As VPN experts will tell you, cybercrime is something that unfortunately wonât be disappearing any time soon. After all, instances of cyber-attacks have constantly grown year after year â with some of the largest having occurred in recent years such as the 2019 Capital One data breach.Â
Taking this into account, itâs important that youâre prepared just in case you happen to become a victim of a cyber attack yourself. If you do fall foul of one, you might just be left wondering what to do in order to minimise the damage caused.
Thankfully, the following article will provide our top tips for what to do after a cyber attack. So, continue reading and youâll discover everything that you need to know.
1. Ensure the Breach is Isolated
In the event you become a victim of a cyber attack, itâs important to act quickly. Otherwise, this could potentially turn a small problem into one which is way beyond your control. The longer you leave it, the number of affected systems will only continue to grow. So, be sure to take immediate action the moment you realise something is wrong.
If you isolate the section of your network that has been compromised, you can identify which systems have been affected so that your IT team can effectively begin to investigate the breach and hopefully discover how it was able to occur. In turn, this could potentially mean preventing a similar attack from occurring in future.
2. Cut Off Your Internet Connection
As soon as you realise that your systems have been breached by a cybercriminal, itâs important to switch off your internet system so that viruses cannot spread further and potentially cause more damage to other PCs that are on the same network.
By turning off your internet connection, you can help to prevent further damage caused by attacks. At the same time, this will give you adequate time to clean the affected computers and rid them of any viruses or malware. Only when you have identified the cause of the issue should you consider switching the internet back on.Â
3. Utilise New Technologies
After a cyber attack has affected your systems, itâs important to take precautions in order to prevent a similar breach from occurring again in future. You can create a stronger line of defence by updating or getting rid of your inferior technologies and replacing them with new ones which includes artificial intelligence (AI) systems and security software.
It is the most recommended practice to protect your Internet connection installing a reliable VPN on all your devices. Alternatively, you may install the VPN on your router and keep all your devices protected at the same time.
Not all VPNs guarantees a high level of protection. Do not rely on free VPN to prevent cyber-attacks because they won’t protect you. You need a top VPN like, for instance, CyberGhost, ExpressVPN, IPVanish or NordVPN.
However, security software will only go so far when it comes to the prevention of cyber attacks. So, you should always ensure that all staff is made fully aware of any warning signs they need to look out for. In order to achieve this, youâll need to ensure that your staff receive adequate training which helps to prevent potential data breaches in the first place.
4. Closely Monitor the Affected Systems
Remaining vigilant after a cyber attack is something thatâs incredibly important. Otherwise, the negative impact caused will only become worse. In order to prevent this, youâll need to keep a watchful eye on the affected system(s) just in case you missed anything such as a back door which may have been installed by the hacker.Â
5. Change your Passwords
Changing your passwords is of fundamental importance after a data breach has occurred. After all, itâs likely that cybercriminals will have accessed such private information along with names, addresses, and other personal data. If they do, this will then give them full access to your systems unless you take the necessary precautions.Â
Be sure to update your passwords to something that is secure yet memorable. Never under any circumstances should you consider using the same one for multiple accounts as this makes you more vulnerable to cybercrime. Now that thereâs an abundance of password managers to choose from, keeping your accounts secure with unique passwords is easier than ever.
6. Notify Those Affected
In the current day and age, businesses around the world handle a great amount of personal information. For that reason, itâs incredibly important to inform your customers that there may have been a potential breach of their private data.Â
By informing them as soon as possible, they can take the necessary steps to limit the damage caused by changing their passwords at the earliest opportunity and perhaps be made aware that they need to remain vigilant when opening emails which could potentially contain malicious links.
Final Thoughts
By this point, youâll be aware of exactly what needs to be done in the event you have fallen victim to a cyber attack.
There are several things to consider, but if you follow the tips outlined in this article, youâll be in a far better position to effectively handle any data breaches which you may have come across, and will hopefully be better prepared in the event that you encounter another cyber attack in future.
