As much as we’d like to avoid them, IT security threats are a very real part of operating in an online environment. More and more frequently, we hear stories in the media about some of the world’s most secure online environments being breached, so you’d be forgiven for worrying how safe your business details are, particularly banking and credit card information. Here we look at how best to react when you suspect you have fallen victim to an online data breach, and how to quickly and efficiently get your business back on track.
Take control of the situation
The first thing you’ll need to do if you suspect your private information has been stolen or accessed as part of a phishing scam, is to alert your bank or credit card institution. If you’ve already noticed suspicious activity on your business bank statement, it is best to have your card cancelled or account suspended – but if you aren’t 100% sure your details have been stolen, you can request a 90-day alert instead. This allows you to continue using your cards but monitors your activity for suspicious transactions, which can be important in ensuring the smooth day-to-day running of your business.
DO NOT attempt to contact the company using details that appear in phishing emails or on websites that you are suspicious of—they are most likely fake and will connect you with the scammer.
Act quickly to rectify the situation
Once you have confirmed that you have indeed been ‘hacked’, you’ll need to ask your credit issuer to work through any bogus accounts or charges that have been made by the criminals. Credit card companies may be able to reverse the transaction if they believe that your credit card has been billed fraudulently. If left unchecked, this may impact your credit record and continue to negatively affect the ability of your business to operate smoothly long after the hack has taken place.
You can report a scam to SCAMwatch (the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission) via The SCAMwatch Report a Scam online form.
Learn from your mistakes and prevent future IT security breaches
Once you’ve been a victim of a hacking, you’re likely to be much more cautious about sharing your information online in future. Remind your staff to be wary of emails with suspicious looking links, or official-looking communications that ask you for personal or business details.
It is benefical to use appropriate software to help manage your security, such as web apps that allow you to generate unique passwords and change them more regularly. Most importantly, stay on the look out for any suspicious activity! While some hacks may be very sophisticated and hard to avoid, you can protect yourself by actively working to promote a safe and secure IT environment in your workplace.
Speak to your business IT support provider to ensure your entire network is protected as much as possible. Call our IT team today on 1300 855 651 to arrange an IT security audit and safeguard your business now and into the future.