2019 saw $3.5 billion in cybercrime losses for individuals and businesses, the FBI reports. Over the last five years, the losses total $10 billion. The biggest contributor by far was business email compromise (BEC).
The report released by the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) explains that BEC scammers are getting more sophisticated; the threat of email compromise itself is evolving.
This opinion was seconded by professionals in the cybersecurity industry.
“These attacks are harder for traditional pattern-matching techniques to catch, so organizations have to update their email security technology in kind,” says Censornet CEO Ed Macnair.
Does your business or organization have the most up-to-date security features designed to deter these attacks? It’s worth taking a long hard look at the antivirus software, email protection systems, firewalls, and other network security features you rely upon to guard your private data.
“These attacks are harder for traditional pattern-matching techniques to catch, so organizations have to update their email security technology in kind”— Ed Macnair, CEO Censornet
One of these features, spam protection, is often overlooked. Not only is spam tiresome, it also disrupts productivity since employees must waste time sorting through it. Worse, spam and other unfiltered emails can hold a treasure trove of malicious software and scams. No matter how much you trust your employees, anyone can be susceptible to these and other attacks. Is spam one of your security weaknesses?
Last year, the IC3 received nearly 24,000 complaints regarding email scams alone.
Does your business or organization need some help avoiding this list? Ask the trusted professionals at Machado Consulting who know how to treat you like part of a team. We look forward to earning your long-term business. Contact us here or by phone at (508) 453-4700.
