Tips to Recognize and Avoid Hackers

We welcomed Ryan Foultz to Chamber Academy on June 25 to help us gain expertise in understanding attackers’ methods like malware, phishing and hacking, and how to defend against them. Ryan is the founder of PcRx Computers and has more than 20 years experience in the IT industry. He has been serving local businesses since 2007 and is native to the Conway area. He wrote the book “Welcome To The Jungle”- a book about cybersecurity, and presented some of the information to us. 

74% of organizations in the US have fallen victim to successful phishing attacks, ranging from business email compromise to ransomware. Here are practical steps you can take to identify and avoid potential hackers:

Learn to recognize phishing attempts

Be wary of emails impersonating trusted contacts containing suspicious links and watch out for emails demanding immediate payments or urging you to “click here.”

Phishing has great bait- Phishing emails often create urgency or seem highly believable. Take an extra minute or two to verify unexpected emails and verify authenticity before acting. Instead of clicking links directly, copy and paste them into your browser. Lastly, consult with colleagues to see if they received a similar email.

Avoid using free Wi-Fi

Public Wi-Fi networks often advertised as “free” doesn’t always mean free. Hackers can intercept your information through these “free” Wi-Fi networks. Consider using your phone as a personal hotspot when you’re on the go.

Implement Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)

An additional layer of verification makes it significantly harder for hackers to gain unauthorized access to company information. The most common method of verification is via SMS, or text message. Other methods include an authenticator app, hardware token, or fingerprint scanners,

By adopting these proactive measures, you can significantly reduce the risk of falling victim to cyberattacks and protect both personal and organizational information.