Do you know about the most common cybersecurity risks involving employees, how they can lead to breaches, and what you can do to prevent them?
82% of the confirmed data breaches against organisations involves the human element, according to the latest data breach Investigations Report. This means that many security issues in the workplace could be avoided with protocols that take into account human error or internal malicious activity.
In fact, employee negligence is the main cause of data breaches, CNBC reported. Behaviours that lead to cybersecurity incidents include leaving devices unlocked, using weak passwords, and not updating devices.
1) Weak Password Usage
Employees often use easily guessable passwords like “password” or personal information, making them vulnerable to dictionary attacks by malicious actors.
2) Oversharing on Social Media
Information shared online can be exploited for phishing attacks. Cybercriminals use personal details from social media to craft convincing emails, increasing the risk of falling victim to phishing.
3) Default Device Configurations
Many devices come with publicly known default settings, which cybercriminals can exploit. They might impersonate trusted servers to steal credentials and compromise accounts.
4) Default Device Passwords
Employees sometimes leave IoT devices with default passwords, providing potential entry points for hackers. These devices, when compromised, can be used to launch attacks within the network.
5) Lack of Employee Training
Inadequate cybersecurity training can leave employees unaware of data breach risks. Effective training should be role-specific and interactive, and organisations can consider partnering with cybersecurity providers for comprehensive protection strategies.