Have you been hacked? If so, it's easy to feel like there's nothing to do but panic. The good news is that your cybersecurity can bounce back--but you have to know how to help. Here are a few of our best tips for recovering from a hacking incident (and making sure it doesn't happen again).
First Step: Identify Your Problem
If you suspect your cybersecurity has let you down and you've been hacked, the first thing to do is figure out exactly what happened.
You need to know what kind of cybercrime you're experiencing. If you don't correctly identify the source and type of the breach, you may not be able to get rid of it entirely--which means you could lose even more time, money, and potentially data.
Here are a few of the most common types of cyberattacks:
- Malware: Malware is malicious code that infiltrates your systems. It's often installed by clicking unknown links or ads.
- Ransomware: This specific kind of malware locks down your data and demands a ransom before you can get it back.
- Phishing: In a phishing attack, your information has been stolen by an actor pretending to be a trusted entity. The hacker can then access accounts, networks, devices, and more (depending on what info they obtained).
- Data breach: This is any kind of cybersecurity issue where your data has been lost or stolen.
- Access: One way or another, an uninvited actor has gained access to your network and is now opening "back doors" so they can dodge your cybersecurity efforts in the future.
Once you know exactly what happened, you need to respond quickly. The proper steps will depend on exactly what the problem is and how it occurred--but in general, your first step is to lock down everything you can. You want to isolate the issue so it doesn't spread to other devices or parts of your network. This can involve disabling your internet and remote access, changing passwords, installing software updates, and more.
After that, your task is to get malicious actors, programs, and code out of your digital ecosystem. In some cases, you may need to delete certain apps or reinstall software; in other cases, you might need expert help to identify and eliminate unwanted presences.
What To Do Next
Yes, a cybersecurity breach can be scary--but once you've caught your breath, you'll need to take a few steps to ensure this doesn't happen again. Brush up on these simple tips for boosting your digital defenses:
Get Help
Managed IT services should be your first stop after solving a cybersecurity issue. That's because managed IT providers can help you clean up the resulting mess, potentially recover data, address immediate concerns, and implement longer-term solutions.
Identify Vulnerabilities
If any good can come from a breach, it's this: You have a chance to learn where you went wrong. What did you overlook? How did the trouble start? Review the entire incident and analyze any weaknesses, vulnerabilities, or points of access that need to be secured.
Improve Existing Defenses
You likely have some cybersecurity solutions in place. Although they may have failed you this time, there's no reason to give up on them entirely; just take a look at what they did and didn't do to find out how you can improve them. For example, maybe you forgot to install that software update that came with a vital security patch--so in the future, you'll know to support your defenses by scheduling updates right away.
Create Backups
Even if you already have data backups, it's smart to create more after a digital disaster. That's especially true if your backups were infiltrated or corrupted in any way. Just make sure you back up the best version of your data--that way, you don't make copies of any information that was damaged during the breach.
Use Monitoring Solutions
Monitoring solutions offer incredible peace of mind. With 24/7 remote monitoring on your side, you can trust that someone's always watching your back--and if a breach does occur, you'll be able to identify and eliminate it much faster.
Conclusion
If you suffered a data breach or other attack, you're probably a little shaken right now. Don't worry--your cybersecurity can and will bounce back. You just need to know what steps to take and when to reach out to the experts for some extra help.
Don't pick up the pieces alone. Contact us today for help getting your cybersecurity back on its feet.
