Hacked or Not? Signs and Preventions Every Business Should Know
Businesses are increasingly becoming the target of cyber-attacks, that’s especially true of small businesses.
What’s even more concerning is the amount of time it takes a business to realize they’ve been hacked. It can take six months or longer before a business is even aware an attack has taken place.
Understanding the key indicators of a potential hack is crucial for safeguarding your business against cyber threats. However, identifying these signs is only half the battle; knowing what to do after a cyberattack is equally vital. Here’s what you need to know about cyber-attacks, and the signs that you have been hacked, and what you can do to prevent future cyberattacks on your business.
10 Cyberattack Trends That Businesses Should Be Aware of in 2025
Cyber-attacks can negatively affect small businesses in several ways. They can damage a company’s reputation, lead to significant financial costs, and even cause it to shut down completely. While the term “cyberattack” encompasses a wide array of malicious activities, the key is recognizing which ones pose the greatest risks to your operations. Here are ten common types of cyber attacks on businesses that you should be aware of:
Phishing Scams: Phishing scams use deceptive emails or messages to trick you into revealing sensitive information, such as login credentials or financial details. These scams often appear legitimate, making it difficult to distinguish them from genuine communications.
Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) Attacks: DDoS attacks disrupt your server, service, or network by overwhelming it with excessive traffic. This attack uses multiple compromised systems, often a botnet, to flood you with massive requests for data or services to prevent you from accessing services or sites.
Malware: Malware refers to various types of malicious software, such as viruses, worms, and trojans, designed to damage or gain unauthorized access to your systems. Malware can steal data, corrupt files, or take control of your network.
Ransomware: Ransomware attacks involve malicious software that encrypts your data, making it inaccessible until a ransom is paid.
Data Breaches: Data breaches involve unauthorized access to your sensitive information, such as customer data or financial records.
AI-Powered Attacks: AI is increasingly used to conduct more sophisticated and automated attacks. AI-powered attacks can analyze vast amounts of data to identify and exploit vulnerabilities more effectively.
Supply Chain Attacks: As businesses rely more on third-party vendors, cybercriminals increasingly target vulnerabilities in supply chains to access larger organizations through their vendors.
Man-in-the-Middle (MitM) Attacks: MitM attacks occur when an attacker intercepts communication between two parties, allowing them to steal sensitive information or inject malicious content. These attacks often happen over unsecured networks, like public Wi-Fi, posing significant risks for businesses that rely on remote access.
Zero-Day Attacks: Zero-day attacks exploit vulnerabilities in software that are unknown to the vendor, meaning there is no patch available at the time of the attack.
Social Engineering Attacks: Social engineering encompasses various manipulative tactics used by attackers to trick individuals into revealing confidential information, often without technical means. This includes phishing emails, spear phishing, pretexting, and baiting.
Why Does It Take So Long for Businesses to Recognize a Cyberattack?
According to IBM’s 2024 Cost of a Data Breach report, defenders took an average of 258 days to identify and contain a breach. By the time most businesses realize the signs that they have been hacked, the damage has been done, and the hackers are long gone. Researchers also discovered that data breaches lasting more than 200 days had the highest average cost, reaching USD 5.46 million.
So, why do businesses take so long to recognize that their systems have been hacked? Here are a few common reasons:
Inadequate Security Measures: Many businesses don’t have adequate security measures in place, often due to a lack of knowledge or budget. This vulnerability gives hackers easy access to a business’s network without being detected.
Insufficient Monitoring: Even if you have network security measures in place, these tools may not be properly monitoring your network for signs of intrusion. Hackers are becoming increasingly sophisticated and adept at hiding their tracks, so it’s often difficult to spot unusual activities unless you’re looking for them.
Ineffective Security Solutions: Sometimes, your security and monitoring tools may not be robust enough for optimal protection. With the increasing frequency of hacking attempts, it’s crucial to have systems that continuously monitor and recognize any signs of an attack.
Delayed Emergency Response: Many businesses lack established emergency response planning and protocols, which can lead to slower reactions when potential breaches are finally detected.
Human Error: Sometimes, people just overlook the signs. Employees might miss warning signals or fail to report something suspicious, which can lead to further delays.
Lack of Cybersecurity Training: Insufficient training for employees on recognizing phishing attempts and other cyber threats can lead to higher susceptibility to attacks.
Falling Prey to Cybersecurity Myths: Businesses often fall for cybersecurity myths that can lead to costly mistakes and data breaches. Common misconceptions include believing small businesses aren’t targets, that antivirus software is enough, and that cybersecurity is only an IT issue.
6 Signs That You Have Been Hacked
Focusing too much attention on the prevention of hacking can cause you to overlook signs of a security breach.
Here are six warning signs that you have been hacked:
Unexpected Changes to Network Files: If you notice files on your network being altered or deleted without authorization, it could indicate unauthorized access or a security breach.
Spam Emails Sent From Company Accounts: If employees’ email accounts are sending out spam or phishing messages without their knowledge, it may suggest that those accounts have been compromised.
Unrecognized Pop-Ups: Frequent pop-ups, especially those requesting sensitive information or prompting software installations, can signal malware or adware on your systems.
Unauthorized Software Installations: If new software appears on your devices that you didn’t install, it could indicate that malware has been added or that someone has accessed your system without permission.
Internet Searches Not Working Properly: If web searches are being redirected to unusual sites or you’re encountering inconsistent search results, this may indicate a browser hijack or malware infection.
Devices Malfunctioning and Running Slowly: If your computers or devices are frequently freezing, crashing, or running slower than usual, it might be due to malware consuming resources or a sign of an underlying security issue.
8 Ways on How Can You Prevent Cyberattacks on Your Busines
It’s important to be aware of risks, take steps to protect your business, and understand which warning signs may reveal a system breach. Here are eight ways to help you prevent cyberattacks on your business:
Implement Comprehensive Security Measures: Make sure you have comprehensive security measures in place, including both physical and digital security. This includes firewalls, antivirus software, and secure access controls. We also recommend you designate a team or have someone monitor your network for signs of an intrusion. Continuous monitoring is essential for detecting potential breaches early, as hackers often work silently in the background.
Conduct Regular Security Assessments: Regularly perform IT risk assessments to identify vulnerabilities in your systems. This proactive approach allows you to address weaknesses before they can be exploited, ensuring your defenses remain strong against emerging threats.
Stay Updated on Security Protocols: Keep your software and security tools up to date. Cyber threats are constantly evolving, so having the latest protections in place can help prevent attacks that exploit outdated systems.
Educate Your Employees: Conduct regular training sessions on cybersecurity best practices. Employees should be aware of common threats and warning signs so they can let you know as soon as they see something suspicious.
Establish an Incident Response Plan: Create a detailed emergency response plan outlining steps to take if a breach is suspected. This plan should include clear roles and responsibilities for your team.
Backup Your Data Regularly: Implement regular data backup protocols to ensure that your critical information is safe and can be restored in the event of a breach. This helps to minimize downtime and data loss, allowing your business to recover quickly.
Utilize Security Scans and Pen Testing: Regularly perform security scans and penetration testing to assess the effectiveness of your security measures and identify any potential entry points for attackers.
Act Quickly If You Suspect a Breach: If you suspect your business has been hacked, don’t delay in taking action. The sooner you act, the less damage the hackers will be able to do. Contact a cyber security expert immediately and take steps to secure your network and data.
By taking these precautions, you can help protect your business and your customers from the growing threat of cyber-attacks.
How Cornerstone Technologies Can Help You Prevent Cyberattacks
Cybersecurity is not just an IT issue; it’s a vital component of your business strategy. The financial and reputational damage can be catastrophic, and many businesses never fully recover. As threats evolve, so must the solutions to protect against them.
At Cornerstone Technologies, we offer a variety of managed IT services to help protect your business equipment and data from cyber-attacks. When you work with us, we take care of your network security so you can focus on growing your business.
Contact us today to keep your data and network safe.
