Since the public could access the internet in the 1980s, the idea of allowing access based on proper identification, or authentication, has been a stipulation for people seeking online services.
Using passwords as the method to prove one’s identity worked well. Not anymore. A recent study by IBM revealed that since 2011, $112 billion has been stolen through identity theft. $35,600 is stolen every minute!
As more and more people shop, share and conduct financial transactions online (paying bills, online banking) the criminals are moving right along with them. 2017 saw the number of identity fraud cases grow to more than 16 million consumers!
Large-scale data breaches, lack of password hygiene, and a new generation who prefer the convenience of biometrics (and even they aren’t always foolproof) to remembering a complicated, long password, have demonstrated single factor authentication isn’t the best way to keep ourselves safe on the internet.
So how can you protect yourself, your family, and your business from online criminals? The following articles from SC Media, CSO and Dark Reading will help you understand the current threats and highlight a few cybersecurity best practices you can deploy to address them.
We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again.
Stay safe out there.
