Cybersecurity dangers are everywhere. Top Atlanta businesses are seeing this threat every day. How much are you willing to give up for convenience? Technology innovations have made our lives so much easier. You cannot get away from technology, from work PCs to smartphones, smart homes, transportation, retail, hospitality, and much more. The question is, how much are you willing to give up for convenience?
QR code convenience vs cybersecurity dangers
QR codes have become commonplace. In fact, you often see them on marketing pamphlets, store windows, bus stops, informational flyers, real estate signs, business cards, and even games like PokemonPokedex, to name a few.
Specifically, hospitality has found great success with contactless menus because they help protect the staff and patrons from surface contact viruses. In 2020,52% of restaurants switched to QR codes versus printed menus. Among the many benefits, QR codes can also provide immediate membership awards status. However, the most significant advantage to the hospitality industry is the 40% reduction in labor costs and order errors.
How QR code swiping could harm your Atlanta based business
Most swipers don’t know that QR codes typically contain cookies that track the patron’s purchase history, contact information, and location. In worst-case scenarios, it contains malicious viruses. Unfortunately, Atlanta businesses can be the ones to suffer if one or more of their end-users love to swipe on devices that access corporate data.
In 2018, Norton LifeLock Cyber Safety Insights Reportedthat 75% of Americans know their smart devices can be hacked, and 80% know that it can give cybercriminals access all the data on their devices. Yet, they keep swiping.
How to protect company data from employees choosing convenience over cybersecurity
There are 5 cellphones IT security tricks INSI recommends to protect your end-users cellphones and avoid cybersecurity dangers. They include:
- 2 Factor Authentication – This adds on another security layer than just your passcode.
- Published Password Notification – Find out if your email address or password has been breached by going to https://haveibeenpwned.com/.
- Encrypted Backups – Make sure your backups are encrypted to hide sensitive information like password, health info, WI-FI setting, and call/search history.
- Autofill – Autofill makes it easier to log into a new device or an account with a code. It is available in all IOS 12 and up, and you can find it in settings on your Android phone.
- Add Antivirus – You are highly vulnerable to smishing, phishing, and social media hacks daily. A good cellphone antivirus can often stop these attacks in their tracks.
INSI – top Atlanta cybersecurity advisors
INSI also has mobile cybersecurity protection services if you are unsure about your end-user activities. These include:
Fortify-IT – Fortify-IT is our Mobile Threat Defense (MTD) program that provides mobile protection for your general employee population and BYOD users. Most importantly, this program will provide reporting, assistance with end-user remediation, policy creation, assisted deployment, threat escalations, and mobile advisory and recommendations.
MobileAssess-IT – INSI’s Mobile Risk Assessment, MobileAssess-IT, provides experienced assessment experts who will evaluate security risk to mobile phones/tablets, establish policies, assess the impact on policies, and recommend actions to better secure and align mobile devices to your business practices.
For more information about cybersecurity dangers and the preventative measures for your company, connect with the top MSP in Atlanta, Contact INSI: 770-387-2424, option 2. In addition, we offer 16 different cybersecurity programs to protect you and your data.
About the Author
Deborah Frazier is the author of IT Outsourcing Secrets – A Small Business Guide to Compare IT Support Companies. With 20-years’ experience consulting small and medium-sized businesses on their IT support needs, she brings a wealth of knowledge to INSI as Head of Marketing and Sales. If you like this article and would like to get notified when a new article is posted, click here.
