The Colonial Pipeline ransomware attack of 2021 has been one of many large breaches in recent history. Studying these attacks can help guard against them, but who has time to monitor hackers? Finding the right IT support in LA is the key to reducing the risks of cyber threats as much as possible. Here’s a look at some major breaches that happened last year every business should know about and how seasoned IT experts can help you avoid becoming part of the statistics.
1. March 2020: Marriott
Over 5 million hotel guests who were members of Marriott’s loyalty program became victims of a cybersecurity breach when hackers penetrated the company’s internal data system. The cybercriminals gained access through stolen login credentials that belonged to a few employees. The hotel suspects the credentials were compromised through a phishing scheme or credential stuffing, which involves accumulating credentials through various breaches.
2. April 2020: Zoom
Zoom became a big hit during the pandemic because it allowed people to stream online events and private business meetings. About a half million of the site’s usernames and passwords were stolen and put up for sale on the dark web, which is where cybercriminals buy and sell illegal items. It led to spam attacks called “Zoom bombing” in which intruders began harassing users during online meetings.
3. June 2020: Nintendo
About 300,000 Nintendo accounts were compromised starting in April 2020, two months before the company announced the breach. Hackers stole user network IDs to make fraudulent purchases. The company responded by temporarily suspending its Nintendo Network ID (NNID) login and recommending users implement two-factor authentication.
How IT Support Protects Data
Working with IT support experts in LA can mitigate the effects of a cyberattack with a well-envisioned multi-layer cybersecurity strategy. It begins by setting strong security policies that determine how your network can be used by employees and others. Your IT team can further offer security training and establish a data backup and recovery plan.
Another reason for having IT support is to be connected with technology experts who keep up with the latest cybersecurity problems and solutions. A proactive IT team pays close attention to software updates and looks for vulnerabilities to fix. They can further run an audit of your infrastructure to uncover security flaws and conduct a dark web scan to see if the personal identities of your customers or employees have been compromised.
Conclusion
Today, every business is at risk of a cybersecurity breach, which is why it makes sense to work with IT support professionals in LA to protect your network. Contact us at Advanced Networks to learn more about steps to take to make your network safer so you can focus on your core business goals.
