4 ways to fend off cybersecurity threats

Hacked email accounts, bank scams, identity theft — nothing makes us feel more vulnerable than when our online security has been compromised. While no one can be 100% protected from cyber attacks, there are ways to avoid becoming a victim. 

2023 was a record year for data theft in the U.S, with more than 350 million people affected, according to the Identity Theft Research Center. The FBI reported incidents of cyber crime were also up, leading to a potential $12.5 billion in individual losses. Businesses are victims, too: Statista found that almost 70% of organizations experienced ransomware attacks between 2022-2023, costing companies millions. As cyber crimes become more sophisticated, both employees and employers need to make an extra effort to keep their information safe, and it starts with their inbox. 

“Be suspicious of every single email and report anything that looks suspect,” says Brian Vecci, field CTO at data security company Varonis. “The tools for attackers these days are much easier and more powerful than they’ve ever been. All it takes is you to click on one thing, and your device or account can then be taken over.”

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Protecting passwords should also be a top priority on both work and personal devices, says Vecci. Over 80% of data breaches were connected to stolen, reused, or weak passwords, according to LastPass. By just avoiding email links and keeping passwords safe, people are ahead of the curve when it comes to cybersecurity, he says. 

Here are four specific ways individuals and organizations can guard against cyber attacks, according to Vecci.