Small businesses are big targets.
As a small business owner, you’re likely juggling multiple responsibilities at once.
You’re the CEO, CFO, CMO, and now you also need to add CISO (Chief Information Security Officer) to the list.
Cyber-attacks against small businesses have been on the rise in recent years.
New data shows that 43% of cyber-attacks are aimed at small businesses.
One reason is that small business owners often have limited resources to dedicate to cybersecurity, which makes them an attractive prey.
No one wants to deal with the fallout of a security breach, which can include lost data, damaged reputation, and loss of revenue.
What’s more, for many smaller companies, a successful cyber-attack may even put them out of business.
But there’s NO need to panic.
By staying informed, you can take action to better protect your business.
Here are 3 cybersecurity statistics for 2023 that you should be aware of, along with practical tips to minimize your vulnerability.
#1 Password Security
Less than one second. That’s how long it takes hackers to guess the world’s most common passwords. (source)
What to do:
Never use easily guessable information such as your name, your company’s name or your birth date when creating your passwords.
Steer clear of generic password elements, such as “password” or “1234.” Instead, opt for complex passwords with special characters.
#2 The Risks of Outdated Plugins and Themes
Outdated software and vulnerable plugins & themes are the leading cause of malware infections in WordPress. (source)
What to do:
Choose trusted plugins and themes — and keep them updated. Updates are essential as they often include fixes for bugs and security holes.
Use the Website Security Check feature from Hide My WP Ghost to get notified of any outdated plugins and themes that may be putting your site at risk.
#3 Brute Force Attacks
Hide My WP Ghost has stopped over 4 million brute force attacks. This number speaks volumes about how common these types of attacks really are.
What to Do:
Use two-factor authentication, implement CAPTCHA, limit login attempts, and restrict access to the authentication URLs.
In addition, make sure to monitor events that take place on your login page via the Events Log Report feature.
Look on the bright side..
Many sites get compromised due to security vulnerabilities that can easily be prevented by implementing the right measures at the right time.
With Hide My WP Ghost by Squirrly, you can rest easy knowing that you’re already taking important steps to prevent potential problems.
