Tag Archive for: stay at home

Ostra Cybersecurity

When It Comes To Cyber Training, It’s Quality Over Quantity

/in /by

Conducting cyber security training more frequently than others does not mean less security incidents, according to a report by security software company, Tessian.

The percentage of employees who sent emails to the wrong people was highest in businesses that provide more frequent cyber training. 63% of employees that get training every 1-3 months remember sending emails to the wrong people. However just 43% of employees who get training once a year or less remember sending emails to the wrong person.

Quality over Quantity

This shows the importance of creating an effective and meaningful cyber security training for your employees. It is more effective to deliver quality training, that will change the behavior of the employees. Training needs to be engaging and meaningful, not boring and taught just because it needs to.

It is more important now than ever to deliver quality cyber training, as many employees are more vulnerable working remotely.

To protect against the inevitability of human error, an effective Cybersecurity Program is essential for businesses. Especially ones with remote workers operating on unsecured home networks.

The Ostra solution provides 360-degree 24/7 proactive protection to all employees, regardless of where they are located. What that means is that Ostra becomes a secure ISP for remote employees working on a home or public Wi-Fi connections. Ostra extends multiple layers of protection around the Internet Service Provider hardening the defenses and creating active barriers preventing criminals’ access to employee’s hardware and company data. Even if a mistake is made.

Want to find out more? Contact us today!

Ostra Cybersecurity

Number of Coronavirus-Related Scams Jump

/in /by

The Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) has noted a large increase in cyber threat complaints per day. Before the COVID-19 pandemic began, they were receiving around 1,000 complaints daily. Now, they receive 4,000 complaints a day.

These cyber threats are foreign groups trying to steal COVID-19 related information. As well as cybercriminals trying to exploit users working from home. Health agencies have reported an increase in cyber threats as well, as they are a very profitable target for cyber criminals.

“Near the start of the epidemic, researchers at the cybersecurity company Barracuda Networks reported a 667 percent increase in “phishing” emails.”

These emails are sent with the purpose of downloading viruses onto the recipient’s computers. With the increase in reported phishing scams, it is important to understand and identify possible scams when going through your emails.

Protect your business and your employees

Numbers don’t lie, and the possibility of your business falling victim to a cyber attack has never been higher. Protecting your business and sensitive data is a priority in the era of cybercrime.

Ostra Cyber Security offers a total solution for cybersecurity that combines Fortune 100 tools and is easy to deploy without needing to purchase any hardware. Ostra Cyber Security is perfect for those who do not want to put a lot of time into their cybersecurity program. Just set it up and forget about it. It requires no IT support, it is budget friendly, and Ostra does all the work to stop threats before they reach you.

Want to find out more? Contact us today!

Ostra Cybersecurity

Experts Say the Largest Cyberattack in History is Coming Soon

/in /by

Experts are predicting the largest cyberattack ever in the next 6 months. Here’s Why.

When the coronavirus pandemic started, many people were only worried about how to keep working from home. Nobody was thinking about how businesses and their virtual security defenses were about to be exposed. Exposed to many more cyberthreats due to an increased “attack surface”.

 

Businesses are More Vulnerable Than Ever Before

Usually, if a company has their employees doing remote work, they provide them with a secure work laptop. The employees must go through many security measures to access their work material. Usually, a secure wi-fi connection is also required.

However, since the beginning of the pandemic, millions of Americans were forced to quickly switch to remote work. Without time to set up secure systems, many companies were left with only one option. Letting their employees work from their personal laptop, on their unsecured home network.

This is the perfect scenario for cybercriminals. All it takes is one entry point to take over the whole network. Every employee working from home, is one more entry point that cybercriminals can target. This creates a larger attack surface for every business with remote workers.

More remote workers than ever before mean that businesses are more vulnerable than ever before. Therefore, the possibility of a cyberattack bigger than ever seen before is dangerously high.

 

“Hackers broke into the networks of America’s largest defense contractor, Lockheed Martin, by targeting remote workers. If they can infiltrate this system, you best believe remote workers with little security are easy pickings.”

Smaller Attack Surface = Smaller Risk

How can businesses protect against the increased risk of a cyberattack during the pandemic? Decrease the attack surface.

Businesses with remote workers need to protect and secure the networks that their employees are using. It is important to decrease the number of entry points available. Ostra Cyber Security has a solution that will help decrease your attack surface.

The Ostra solution provides 360-degree 24/7 proactive protection to all employees, regardless of where they are located. What that means is that Ostra becomes a secure ISP for remote employees working on a home or public Wi-Fi connections. Ostra extends multiple layers of protection around the Internet Service Provider hardening the defenses and creating active barriers preventing criminals’ access to employee’s hardware and company data.

Want to find out more? Visit Ostra.net or contact us today at protection@ostra.net

https://bit.ly/2Ak2aqn

Ostra Cybersecurity

Phishing in a Pandemic

/in /by

Cybercriminals are smart, they are professionals in what they do and know how to take advantage of an opportunity, like a pandemic. The Microsoft Threat Protection Intelligence Team has recently published a report on how scammers have used the COVID-19 pandemic to increase phishing attacks.

According to the report, they observed the biggest spike in pandemic-related attacks in the first two weeks of March. The report found that the timing of the attacks is correlated to major news stories to capitalize on the fear of the public. For example, there have been many attacks in the last few weeks as fears of a second wave of cases grow in the United States.

“Cybercriminals are adaptable and always looking for the best and easiest ways to gain new victims.” the researchers mention.  Updated cybersecurity programs and updated employee training can help protect your business from cybercriminals.

The figure on the right is from the Microsoft report: Exploiting a crisis shows the frequency of pandemic themed attacks in the United States and how they jumped during major events. This chart is very similar to the global trend as well.

With todays increased risk of a phishing scam it is important to have cyber security that will protect your network and information immediately when faced with a threat. Your business has a greater chance now than ever to be targeted for a phishing scam or worse. Ostra Cybersecurity provides active defense protection for your businesses’ data and acts immediately instead of monitoring and alerting like many anti-viruses do.

Want to find out more? Contact us today!

 

Ostra Cybersecurity

Schools Facing an Increase in Cyberthreats

/in /by

Every year, technology becomes a larger part of the classroom in the U.S. school system. With that comes a greater risk of cyber-threats, especially without the cyber-security training that most schools lack.

There has never been a more important time for school districts to upgrade their cybersecurity program. In 2019 alone there were 3 times as many attacks on US schools and districts than in 2018. That is a scary statistic once you realize that in 2019, only a few schools operated remotely which largely increases the risk of a cyberattack.

Now it is 2020, schools have moved online, many completely unprepared without a full-time cybersecurity program or expert to help defend against cyberthreats.

The FBI has recently published a public service announcement about how cyberattackers are taking advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic to exploit the increased use of remote learning environments.

Many cyberattacks on schools start with a phishing plot deployed by the attackers. Where they attempt to scam employees into either giving them sensitive and private information or installing malware through attachments/downloads. It is important for schools to provide in-depth training to keep their employees prepared

How schools can improve their cyber-security for 2020

Some schools have announced in-person classes for the fall semester; however, many schools and students are still uncertain what their future holds. Without a doubt, there will be a lot of schools continuing their remote learning program.

As long as schools are continuing remote work, the threat of an attack only grows. Schools need a cybersecurity program with active defense that responds immediately to threats. A program that can provide insurance against human error, like falling for a phishing scam.

Ostra Cybersecurity provides active defense for businesses and schools by protecting staff AND student access to the internet whether at home or at school

Want to find out more? Contact us today!

Ostra Cybersecurity

Smaller Companies are Bigger Targets for Cybercriminals

/in /by

It is a common misbelief that cybercriminals primarily pursue high-profile targets like airlines, car manufacturers, or hospitals. However, the media only reports the attacks that will create a lot of attention and make a good headline while ignoring the attacks on smaller operations.

Analysts who have been documenting cybercriminals during the pandemic say that “they are hitting lesser-known targets harder, especially those closely linked with big, influential companies”. By targeting smaller businesses, hackers aim to disrupt the operations of other companies related to where the actual hack took place. Small businesses with many clients are the most vulnerable for ransomware attacks. Because when an attack happens, the victim’s business is under a lot more pressure from its clients. This will increase the odds that the cybercriminals get their money while creating downtime that will cost the victim more than the ransom payment alone.

More than 60% of ransomware attacks in 2019 targeted small/medium-sized businesses

It is more important now than ever for smaller businesses to protect themselves with the same level of cybersecurity as the big businesses. Ostra Cyber Security offers a Fortune 100 caliber solution, that is simple to deploy and use whether you’re 20 people or 2000.

Want to find out more? Contact us today!

 

Ostra Cybersecurity

If you think your business is safe from cyber-attacks, think again. The company that makes your car just fell victim to one.

/in /by

Honda, one of the top global car manufacturers, has just experienced a cyber attack on its global operations. More specifically a file-encrypting ransomware attack, which was made to encrypt files and demand a ransom. This caused Honda to temporarily shut down production facilities as well as their financial services and customer service operations. However, there was no reported evidence to show a loss or theft of personal identifiable information. This temporary network shut down, which lasted for a couple of days, resulted in the loss of important business and profits in a time where most companies rely on online traffic.

It is not a coincidence that this cyber-attack occurred during this time when most employees are working from home. A CEO of a nationally recognized cybersecurity platform said that “The coronavirus pandemic has created a sizable remote workforce which has increased businesses’ attack surfaces and heightened existing vulnerabilities”. With today’s increased risk of a cyber-attack, it is important to have cybersecurity that will protect your network and information immediately when faced with a threat. Ostra Cyber Security provides active defense protection for your businesses’ data and acts immediately instead of monitoring and alerting as many antiviruses do. If it can happen to Honda, it could happen to you.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/daveywinder/2020/06/10/honda-hacked-japanese-car-giant-confirms-cyber-attack-on-global-operations-snake-ransomware/#164c706853ad

Want to find out more? Contact us today at protection@ostra.net

Ostra Cybersecurity, Inc.
6101 Baker Rd, Suite 202
Minnetonka, MN 55345
contact@ostra.net
(866) 336-7872

Access our Partner Portal
Subscribe to Our Newsletter