“We’re a small Business, we’re alright, thanks!”

If I had a penny for the amount of times I’ve heard this…

You might think that cyber criminals are only interested in large companies or those with huge financial assets. After all, that’s where the big bucks are, right?

Think again…

From recent reports cybercriminals are targeting Businesses of all sizes, from small shops to global companies, with help from “Botnets”

You may have come across the term “Botnets”, or heard about the rise of them, and you’re probably wondering “What on Earth is a botnet, and why should I care?”. These malicious Botnets are the secret weapons of cybercriminals. An army of compromised devices under the control of a single entity. This can be anything from your computer to your smart fridge. Wait what? That’s right, even your fridge can be turned into a cyber weapon.

Recently, reports have seen “massive spikes” in Botnet activity, with over a million devices involved in malicious activities at one time. To put this into perspective, that’s 100 times the usual levels of botnet activity.

Usually, there are around 10,000 devices doing naughty stuff each day, with 20,000 being the highest number researchers had seen. But in December 2023, things got crazy. The number shot up to 35,144, and two weeks later, it rose even further to 43,194. That’s a lot of compromised devices.

And it didn’t stop there; the researchers saw the biggest spike yet, hitting a whopping 143,957 distinct devices being used at the same time. In fact, on the 5th and 6th of January, there were spikes of more than a million devices!

Why are they doing this? These botnets are being used to scan the internet, searching for weaknesses in websites, servers, and even email systems.

Look at it like this, the internet is a fortress with many doors and windows. These criminals are looking for the doors and windows that are unlocked, for they can sneak in and cause some damage.

It’s all about strengthening those doors and windows. Here are a few simple steps:

• Keep your software, operating systems, and applications up-to-date. Regular updates often fix vulnerabilities.

• Install a good firewall and reliable antivirus software to protect your devices.

• Educate your employees about cybersecurity best practices, such as avoiding suspicious links and emails.

• Enforce strong, unique passwords for all your accounts and devices.

• Regularly back up your data to prevent loss in case of a cyberattack.

• Keep an eye on your network for any unusual activity.

• Consider hiring a cybersecurity expert (that’s us) to assess and enhance your security measures.

If we can help you keep your business better protected, get in touch.