What would you do if one day, after a long day selling hair and wigs, you want to enter your house, but the key does not fit any more? Whatever you try, the door does not want to open. You are tired, hungry and want to refresh yourself. But you simply cannot enter your own house. There is a little note on the floor, you pick it up and you read. “For usd 1,000 we will open the door for you, kind regards cybercriminals”.
You would be angry, scared and much more, but the longer you wait the more desperate you will feel. So, what do you do? Will you pay that money and hope you can enter your own house again?
Hopefully, this will never happen to you in real life, but the truth is it happens to many small businesses. Your business can be under attack any moment and you are not alone. 88% of the small business owners in the USA feel their business is vulnerable for an attack by cybercriminals. You all know about thieves stealing wigs and weaves, now there is another target, your data and access to your hair and wig businesses.
How will a cybercriminal enter your hair store?
True, cybercriminals do not knock on your door. You will not even see them coming or going. But for sure they will know how to find you. These thieves have enough others means to enter your business, or better your computers. Let see how they can enter your hair store to commit a cybercrime.
Arm Yourself Against Cybercrime
Malware
Malicious software, or malware, is a term that refers to software intentionally designed to cause damage to a computer or computer network. Malware is usually installed unintentionally after the user has taken missteps. This user can be you, but also one of your staff members or family member with access to your computers. A well know trick is to add a link in an email. If you click on this malicious link, you by accident can download content from unknown or untrustworthy sources on your computer.
Viruses
Viruses are harmful programs intended by the cybercriminal to spread from computer to computer (and other connected devices). In more technical terms, a computer virus is a type of malicious code or program written to alter the way a computer operates and is designed to spread from one computer to another. It works like Covid-19 and uses a host (a computer) to stay alive. A virus operates by inserting or attaching itself to a legitimate program or document that supports macros to execute its code. In the process, a virus has the potential to cause unexpected or damaging effects, such as harming the system software by corrupting or destroying data.
Ransomware
Ransomware is a specific type of malware that infects and restricts access to a computer until a ransom is paid. Ransomware is usually delivered by a cybercriminal through phishing emails and exploits unpatched vulnerabilities in software. This kind of attacks are used more and more, like for example in the meat industry or oil pipelines. Not only the company attached but all clients and suppliers suffer from the attacks. Do not make the mistake to think you are too small to get the attention of a ransomware criminal. There are enough smaller, but not less painful ransomware for all of us. Sometimes they only ask for usd 50 or usd 100 to undo the harm of locking your computer, small amount but is still a cybercrime.
Phishing
Phishing is a type of cybercrime that uses email or a malicious website to infect your machine with malware or collect your sensitive information. Phishing emails appear as though they have been sent from a legitimate organization or known individual. These emails often entice users to click on a link or open an attachment containing malicious code. After the code is run, your computer may become infected with malware.
Regardless how the attack or tools to attack your hair and wig business are named, in all cases this kind of cybercrime will cause a lot of harm and stress and might even put you out of the hair business. Before we talk about how to avoid you will be under attack or how to mitigate the damage, let see what these cyber criminals can do to your hair store.
What damage can a cybercriminal do in your hair store?
When you cannot see the cybercriminals, how will you know they have attacked your hair store?
Too bad, sometimes it is obvious and sometimes you will only know when for example your back account shows unknown withdrawals.
There are some indications you can observe when your computer or computer system has been under attack:
Pop-up windows that frequently show up. Pop-ups might encourage you to visit websites you normally would not visit. They also might provoke you to download antivirus or other software programs. You get the message your anti-virus protection has ended, and you need to re-new now to keep you safe from malicious software! Very ugly because you will download not the protection but the virus! A classic case of a cybercrime.
Your homepage suddenly has been altered. Your hair store homepage may change to another website, for instance. Whatever you try, you will be unable to reset it back to the normal screen.
Mass emails being sent from your hair and beauty store email account. Your biggest nightmare. The email list with all your clients of your hair store, will suddenly be used to send emails in your name from another infected computer. Your clients will get a virus instead of your latest bundle deal! This cybercrime will also lead to reputational damage because your clients will believe you forwarded the mails.
Frequent crashes. A virus can inflict major damage on your hard drive, that is the disk in your laptop or computer with all the vital information, like the start-up protocol. This may cause your computer or tablet to freeze or crash. Or you might not be able to start the computer anymore.
Unusually slow computer performance. We all know over time your computer tends to be slower, but when this happens overnight this could be a signal that your computer has been infected by a virus or malicious software.
Unknown programs that start up when you turn on your computer. This can be visible for you when your computer automatically launches a program. Or you might notice it by checking your computer’s list of active applications and you see an unknown app.
Unusual activities like password changes. This could prevent you from logging into your business computer because your password has changed.
All these examples of cybercrime can occur, and it is important to be aware of any unexpected change off your computer device. Sometimes a small change can be the indicator a serious attack has taken place. Now what can you do to prevent your hair and beauty store will be out of business because you cannot access your files anymore.
What to do to protect your hair store against a cybercriminal?
There are two ways to protect your computers from attacks by a cybercriminal. The hygiene and the technical method.
Hygiene or organizational protection
Like washing your hands frequently helps to protect against a virus like the Corona virus, taking care of the proper hygiene will also protect the computer system of your hair store. How?
There are a couple of things to respect to keep your computer safe from a cybercrime:
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- Use antivirus- and antispyware and keep it updated
, a great way to protect yourself against a cybercriminal is to invest in a solid antivirus software program. Do not download any antivirus program, when you receive the message unsolicited. Make sure the updates are set on automatically.
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- Update all software
Make sure you keep all software and operating systems up to date. This will avoid cyber criminals will use a security bug to access your online hair store.
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- Keep your Wi-Fi-safe
Safeguard your Internet connection by using a firewall and encrypting information. If you have a Wi-Fi network, make sure it is secure and hidden. To hide your Wi-Fi network, set up your wireless access point or router so it does not broadcast the network name, known as the Service Set Identifier (SSID). Password-protect access to the router.
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- Strong passwords
. Use strong passwords, that are not easily to guess. Understand a cybercriminal uses software to search for your passwords. Change your passwords regularly and do not use one password for all your applications.
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- Multifactor authentication
If possible, use the two steps authentication, like a code that is shared to your phone or email. This requires for access the person to be in the same space as the devices.
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- Physical access
Do not allow everybody to use your computers. Prevent access or use of the computers of the hair store by unauthorized individuals. Laptops can be particularly easy targets for theft or can be lost, so lock them up when unattended. Make sure a separate user account is created for each employee and require strong passwords. Administrative privileges should only be given to key personnel.
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- Test
Test what will happen when your computer is not functioning anymore. What can you do to restore data and what devices you have as backup? How will you communicate this to your (key) customers and suppliers?
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- Do not install new apps
just for fun. There are many apps available but avoid installing apps you do not really need for your online hair business.
Technical solutions to protect against a cybercrime
Install an app or plugin to regularly create a back up of your systems and keep that backup at a safe place. Regularly back up the data on all computers. Critical data includes word processing documents, spreadsheets, databases, financial files, customer data, human resources files, and accounts receivable/payable files. Back up data automatically if possible, or at least weekly, and store the copies either offsite or on the cloud. If possible, also keep backups offline.
Payment processing. Work with your banks or card processors to ensure the most trusted and validated tools and anti-fraud services are being used. You may also have additional security obligations related to agreements with your bank or processor. Isolate payment systems from other, less secure programs and do not use the same computer to process payments and surf the Internet. This will also create trust for your clients, to know their online purchases will not lead cyber criminals on their path.
Close down devices when not in use. Every device has a timer to close the device when not in use. This avoids unauthorized access when you are not using the computer or phone.
Check if your hair store will be the next victim of a cybercrime
There are a couple of indicators that you should keep in mind to know if your hair store could be the next victim of a serious cybercrime.
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- Data
What is the data you keep on your computers, financial data, customer data including email and personal data, personal data? This kind of information is useful for a cybercriminal because they can use it to find more victims.
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- Online access customers
Do you use customer accounts for your hair store? When you allow your clients to login to your hair store criminals can use this “door” to access your system too.
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- Integrated systems
It can be very efficient to link your webstore, the bookkeeping and customer relation system all together. Avoids multiple access and keeps the data in one location. But at the same time this is a paradise for cyber criminals. Once they have access to your hair store, they can walk around without any problem.
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- Time
Do you have any idea how long you can keep your hair store open when it is under attack? If this period is limited to the same day or a couple of days, your really have an issue when your store is under attack.
Enjoy doing business
This post is not to make you depressed and to stop you doing business. Please keep on selling hair and wigs, but make sure you stay aware of the warnings. This will keep you in the hair business and your clients happy.