Cyber-attacks are becoming more frequent, and even small businesses are targets. Let’s take a look at what can go wrong and the key steps you can take to prevent it.
Cyber Attack Nightmare
A small business owner found herself facing a nightmare scenario. Her sales dropped to zero, and her website went down without warning. It turned out her website was under a denial of service (DDoS) attack, where attackers flooded her site with fake traffic, overwhelming it to the point where it couldn’t function properly.
While trying to get her site back up, she discovered multiple clone websites of her own business, all using her advertising pixel. This not only damaged her Google ranking, but she also lost control of her advertising pixel, making it impossible to re-engage with her real customers.
There are valuable lessons we can learn from their experience to prevent this from happening to your business. Take a look at our small business cybersecurity checklist below to make sure your business is safe from online attacks
Cybersecurity Tips for Small Businesses
Use DDoS Protection Services
If hundreds of people tried to open the door to your shop at the same time, you wouldn’t be able to serve anyone properly. That’s basically what happens during a DDoS attack. Hackers flood your website with fake visits until your site can’t handle it anymore, and it crashes.
To protect your website, you can use a DDoS protection service. These services act like a "bouncer" for your site, filtering out fake visitors and only letting in the real ones. Examples of these kinds of services include content delivery networks (CDNs) and web application firewalls (WAFs), which help keep your website running smoothly even if someone tries to overwhelm it with fake traffic.
Secure Your Advertising Pixels
An advertising pixel is like a digital tracker that helps you remember who has visited your website. This way, you can show them relevant ads and encourage them to come back. If hackers get access to your pixel, they can send false data or make it hard for you to find your real customers.
To keep your pixels safe, ensure only people you trust have access. Think of it as only giving the shop keys to your most trusted employees. Also, you can use access management tools to regularly review who has access to your pixels and make sure no one unauthorized is using them.
Monitor for Unusual Activity
Regular monitoring of your business accounts can help you catch potential threats early. Look out for unexpected changes, such as disappearing social media profiles or sudden surges in website traffic and take them seriously. These signs could be indicators of a larger, coordinated attack.
Set Alerts for Cloned Websites
Finding clone websites was one of the most damaging parts of the business owners' experience. Set up Google Alerts for your business name, website URL, and key product names. This way, you’ll be notified if clones pop up online. If you find cloned sites, do not click on the fake websites to avoid potential malware risks. Instead, use a service like ICANN WHOIS Lookup to check where the fake domain was registered. Report them to domain registrars immediately to get them taken down.
Consider Cyber Insurance
During the attack, the business owner lost revenue and faced significant expenses trying to recover. Having cyber insurance can cover costs like lost revenue, legal fees, and expenses related to restoring your business operations. It’s an added layer of security that can help you get back on your feet faster if an incident occurs.
Why wait for a cyber disaster? Take a few easy steps today to protect your business by setting some alerts, and keeping an eye out for anything suspicious. Share this with other small business owners and let’s help each other stay safe!