2022-07-01 00:00:00

Securitybreak-in|cyber|hacked|ransomware|rule

The one and only cybersecurity rule for small businesses

If you haven't been hacked yet, sooner or later you will be. This uncomfortable realization has been stuck in my head ever since I read Nicole Perlroth's book This Is How They Tell Me the World Ends: The Cyberweapons Arms Race. The book describes the global trade of the most wanted computer vulnerabilities, known as zero-days, that enable both criminals and national intelligence officers to break into computers almost when and where they want. What can an individual or a small and mid-size business do to protect themselves?

The ugly truth is that you can do something, but some day someone will break into your computer network or mobile devices. A recent survey by a cybersecurity firm asked about ransomware incidents in mid-size organizations across the world, and discovered that 66% of them had been ransomware victims in 2021. If the high percentage of successful attacks feels disturbing, another recent study is even more disturbing: 85% of organizations admitted they had experienced an IT related break-in during 2021.

Law enforcement is after the criminals, but cybercrime has become a massive new industry with organized groups that may operate like enterprises. A recent global field operation by Interpol depicts the scale of the cybercrime problem: 2000 arrests in 1770 locations around the world with 4000 bank accounts frozen in a single operation.

The one cybersecurity rule that sets the scene is:
Assume you have been hacked.

It is the starting point. When our small business started working from this point backwards towards the ideal level of cyber security, it was easy to see how carefree we were. During the process, we changed many practices especially with mobile devices, but we also realized what was the most valuable asset. Our data. It had to be managed more carefully, ensuring that no matter what happens we have access to it.

In addition to the Nicole Perlroth's book, good sources of inspiration are the Five Laws of Cybersecurity and Krebs's Three Basic Rules for Online Safety.

Both of these rule sets have succeeded in nailing a few key points that every small business owner and individual can understand and implement for personal computing or business environment. Cyber security in large scale is complex, very technical, and often outsourced to dedicated professionals, but the following rules are something that everyone can follow.

Five laws of cybersecurity:

  • Treat everything like it’s vulnerable.
  • Assume people won’t follow the rules.
  • If you don’t need something, get rid of it.
  • Document everything and audit regularly.
  • Plan for failure.

If anything describes these five laws in a single thought, it is the traditional Murphy's Law: "Whatever can go wrong will go wrong". As the statistics from recent studies indicate, it really is the case with cyber security at the moment. Of course, these five laws are not the only ones. For instance, Nick Espinosa's Tedx talk introduces excellent points that make you pause and think seriously about security.

Krebs’s Three Basic Rules for Online Safety:

  • If you didn’t go looking for it, don’t install it!
  • If you installed it, update it.
  • If you no longer need it, remove it.

These three basic rules are excellent advice for every computer and phone user. Especially, if someone you don't know wants you to do something on your computer or phone.

Sure, the simple strategy I have presented here is a pessimistic view on the world of computer security, but the point is this: it is eyeopening to build a scenario where your small business network or personal computing system has been hijacked or completely shutdown by adversaries. How do you recover?

News

2025-07-01 16:15:00

Canyon road is a magnet for cyclists and motorists.#photography #travelphotography #europeflic.kr/p/2rdW4Mfhttps://flic.kr/p/2rdW4Mf


The historic center of Krakow in Poland features castles, churches, palaces ... and tourists.

2025-06-23 13:31:04

The historic center of Krakow in Poland features castles, churches, palaces ... and tourists.


A man with his donkey.

2025-06-19 15:54:21

arihak

A man with his donkey.


News

2025-06-19 15:11:00

An eye-catching place for a painting.#streetphotographyhttps://wordpress.org/photos/photo/9536554ee4/


News

2025-06-15 15:33:00

There are many ways to classify the best countries for road trips, and that is why we are going to take a look at a few different types of ways to select the best here. #roadtrip #Europehttps://klaava.com/which-countries-in-europe-are-the-best-for-road-trips/


News

2025-06-11 16:24:00

Let's go.#streetphotographyflic.kr/p/2r3EuJNhttps://flic.kr/p/2r3EuJN


News

2025-06-04 18:08:00

A #photographer has been using sunglasses with a camera and loudspeakers for 8 months: "I quite enjoy them, and they’ve quickly become my daily wear as far as sunglasses are concerned."https://fstoppers.com/artificial-intelligence/ray-ban-meta-glasses-photographers-perspective-701899


News

2025-06-02 14:42:00

Today, digital nomads recognize the benefits but also risks of their lifestyle. An extensive study among traveling workers reveals the highs and lows of the nomad life. #remotework #digitalnomadhttps://klaava.com/digital-nomads-feel-powered-by-their-lifestyle-but-recognise-inevitable-downsides-as-well/


Aland archipelago

2025-05-30 16:59:41

Aland archipelago


Highway across a swamp.

2025-05-30 11:14:51

arihak

Highway across a swamp.


News

2025-05-26 16:29:00

Flower market, but she is selling fruit trees.#streetphotographyhttps://unsplash.com/photos/TfQ6uYmI9QQ


News

2025-05-22 14:19:00

In Spain, the Balearic government asked influencers to help ease pressure on overcrowded hotspots by promoting less-visited areas. Instead, influencers have unintentionally drawn large crowds of tourists to remote, ecologically sensitive locations. #photography #selfiehttps://petapixel.com/2025/05/21/spanish-islands-ban-influencers-after-4000-tourists-flock-to-tiny-beach-for-selfies/


News

2025-05-18 18:23:00

Most travelers already knew that south Europe is the warm and sunny zone of #Europe, and this ranking confirms it. Spain and Italy have most cities in the top 30, followed by France and Portugal. #travelhttps://klaava.com/sunniest-cities-in-europe/


Popular sight in Sevilla

2025-05-16 17:51:34

Popular sight in Sevilla


News

2025-05-14 16:03:00

Bordeaux is ready for hot summer days.#streetphotographyhttps://pixelfed.social/p/arihak/827854641319295061


Cooling zone.

2025-05-13 12:38:47

arihak

Cooling zone.


Hochosterwitz castle

2025-05-10 15:23:05

Hochosterwitz castle


News

2025-05-07 14:39:00

A meeting in winter sun.#streetphotography #travelphotographyflic.kr/p/2qey2NHhttps://flic.kr/p/2qey2NH


News

2025-04-30 17:01:00

Shady character.#streetphotography #travelphotography #StreetPhotography


Not in space, but firmly on the ground in Valencia.

2025-04-25 17:47:30

arihak

Not in space, but firmly on the ground in Valencia.