Think Like a Cybercriminal To Keep Employees Safe

One of the most effective ways to resist cyberattacks is to understand why cybercriminals select certain targets and the tactics they use – as well as why they’re often successful. When employees understand the risks posed by cybercriminals and understand the threat landscape, they’ll be in a stronger position to counter cyberattacks of all kinds. In a recent Innovation & Tech Today articl​​e, NINJIO CEO and founder Zack Schuler explained exactly how to understand cybercriminal behavior to keep your company safe. Here are three things company leaders need to know to thwart potential attacks:

Limit the attack vectors that put your organization at risk

Many other tools that companies rely upon to increase productivity and facilitate communication have simultaneously made them more susceptible to cyberattacks. It’s crucial for employees to understand best practices on data sharing, account credentials, and an array of other issues that have clear cybersecurity implications. Companies have to be cognizant of the fact that employees often use unsanctioned devices and solutions, which may not have the same account safety features as official resources. 

Understand the origins of cybercriminal behavior

There are many natural tendencies and blind spots that cybercriminals prey on: curiosity, a demand for immediate satisfaction, pressure to work more efficiently, and so on. That’s why cybercriminals consistently target human beings – the vast majority of people reuse passwords, fail to regularly update their applications, use public WiFi without a VPN, and consistently ignore even the most basic cybersecurity guidelines. To protect themselves from these attackers, employees have to start thinking like them.

Think like a cybercriminal

When employees receive a suspicious email or any other digital communication, they should ignore any coercive language and think: If I were a scammer, what would I say to convince a victim to click? By reframing their online behavior like this, employees will stop fretting about the demand that they “TAKE ACTION NOW” or fulfill some immediate request – they’ll instead have a security mindset that allows them to identify cyber threats as they arise. 
Have a few more minutes? Head over to Innovation & Tech Today to read the full article.