The UK government’s Cyber Security Breaches Survey 2024 has revealed that 50% of small firms and 70% percent of medium-sized businesses suffered a cyber-attack in the past year.
These businesses are being warned to watch out for scammers who are targeting restaurants and local businesses through social engineering, which gives criminals access to sensitive data and customer information.
Social engineering is where cyber criminals use tried and tested psychological techniques to trick people into taking an action, they ramp up the pressure and urgency to act now, pretending to be authority figures. Online attacks consist of phishing emails, infected ads, or applications that download malware onto a victim’s computer.
Being a small business doesn’t protect you from scammers or online criminals, as any organisation can be targeted.
To stay safe, be wary of tempting offers from strangers, don’t open phishing emails from suspicious sources, and keep your antivirus updated – after all, if it seems too good to be true, it probably is.
The NEBRC is a not-for-profit organisation established to support and educate businesses across the UK on cyber security and online crime.
If you would further advice on protecting yourself and your business against malware and baiting attempts, contact our team at [email protected] or sign up to our free core membership to keep up to date with the latest cyber security matters and keep your business safe online.