In today's digital age, it is essential for businesses to have an online presence. However, with the rise of technology comes the risk of cyber threats that can damage your brand’s reputation and cost you money. It is important to be aware of the potential threats and take steps to protect your online brand. By knowing what risks to look out for and having measures in place for proactive security, you can keep the integrity of your online brand safe from harm. Investing in privacy tools, encryption technology and strong authentication methods are all beneficial steps that will go a long way towards protecting your online brand from malicious activity.
In this article, we have discussed the most common threats to your online brand and how you can protect against them. In today's digital world, it is increasingly important to understand the common threats to your online brand protection. From hackers gaining access to accounts and data, to malicious actors trying to steal user information, there are multiple potential risks lurking in the shadows of the internet. Ignoring these threats can be catastrophic for businesses and individuals alike. Here are five threats to your online brand and how you can protect against them:
Spammy Links
One of the main issues online marketers face is spammy links to their site. These links are often created by malicious actors who want to manipulate search engine rankings or spread malware. To protect against this threat, it is important to regularly monitor your website for any suspicious links and remove them immediately if found. Additionally, using a link-building service such as Moz or Majestic can help you identify any potentially dangerous links before they become a problem.
Negative Reviews
Negative reviews can be damaging for any business, but especially for those with an online presence. It is important to monitor all customer feedback on social media platforms and review sites in order to address any complaints quickly and effectively. Additionally, responding promptly and professionally to negative reviews can help mitigate the damage caused by them.
Domain Squatting
Domain squatting occurs when someone registers a domain name similar to yours in order to profit from it or disrupt your business operations. To protect against this threat, it is important to register all relevant domain names as soon as possible in order to prevent someone else from doing so first. Additionally, monitoring domain name registries regularly can help you identify any potential squatters early on.
Financial Frauds
Financial frauds are one of the most common security threats facing eCommerce businesses today. To protect against this threat, it is important to implement strong security measures such as two-factor authentication, encryption technologies, and secure payment gateways. Additionally, educating customers about safe online shopping practices can help reduce the risk of financial frauds occurring on your site.
Phishing Attacks
Phishing attacks are another common security threat that eCommerce businesses need to be aware of. These attacks involve sending emails or messages that appear legitimate but actually contain malicious links or attachments designed to steal personal information or install malware onto computers or devices. To protect against this threat, it is important for businesses to educate their employees about phishing attacks and how they can spot them before clicking on any suspicious links or attachments sent via email or messaging apps like WhatsApp or Skype . Additionally, using anti-phishing software solutions such as Norton Security Scanner can help detect and block these types of attacks before they become a problem for your business.
Dos & DDoS Attacks
Dos (Denial of Service) & DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) attacks are another type of cyber attack that eCommerce businesses need to be aware of in order protect their websites from being taken offline due to excessive traffic requests from malicious actors attempting overload servers with requests until they crash under the strain . To protect against these types of attacks , businesses should use firewalls , web application firewalls , rate limiting , load balancers , caching solutions , content delivery networks (CDNs) , virtual private networks (VPNs) , intrusion detection systems (IDS) , intrusion prevention systems (IPS) , honeypots etc . Additionally , businesses should also ensure their websites are regularly updated with the latest security patches in order prevent hackers from exploiting known vulnerabilities .
Final Thoughts:
In conclusion, eCommerce businesses need to be aware of the various security threats they face and take steps to protect against them. By monitoring customer feedback, registering domain names, implementing strong financial security measures, educating employees about phishing attacks, and using various technical solutions such as firewalls and IDS/IPS systems, businesses can make sure their sites are safe and secure from malicious actors. Additionally, regular updates to websites with the latest security patches can help ensure they remain protected against potential vulnerabilities. Ultimately, by taking the necessary precautions, eCommerce businesses can protect their sites from the various cyber threats that exist today.
Online Threat Alerts Security Tips
Pay the safest way
Credit cards are the safest way to pay for online purchases because you can dispute the charges if you never get the goods or services or if the offer was misrepresented. Federal law limits your liability to $50 if someone makes unauthorized charges to your account, and most credit card issuers will remove them completely if you report the problem promptly.
Guard your personal information
In any transaction you conduct, make sure to check with your state or local consumer protection agency and the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to see if the seller, charity, company, or organization is credible. Be especially wary if the entity is unfamiliar to you. Always call the number found on a website’s contact information to make sure the number legitimately belongs to the entity you are dealing with.
Be careful of the information you share
Never give out your codes, passwords or personal information, unless you are sure of who you're dealing with
Know who you’re dealing with
Crooks pretending to be from companies you do business with may call or send an email, claiming they need to verify your personal information. Don’t provide your credit card or bank account number unless you are actually paying for something and know who you are sending payment to. Your social security number should not be necessary unless you are applying for credit. Be especially suspicious if someone claiming to be from a company with whom you have an account asks for information that the business already has.
Check your accounts
Regularly check your account transactions and report any suspicious or unauthorised transactions.
Don’t believe promises of easy money
If someone claims that you can earn money with little or no work, get a loan or credit card even if you have bad credit, or make money on an investment with little or no risk, it’s probably a scam. Oftentimes, offers that seem too good to be true, actually are too good to be true.
Do not open email from people you don’t know
If you are unsure whether an email you received is legitimate, try contacting the sender directly via other means. Do not click on any links in an email unless you are sure it is safe.
Think before you click
If an email or text message looks suspicious, don’t open any attachments or click on the links.
Verify urgent requests or unsolicited emails, messages or phone calls before you respond
If you receive a message or a phone call asking for immediate action and don't know the sender, it could be a phishing message.
Be careful with links and new website addresses
Malicious website addresses may appear almost identical to legitimate sites. Scammers often use a slight variation in spelling or logo to lure you. Malicious links can also come from friends whose email has unknowingly been compromised, so be careful.
Secure your personal information
Before providing any personal information, such as your date of birth, Social Security number, account numbers, and passwords, be sure the website is secure.
Stay informed on the latest cyber threats
Keep yourself up to date on current scams by visiting this website daily.
Use Strong Passwords
Strong passwords are critical to online security.
Keep your software up to date and maintain preventative software programs
Keep all of your software applications up to date on your computers and mobile devices. Install software that provides antivirus, firewall, and email filter services.
Update the operating systems on your electronic devices
Make sure your operating systems (OSs) and applications are up to date on all of your electronic devices. Older and unpatched versions of OSs and software are the target of many hacks. Read the CISA security tip on Understanding Patches and Software Updates for more information.
What if You Got Scammed?
Stop Contact With The Scammer
Hang up the phone. Do not reply to emails, messages, or letters that the scammer sends. Do not make any more payments to the scammer. Beware of additional scammers who may contact you claiming they can help you get your lost money back.
Secure Your Finances
- Report potentially compromised bank account, credit or debit card information to your financial institution(s) immediately. They may be able to cancel or reverse fraudulent transactions.
- Notify the three major credit bureaus. They can add a fraud alert to warn potential credit grantors that you may be a victim of identity theft. You may also want to consider placing a free security freeze on your credit report. Doing so prevents lenders and others from accessing your credit report entirely, which will prevent them from extending credit:
- Equifax
- Experian
- TransUnion
Check Your Computer
If your computer was accessed or otherwise affected by a scam, check to make sure that your anti-virus is up-to-date and running and that your system is free of malware and keylogging software. You may also need to seek the help of a computer repair company. Consider utilizing the Better Business Bureau’s website to find a reputable company.
Change Your Account Passwords
Update your bank, credit card, social media, and email account passwords to try to limit further unauthorized access. Make sure to choose strong passwords when changing account passwords.
Report The Scam
Reporting helps protect others. While agencies can’t always track down perpetrators of crimes against scammers, they can utilize the information gathered to record patterns of abuse which may lead to action being taken against a company or industry.
Report your issue to the following agencies based on the nature of the scam:
- Local Law Enforcement: Consumers are encouraged to report scams to their local police department or sheriff’s office, especially if you lost money or property or had your identity compromised.
- Federal Trade Commission: Contact the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357) or use the Online Complaint Assistant to report various types of fraud, including counterfeit checks, lottery or sweepstakes scams, and more.
- Identitytheft.gov: If someone is using your personal information, like your Social Security, credit card, or bank account number, to open new accounts, make purchases, or get a tax refund, report it at www.identitytheft.gov. This federal government site will also help you create your Identity Theft Report and a personal recovery plan based on your situation. Questions can be directed to 877-ID THEFT.
How To Recognize a Phishing Scam
Scammers use email or text messages to try to steal your passwords, account numbers, or Social Security numbers. If they get that information, they could get access to your email, bank, or other accounts. Or they could sell your information to other scammers. Scammers launch thousands of phishing attacks like these every day — and they’re often successful.
Scammers often update their tactics to keep up with the latest news or trends, but here are some common tactics used in phishing emails or text messages:
Phishing emails and text messages often tell a story to trick you into clicking on a link or opening an attachment. You might get an unexpected email or text message that looks like it’s from a company you know or trust, like a bank or a credit card or utility company. Or maybe it’s from an online payment website or app. The message could be from a scammer, who might
- say they’ve noticed some suspicious activity or log-in attempts — they haven’t
- claim there’s a problem with your account or your payment information — there isn’t
- say you need to confirm some personal or financial information — you don’t
- include an invoice you don’t recognize — it’s fake
- want you to click on a link to make a payment — but the link has malware
- say you’re eligible to register for a government refund — it’s a scam
- offer a coupon for free stuff — it’s not real
About Online Threat Alerts (OTA)
Online Threat Alerts or OTA is an anti-cybercrime community that started in 2012. OTA alerts the public to cyber crimes and other web threats.
By alerting the public, we have prevented a lot of online users from getting scammed or becoming victims of cybercrimes.
With the ever-increasing number of people going online, it important to have a community like OTA that continuously alerts or protects those same people from cyber-criminals, scammers and hackers, who are every day finding new ways of carrying out their malicious activities.
Online users can help by reporting suspicious or malicious messages or websites to OTA. And, if they want to determine if a message or website is a threat or scam, they can use OTA's search engine to search for the website or parts of the message for information.
Help maintain Online Threat Alerts (OTA).