The tragedies in Ukraine are being felt all around the world, and this time of crisis can bring out the best and worst in people. We’ve seen scammers take advantage of people during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the Ukraine crisis is no different.
Here at Kyber Security, we extend our thoughts and sympathy with those in Ukraine and around the world who have been affected by the suffering, violence, and loss this invasion has caused. We hope for a peaceful end to this conflict.
Cyber Threats will Rise Due to the Conflict in Ukraine
There is no doubt cyber warfare is a primary tool of modern military when geo-political tensions rise. The world is most certainly witnessing unprecedented times, and all organizations – especially sensitive and critical industries – can expect a rise in threats as financial sanctions increase. We don’t know what form attacks will come in, but we can use the past to predict. Malware, Advanced Persistent threats (APTs), ransomware, network attacks & anomalies, to name a few, are what to keep an eye out for.
As a business leader, you’ve likely already assessed whether your organization, operations or supply chain might be affected. But if you are just now evaluating your cyber posture, you are already vulnerable. So, what can leaders do during this time of conflict?
- Patch Internet-Facing and Business Critical Software. Patch for all software and vulnerabilities, and take no short cuts. If it’s on the internet in any way – patch it.
- Prepare for Ransomware and/or Data Destruction. Recovering from an attack is much more than just nullifying the threat – it means coming back from a disaster. Test your backups, and validate your recovery and continuity plans.
- Prepare to Respond Quickly. Have your response plan finely tuned. Walk through and reinforce how information for teams, customers and employees will be shared in the event of a crisis.
- Instill a security mindset organizationally. Enable multifactor authentication, patch vulnerabilities, and ensure passwords are strong.
These are just the basics. A breach at the smallest company can lead to a national security emergency. The best possible approach is to leverage the methodology of security, recovery and assurance into a comprehensive security mission. Teams looking at cybersecurity, geopolitical risk, and physical security should be working together closely, and if you don’t already have a competent security team, you absolutely need to find a reputable security partner.
Avoiding Donation Scams
As the crisis in Ukraine continues to make headlines, scammers will continue to look for ways to exploit people in the form of charitable donations. Not only will you lose your money and risk releasing personal information, but the people who actually need aid are losing out on the assistance. Fraud in times of tragedy is deplorable, so be diligent in your efforts of humanitarianism.
If you’re looking to support causes such as relief for Ukraine, here are a few tips for how to do it safely:
- Stick to well-known organizations that have a history of work in charitable donations, and have some presence or partners in Ukraine.
- Once you find a reputable organization, donate via the website or approach the charity directly for guidance.
- Look out for requests for wire transfers or gift cards. This is a major red flag and charities almost never request this kind of ‘donation’.
- Avoid clicking links or download attachments in unsolicited emails or social media messages, especially if they are from an unknown source. You should also be wary of messages from trusted sources. Scammers often disguise themselves as friends, coworkers or other contacts you normally might receive messages from.
- Stay skeptical of social media posts that promote a charity unless you verify it is a legit organization. The friend recommending it may not have done their research, and the number of likes a post has doesn’t say much about its legitimacy either.
- Don’t give in to pressure or emotional pleas. Scammers will attempt to use urgency to rush you into donating.
Stay Secure with Kyber Security
Here at Kyber Security, our SecurityFirstTM philosophy ensures that your organization will always have security top of mind. Our dedicated professionals experienced in protecting organizations from ever-increasing cyber threats will work tirelessly to keep your organization protected from ransomware and other cyber threats.
