Going the Extra Mile: Protecting Yourself and Your Business from Cyber Attacks
As a business owner, you’re constantly managing risks to keep your company thriving.
But while you’re focusing on growing your business, cybercriminals are working just as hard to exploit vulnerabilities in your personal and professional life.
Many attacks target you personally—specifically your phone, your identity, and your online information. Here are three critical (and often overlooked) ways to keep yourself and your business safe.
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Enable Port Protection on your Mobile Lines
- Enable SIM Protection
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Use Dark Web Monitoring
Enable Port Protection
What is it?
Port protection ensures that your mobile number can’t be “ported” or transferred to another carrier without your explicit consent. This is crucial because many business accounts and financial platforms use two-factor authentication (2FA) via your phone number. If someone steals your number, they can bypass these security measures.
Why It Matters for Business Owners
If your phone number gets hijacked, attackers could access sensitive information like business emails, bank accounts, and confidential client data. This could lead to financial losses, identity theft, and reputational damage.
How to Protect Yourself
Contact your mobile provider and request to enable “port freeze” or “number lock.” You’ll typically need to set up a PIN or password that must be verified before any transfer request is approved. This simple step can make it significantly harder for attackers to hijack your number.
Enable SIM Protection
What is it?
SIM protection helps ensure that your physical or electronic SIM card (eSIM) can’t be swapped or duplicated without your permission. SIM swap attacks are a common tactic where hackers trick mobile carriers into transferring your phone number to a new SIM card they control.
Why It Matters for Business Owners
A successful SIM swap attack could give cybercriminals access to your phone calls, text messages, and any accounts tied to your number. This could compromise your business’s security, disrupt operations, and expose sensitive data.
How to Protect Yourself
Set up a PIN or password for your SIM card through your carrier. This ensures that any request for a SIM replacement requires verification. Additionally, avoid sharing personal information publicly that could help attackers guess security answers (like your mother’s maiden name or your birthday).
Use Dark Web Monitoring
What is it?
Dark web monitoring scans the dark web—a hidden part of the internet where cybercriminals trade stolen data—to see if your personal or business information has been compromised. This includes email addresses, passwords, and financial data.
Why It Matters for Business Owners
If your login credentials or sensitive information are for sale on the dark web, you’re at risk of data breaches, fraud, and cyberattacks. Early detection can give you the chance to change passwords and secure accounts before significant damage occurs.
How to Protect Yourself
Invest in a reputable dark web monitoring service or subscribe to a cybersecurity platform that offers it. These tools can alert you if your data is detected on the dark web, giving you a critical head start to mitigate potential threats.
Fizen™
Cyber threats are constantly evolving, and protecting your personal security directly impacts the safety of your business. By enabling port and SIM protection and monitoring the dark web for your data, you’re taking proactive steps to safeguard your business’s future.
In cybersecurity, going the extra mile isn’t optional—it’s essential. Stay vigilant, stay secure, and remember: Your security is your business’s security.
Have questions? We are here to help, contact us with your questions.