Are you really safe when you are using your computer devices? Have you ever stopped to think if someone has the ability to hack into your personal information through the wireless internet? These are questions we need to start asking ourselves in our personal life and with a business.
When running a business, there are endless amounts of personal information that is stored on your computer. Right from employees personal information and files to your business banking, sharing of files, clients information and much more. With the growth of technology, we have to ensure we are protecting our companies to the best of our abilities which can start with some simple tips on wireless safety.
Let us start with some background information. Here in Canada and in the Province of Alberta we are legally entitled to the right of privacy. There are numerous laws that protect us from cyber crimes such as computer hacking and the theft of private and personal information. One of the acts that this falls under is called the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA).
A man by the name of Bruce Snell from Mcafee sets up what they call an “Evil Twin,” which is a duplicate wireless internet connection. The connection name could range from “Super Fast Internet,” to your regular carrier name. Once you connect they are able to see everything you are doing on your computer. If you are working on your business proposals, client emails, online banking, they have access to all of that. Furthermore these hackers can inject malware into whatever you are downloading on your computer sending you a virus. These are very unwanted scenarios that unfortunately could happen to any business if we aren’t mindful of what we are connecting to. This also includes educating our employees on best practice of safe internet use.
Now I am sure you are asking yourselves what can we do to aid in the prevention of computer hacking to ensure your business information isn’t being stolen. Here are some tips that were sited on the podcast webpage https://hackablepodcast.com/#/episodes/the-evil-twin
- Use a VPN aka Virtual Private Network which is encrypted making all your communications private.
- Be suspicious of wireless names and only join official networks.
- Avoid sensitive websites while on public wifi such as online banking, and online shopping.
- Turn off sharing features on your computer.
- Always log out.
Through all of this shocking information we can hope that you as a reader will take a way some helpful information on how to keep your business safe. It is without a doubt unnerving knowing that your information can be stolen so easily. Let’s work together to reduce these safety risks, keep our businesses clear of theft and help to educate others.
If you are interested in learning more, the link to the podcast is below.
https://hackablepodcast.com/#/episodes/the-evil-twin
If you are interested in learning more about the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA) there is a link provided.
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