to look at and we advise and support .
“ If something has happened already , we work to see what it is and how to stop it .”
Damien ’ s final piece of advice to businesses and companies across Teesside is also probably one of the easiest to action : cyber-insurance .
“ If you ’ re a company and you haven ’ t got cyberinsurance , you should get it now ,” he says . “ If something does go wrong , your cyber-insurance company will help you through . Companies that have their payroll or their CRM systems jeopardised , for example , can find themselves in real peril , so take out the insurance and consider making your New Year ’ s resolution the promise that you will do all you can to protect yourself from cybercriminals .”
“ We are constantly evolving our approach to cybersecurity and how we operate because the scammers are doing the same .”
The voice of business in the Tees region | 129