Report: Industries need to be proactive to combat sources of cybercrime
Dec 01, 2012 Quinn Thomas
According to ZDNet, the financial sector generally draws hackers with advanced skills who access internal accounts and apps directly or through downstream fraud. Their focus is on ATMs, network servers and employees. In such cases, companies best security measures are improved login credentials, more secure application development and heightened security awareness among workers. In the healthcare industry, Verizon found most data breaches occurred at outpatient facilities on point-of-sale (POS) systems. To guard against hacking or threats from malware, companies are advised to change passwords often, use firewalls and have their POS systems compliant with industry standards. Small to mid-size businesses and franchises are hardest hit in retail POS. These firms often rely on third-party vendors because retail operations frequently don't have in-house security systems. Choosing a third-party vendor carefully, educating employees about suspicious emails and instituting firewalls and anti-virus protection is crucial. The report found the hospitality sector had more breaches in the past two years than any other industry, largely because their POS systems are outdated or unsecured. Upgrading security and educating staffers are the suggested deterrents.