With everything going on in the world today and the Russian-Ukraine conflict, it is more important than ever to have the best cybersecurity solutions for your business. This includes having tighter security practices, knowledge of email security, and knowledge of how to catch malicious scams related to charities. Here are some of the most important things to keep in mind.

Which industries are most at risk?

EVERY business should be prepared for a cyberattack, but there are those that may be at more risk in current times than others. These include communications, infrastructure, emergency services, the financial sector, important manufacturing facilities, defense, food/agriculture, transportation, and many more.

Steps that will help you be more secure

There are many things you can do to increase your business security, especially if you don’t have anything set in place already. Cybersecurity should be a high priority on your list every day. Be sure to review your current security practices and protocols including communication trees, response plans, and training schedules. You should also know how to prevent and stop cyber attacks.

1. You will need to use multi-factor authentication within your company and externally.
2. Keep all software up-to-date.
3. Disable any access ports that you don’t need or use, as these can easily be forgotten and used by hackers.
4. Have control over your cloud services or be sure you can trust those that are in control of them.
5. If you can’t prevent attacks, make sure you and your IT team know how to handle them.
6. Use the best antivirus/antimalware software available.
7. Ensure access to files and other areas of your network is secure and only given to those who need it.
8. Have a solid backup plan in place and reevaluate it often.

Learn how to spot donation scams

Unfortunately, scammers and thieves will take advantage of any situation, including what is happening now in 2022. The best way to protect yourself and your business against scammers, thieves, and hackers is to know what to watch out for. The following tips can help you catch potential scammers and prevent giving hackers access to your networks.

Verifying charities

You may think that you can trust a charity simply because they say they donate to a cause. But, you still need to be careful. It can be easy to create a website or social media page that looks legitimate and ask for donations. Because it is simple to donate online, you may be tempted to give to the first charity you see. You may also be contacted by phone to donate. The FTC has some helpful information about phone call donations and other forms of giving.

If you plan on donating to support the Ukrainian or surrounding nations, do some research first. Check to see if the charity has a website that lists details about how it uses funds and what its missions are. If you don’t see these, be wary. You can also look at listing sites like Charity Navigator to see ratings. You will find financial information on the organization itself and even how much the staff makes. Finally, make sure that the charity is registered and that your donations will be tax-deductible. This is a sign that the government accepts the organization as a legitimate charity.

Verifying social media accounts

Another important thing to consider before donating is if a social media profile is legitimate. Some people have been found to be creating profiles for the purpose of scamming people out of their money. They say they live in or are from Ukraine and are asking for donations. Here are some tips that can help you avoid being scammed on social media.

1. It is best to avoid donating to individuals or even crowdfunding efforts. You don’t have a way of verifying the legitimacy of the receiver unless you know them personally.
2. Check the profile picture to see if it is generic or strange. You can use reverse image searching on search engines to see if it can be found on another profile or on a stock photo site.
3. Look at the age of the profile. If it is new and has little to no content, it may be a scammer. Just because an account is new doesn’t mean that it is fake, but it is an indicator.
4. If the person who owns the profile is asking for donations, check their photos and videos. They may be sharing footage from other sources or claiming they are in Ukraine themselves. If they don’t credit other sources, there isn’t an easy way to verify the footage is theirs. For pictures, you can try reverse image searching.
5. Be wary of accounts asking for donations through PayPal or Venmo. For example, Ukraine does not have the feature for accepting funds through Paypal, only sending money. Venmo, on the other hand, is restricted to users who have a U.S. bank account.

Pay attention to all emails asking for donations

Everyone should know how to screen emails, especially if they are being sent to your business. But, it can be easy to forget safety procedures when it comes to a plea for help. That’s why you and your team should be aware of email safety at all times, including the following.

• Understand the differences between scam and phishing emails. Scams will seek to get your money or other information by you giving it to them. Phishing emails prompt you to click on a disguised link that will take your information automatically.
• Don’t open emails from people you don’t trust.
• Apply all of the same precautions that you would when considering donating to a charity directly.
• Keep your passwords updated and don’t use the same password for anything. You can also use two-factor authentication for all logins.
• Keep an eye out for anything suspicious. This includes email addresses that are slightly different from those listed in your contacts, strange links, and downloadable files from unknown senders.
• Try not to connect to free or public WiFi.

Want to learn more about IT and business security?

At Andrews & Associates, we are passionate about customer service and all things technology. Call us at (806) 242-1088 or Send us an Email to learn more about cybersecurity and protecting your business.