AUGUST 2021 • LONGISLANDPRESS.COM 23
TECH INSIGHTS
CYBER SECURITY
Are your company’s data and
network secure? Or, are you
worried you may have been
hacked, putting sensitive
data at risk? You may be
wondering about the latter if
you’re looking up information
on the dark web and how it
may impact your business.
From bespoke malware to
hacking services targeted at
FTSE 100 and Fortune 500
companies, the dark web has
gone deeper underground
to thwart law enforcement
as much as to share new and
advanced ideas with fellow
hackers on how best to hack
businesses.
Kyriakos Kaimis, a technology
expert on Long Island,
with more than 25 years of
experience working with
business professionals
on corporate technology
solutions takes a closer look at
the “dark web” and the impact
and threat to companies today.
Having a comprehensive
security plan that evolves
with the changes and
advancements in security is
key to protecting your data,
your identity, your company,
company’s brand, your
clients, and your customers,
among other things.
What is the dark web? The
internet is made up of three
parts. The surface web, also
known as the clear web,
which makes up the websites
and webpages of the internet
that are indexed by search
engines such as Google. The
deep web, which consists
of pages that you can access
by using login information
such as bank account or
medical records. And the
dark web, also referred to
as the darknet, which is
the part of the internet not
indexed by search engines
and which cannot be accessed
unless done anonymously by
using special anonymizing
software. People who live
in countries where access
to the internet is restricted
can communicate more
openly on the dark web, but
it has also been infiltrated by
criminals who deal in things
like malware, stolen data, and
stolen identities.
What do we know about
the dark web’s impact on
businesses? According to
Security Magazine, there is a
hacker attack approximately
every 39 seconds. Stale user
accounts, like those that are
unused or with outdated
permissions, are easy targets
for hackers to exploit, and
according to Varonis, 65
percent of all companies have
more than 1,000 stale user
accounts. More than 600,000
users of Email.it have their
data placed and sold on the
dark web.
What are the consequences
of stolen data on the dark
web? Cybercrime on the dark
web is incredibly profitable –
according to Cybersecurity
Ventures, it’s more profitable
than even the global illicit
drug trade. According to
RSA, a consumer account
could go for as little as $1.00
on the dark web. The “global
average cost of a data breach
… is $3.92 million, a 1.5 percent
increase from its 2018 study.”
The average total cost of a data
breach for a U.S. business is
$3.86 million.
Is the dark web creating the
need for more cybersecurity
experts? Because the
demand is high, the need
for cybersecurity experts
is high – in 2019 alone,
there were more than
715,000 cybersecurity
experts as reported by
Cyberseek. Meanwhile,
cybersecurityventures.com
estimates that there will
be more than 3.5 million
cybersecurity jobs come 2022.
What can businesses
do about the dark web’s
threats? Things like changing
passwords regularly, training
employees, choosing the right
ISP, monitoring spyware,
encrypting client and
customer data, among other
things, are necessary. But
it all must be included in a
customized plan that is always
reviewed and updated, and
addresses the new concerns
of the day.
If you don’t have your own
team to address these issues
specifically, then you may
want to consider outsourcing
it to a professional group
such as Custom Computer
Specialist. With 2021 upon us
and the economy hit hard by
the coronavirus pandemic, the
time is now to ensure the safety
and integrity of your data.
Photo courtesy of Getty Images
Photo courtesy of Getty Images
Kyriakos Kaimis is vice
president and general
manager of Custom Computer
Specialists.
Custom Computer Specialists
is proud to sponsor Tech
Insights. LI. Since 1979,
Custom has been dedicated
to providing Long Island’s
schools, local government
agencies, healthcare facilities
and businesses with advanced
technology solutions and
support. To learn more, visit
customonline.com or email:
info@customtech.com
WHAT IS THE DARK WEB?
Success Begins Here.
Get Started Today!
Success Begins Here.
Get Started Today!
(800) 598-8989
info@customonline.com
network secure? Or, are you
worried you may have been
hacked, putting sensitive
data at risk? You may be
wondering about the latter if
you’re looking up information
on the dark web and how it
may impact your business.
From bespoke malware to
hacking services targeted at
FTSE 100 and Fortune 500
companies, the dark web has
gone deeper underground
to thwart law enforcement
as much as to share new and
advanced ideas with fellow
hackers on how best to hack
businesses.
Kyriakos Kaimis, a technology
expert on Long Island,
with more than 25 years of
experience working with
business professionals
on corporate technology
solutions takes a closer look at
the “dark web” and the impact
and threat to companies today.
Having a comprehensive
security plan that evolves
with the changes and
advancements in security is
key to protecting your data,
your identity, your company,
your company’s brand, your
clients, and your customers,
among other things.
What is the dark web? The
internet is made up of three
parts. The surface web, also
known as the clear web,
which makes up websites
and webpages of the internet
that are indexed by search
engines such as Google. The
deep web, which consists
of pages that you can access
by using login information
such as bank account or
medical records. And the
dark web, also referred to
as the darknet, which is
indexed by search engines
and which cannot be accessed
unless done anonymously by
using special anonymizing
software. People who live
in countries where access
to the internet is restricted
can communicate more
openly on the dark web, but
it has also been infiltrated by
criminals who deal in things
like malware, stolen data, and
stolen identities.
What do we know about
the dark web’s impact on
businesses? According to
Security Magazine, there is a
hacker attack approximately
every 39 seconds. Stale user
accounts, like those that are
unused or with outdated
permissions, are easy targets
for hackers to exploit, and
according to Varonis, 65
percent of all companies have
more than 1,000 stale user
accounts. More than 600,000
users of Email.it have their
data placed and sold on the
dark web.
What are the consequences
of stolen data on the dark
web? Cybercrime on the dark
web is incredibly profitable –
according to Cybersecurity
Ventures, it’s more profitable
than even the global illicit
drug trade. According to
RSA, a consumer account
could go for as little as $1.00
on the dark web. The “global
average cost of a data breach
… is $3.92 million, a 1.5 percent
increase from its 2018 study.”
The average total cost of a data
breach for a U.S. business is
$3.86 million.
Is the dark web creating the
need for more cybersecurity
experts? Because the
demand is high, the need
for cybersecurity experts
is high – in 2019 alone,
there were more than
715,000 cybersecurity
experts as reported by
Cyberseek. Meanwhile,
cybersecurityventures.com
estimates that there will
be more than 3.5 million
cybersecurity jobs come 2022.
What can businesses
do about the dark web’s
threats? Things like changing
passwords regularly, training
employees, choosing the right
ISP, monitoring spyware,
encrypting client and
customer data, among other
things, are necessary. But
it all must be included in a
customized plan that is always
reviewed and updated, and
addresses the new concerns
of the day.
If you don’t have your own
team to address these issues
specifically, then you may
want to consider outsourcing
it to a professional group
such as Custom Computer
Specialist. With 2021 upon us
and the economy hit hard by
the coronavirus pandemic, the
time is now to ensure the safety
and integrity of your data.
Kyriakos Kaimis is vice
president and general
manager of Custom Computer
Specialists.
Custom Computer Specialists
is proud to sponsor Tech
Insights. LI. Since 1979,
Custom has been dedicated
to providing Long Island’s
schools, local government
agencies, healthcare facilities
and businesses with advanced
technology solutions and
support. To learn more, visit
customonline.com or email:
info@customtech.com
(800) 598-8989
info@customonline.com
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