Warning Signs You’re Target of a Cyberattack
To help your business stay safe online, Syn-Star has listed the most obvious signs of a potential cyberattack.
To help your business stay safe online, Syn-Star has listed the most obvious signs of a potential cyberattack.
The frequency with which cyber criminals target organisations to compromise their data has reached a new high in 2024. Phishing attacks, ransomware and data breaches are constantly on the news, so it is crucial that businesses can identify early signs of cyberattacks.
The King’s Speech calls for the strengthening of security measures for all organisations. The speech acknowledges the vulnerability of essential services and the potential severity of cyberattack impacts. A need is set out to “take swift action to address vulnerabilities and protect our digital economy to deliver growth”.
If your systems suddenly become sluggish for no apparent reason, it could be a sign of a malware infection. Malware can drain your system’s memory leaving limited resources for legitimate programs to use. As the malware spreads across your system, it corrupts data and programs, creates conflicts, or tries to take over your entire system.
Warning signs:
Organisations should be keeping track of access logs to record which users are logging in and from where. Login attempts from unknown locations, perhaps at odd hours could indicate an unauthorised user trying to access your network.
Watch out for:
Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) to prevent unauthorised access.
Pop-ups or being redirected to strange websites could signal that adware or other malicious software has infected your systems. While some users might dismiss these as minor annoyances, they can indicate a bigger issue, such as malware attempting to generate profit by directing users to malicious sites or spreading ransomware.
Watch out for:
A sudden rise in phishing attacks or scam calls targeting your employees could mean your business has been identified as a valuable target. Phishing emails are often the first stage of more sophisticated cyberattacks, as attackers attempt to harvest login credentials. Bear in mind that valuable doesn’t necessarily mean that your organisation has a million-pound revenue.
Watch out for:
Training employees to recognise phishing emails is one of the most effective ways to prevent unauthorised access.
Unknown software or files appear on your network. Cyber criminals may install backdoors, keyloggers, or remote-access tools to maintain control over your systems, allowing them to monitor your activities or access data.
Watch out for:
It is good practice to regularly audit your systems for unfamiliar software and files and review any suspicious installations with your IT team.
This is the most obvious sign that your systems have been compromised: you’re greeted with a message demanding a ransom in exchange for access to your own data. If your files have been encrypted and are no longer accessible, you’ve likely fallen victim to a ransomware attack.
Signs of a ransomware attack:
In case of a ransomware attack contact your cybersecurity team and, if possible, restore data from recent backups. It is not recommended to pay the ransom, as this doesn’t guarantee that your data will be restored and may encourage future attacks.
If your network experiences an unusual and unexpected rise in traffic, you could be dealing with a Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack or data exfiltration. During a DDoS attack, a hacker floods your systems with traffic, causing servers to slow down or crash, disrupting your business. Unexpected increase in traffic could mean that a hacker is stealing data from your network.
Watch out for:
If employees are unable to log into their accounts, your business could be undergoing a brute-force attack or account hijacking.
Any unauthorised changes to your security tools will mean that there is something sinister is going on. The most sophisticated malware can disable your antivirus software to prevent detection. If you are having difficulties with your security programs, it is best to isolate the affected system while the root of the problem is being investigated.
The most damaging sign of a cyberattack is unauthorised financial transactions taking place. Whether it is through stolen credentials, fraudulent invoices, or hacking into your payment systems, cybercriminals may target your business to steal money directly.
Watch out for:
In the event of unauthorised transactions, immediately get in touch with your financial institution and stop any further transfers.
If you recognise any of these warning signs, your business may have been targeted by a cyberattack. Here is what you should do immediately:
To ensure that your business is as safe as can be from cyberattacks click the button below to book your FREE drak web scan.
Agnes Molnar
Agnes is Syn-Star’s expert content writer, she has Master’s degree in English Literature that provides a strong foundation in writing and critical thinking of everything she does.
Qualifications: Masters in English Literature
In-house training: HubSpot SEO, WordPress Training.
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Agnes Molnar
Agnes is Syn-Star’s expert content writer, she has Master’s degree in English Literature that provides a strong foundation in writing and critical thinking of everything she does.
Qualifications: Masters in English Literature
In-house training: HubSpot SEO, WordPress Training.
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