Someone’s Trying to Steal Your Data! What Should You Do?

We've just entered Q4, and there have already been over 30,000 cyber threat incidents, including around 10,600 confirmed data breaches, according to Verizon's 2024 Data Breach Investigation Report.

One of the notable victims is Neiman Marcus, the luxury retailer. The leaked data included names, contact details, birth dates, Neiman Marcus or Bergdorf Goodman gift card numbers, partial credit card numbers, and employee identification numbers.

Shein, the global fast-fashion retailer, was hit by a cyberattack in 2018, and recently, a lot of the stolen customer data has resurfaced, showing that security vulnerabilities are still a problem.

You'd expect large companies like Shein and Neiman Marcus to have fail-safe cybersecurity systems, yet they, too, were found to be vulnerable. 

Or perhaps they've been vulnerable all along, falling victim to cyberattacks because they're big companies with massive amounts of data.

If that’s true, the only reason your company hasn’t been hit by a cyber-attack yet might be because your data isn’t seen as valuable. In other words, cybercriminals can’t profit from your data.

But does that mean any business operating online or storing data in the cloud isn’t truly safe?

I don’t think so.

In my opinion, there are two main reasons cybercriminals manage to break into business databases:

· They’re getting smarter.

· Businesses aren’t taking cybersecurity seriously enough.

But what does "taking cybersecurity seriously enough" even mean? Aren’t you already doing that?

Well, to know for sure, ask yourself a few questions.

First, what cyber threats is your online business vulnerable to? If you don’t know the answer, then there’s a good chance your business is at risk and you just don’t realize it.

Here are the major types of cyber threats your online business might be exposed to:

1. Phishing Attacks – Deceptive emails or messages that trick your employees into revealing sensitive information like passwords or financial details.

2. Malware – Malicious software designed to damage or gain unauthorized access to your systems, such as viruses, worms, ransomware, and spyware.

3. Ransomware – A type of malware that locks access to your data or systems until you pay a ransom.

4. DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) Attacks – Overwhelms your website or server with traffic, causing it to crash or become unavailable.

5. Man-in-the-Middle Attacks – Cybercriminals intercept communication between you and another party to steal data or manipulate communication.

6. SQL Injection – Attackers exploit vulnerabilities in your website’s database to gain unauthorized access to data.

7. Insider Threats – Your employees or contractors intentionally or unintentionally cause security breaches, either by negligence or with malicious intent.

8. Credential Stuffing – Using stolen or leaked login credentials to access multiple accounts or systems.

9. Social Engineering – Manipulating you or your employees into giving up confidential information by exploiting human psychology.

10. Brute Force Attacks – Automated software attempts to guess your passwords by trying various combinations.

11. Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) – Injecting malicious scripts into your website to target users and steal their information.

12. Zero-Day Exploits – Attacking software vulnerabilities that are unknown or unpatched by your developers.

13. Third-Party Vendor Breaches – Weaknesses in your vendor’s security system that can compromise your data if you’re connected.

14. Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs) – Prolonged and targeted cyber-attacks in which an intruder remains undetected inside a network.

15. Botnets – Networks of compromised devices used to carry out malicious tasks, like spamming or further attacks.

16. Eavesdropping Attacks – Unauthorized listening to data transmitted over a network, usually through unsecured communication channels.

17. Password Attacks – Methods like keylogging or password cracking to steal user credentials.

18. Fake Software/Updates – Downloading malware disguised as legitimate software or updates.

19. Session Hijacking – Taking over a user’s session on a website to gain unauthorized access to data or systems.

20. IoT Vulnerabilities – Poorly secured Internet of Things (IoT) devices that can be compromised and used as entry points into the business network.

Now that you know what you’re up against, the next question you should ask yourself is “How vulnerable is my online business to these threats?” You can figure that out by monitoring the data flowing in and out of your database. 

Here are some key questions to help you spot any weak points where a breach could happen:

· Who handles your data? Are they trained to recognize and deal with potential cyber-attacks?

· What software are you using, and is it up to date?

· Do you have the right firewall in place?

· Are all your endpoints (devices, computers, etc.) protected?

· Is your data properly encrypted?

· Do you have a backup strategy or a disaster recovery plan?

· Does your server have enough capacity to handle spikes in traffic?

· Do you filter the traffic coming to your site?

· Are you using redundancy or mitigation tools to handle disruptions?

· Is your Wi-Fi secure?

· Are your security protocols up to date?

· Do you have the right web application security in place?

· Are you using strong passwords for all your accounts?

· Do you enforce multi-factor authentication (MFA)?

· What are your rules for reusing data across different accounts?

· Does your contract with vendors include data protection measures?

· Do you have proper network segmentation in place to contain breaches?

Answering these questions can give you a clearer idea of your business’s security and help you patch any gaps before attackers find them.

How do you know if your online business is under attack?

Cyber-attacks aren’t always easy to spot, but there are a few red flags you should watch out for.

If you start seeing unusual activity in your accounts—like logins from unfamiliar locations or strange devices—that’s a big sign something could be wrong.

Even if nothing seems off right away, these attempts might mean someone is testing your defenses. Keep an eye on any login alerts from your platforms, especially when you know it wasn’t you.

Another red flag? If your transactions suddenly look odd. If you’re getting weird orders, unexpected cancellations, or refund requests, it might not be a coincidence.

Cybercriminals sometimes place fake orders to test stolen credit cards, or they might try to exploit your system for refunds and chargebacks. This could drain your cash flow before you even realize what’s happening.

And if your website starts slowing down for no reason? Sure, technical issues happen, but if it’s consistent, your site could be under a DDoS attack. That’s when hackers flood your site with traffic to overwhelm it.

This can prevent real customers from making purchases and could be a sign they’re trying to break in.

Also, watch out for phishing emails. If you or your team start receiving strange emails that seem like they’re from legit companies but ask for login details or payment info, it’s probably a scam. 

These emails often look pretty convincing, so stay skeptical. Hackers use phishing to get access to your business’s sensitive data or even your customers’ info.

Lastly, if your systems start acting up—random pop-ups, software crashes, or unexpected changes—it could be malware. Hackers use malware to steal data or hold it for ransom. Always keep your software updated and don’t ignore security warnings.

In short, if anything feels off—whether it’s logins, transactions, site speed, emails, or system behavior—check your security before things get worse.

It’s better to catch it early than deal with a full-blown breach later. Stay alert, trust your gut, and keep your guard up.

Here comes the most important question—

How do you protect your business from cybersecurity threats?

Protecting your online business from cybersecurity threats doesn’t have to be complex. The process is more straightforward than you may think.

First, always use strong, unique passwords for everything. I know it’s tempting to use the same one across multiple accounts, but that just makes things easier for hackers.

A good tip is to use a password manager to keep track of them all so you don’t have to remember each one.

Next, enable two-factor authentication (2FA) wherever you can. It’s like adding an extra lock to your door. Even if someone gets your password, they’ll still need that second form of verification—like a code sent to your phone or an app—before they can get in.

Keep your software and plugins updated. I know it can feel like a hassle, but these updates usually patch security gaps that hackers try to exploit. If you’re using platforms like Shopify or WordPress, they’ll notify you when updates are available—don’t ignore those!

Be on the lookout for phishing attacks. If you get emails asking for sensitive information or have weird links in them, be cautious. Cybercriminals are getting really good at making those emails look legit. When in doubt, don’t click—always verify by contacting the company directly.

Another great tip is to use encryption for any sensitive data you store. This makes it much harder for hackers to make sense of the information if they do manage to get in. For example, tools like SSL certificates encrypt data between your website and your customers, giving everyone peace of mind.

Lastly, make sure you’re backing up your data regularly. In case something does go wrong—whether it’s a cyberattack or just a system crash—having a backup means you can recover quickly without losing everything. 

At the end of the day, protecting your online business comes down to staying proactive. If you keep your digital “doors” locked and your systems updated, you’re already making it much harder for cybercriminals to break in.

And if you ever feel unsure, don’t hesitate to reach out to a cybersecurity expert for tailored advice. They can help you focus on the core parts of your business while ensuring everything stays protected.

To make things easier, create a checklist of everything that needs protection in your online business, based on the questions I’ve listed above.

If you find these tasks too technical, consult with your cybersecurity expert. It’s worth it to keep your business safe while you focus on growing it.

Stay tuned for more tips coming your way!