Most cybersecurity experts agree that taking the following precautions can prevent most attacks:

Never click on links in email unless you are absolutely certain they are valid.
Do not click on links in spam emails. Not all spam emails look like spam. Hackers can "spoof" email addresses fairly easily. If an email message or format does not seem quite right, or your inner "alarm" is going off, instead of clicking, hover your mouse over the link and if the address that displays is one you are not familiar with, do not click on it. If you are not sure whether the link is valid, contact the sender by sending a separate email (do not forward the potential spam) and asking whether they were the source of the email. Users who click on malicious links present the number-one way computers get infected, with not just ransomware, but all forms of viruses.
Do not open untrusted email attachments. Do not click on attachments to an email unless you are certain that the email came from a source you know and trust. If you are not sure that the attachment is safe, contact the sender by sending a separate email (do not forward the potential spam) and asking whether they were the source of the email.
Only download files from websites you trust.
Do not give out personal information if you receive an email from an unknown or untrusted source. Similarly, do not give out this information in response to a text or phone call.
Keep your software up to date.

As the AOPC incident made clear, high-profile sites are targets for hackers. So too are businesses of all sizes. Companies have all types of information that hackers want, including Social Security numbers, financial data, personally identifiable information (PII), and more. It is therefore essential that firms plan for a possible breach.

Daniel J. Siegel, principal of the Law Offices of Daniel J. Siegel and chair of the Pennsylvania Bar Association committee on legal ethics and professional responsibility, provides ethical guidance and Disciplinary Board representation for attorneys and law firms. He is the editor of "Fee Agreements in Pennsylvania" (6th Edition) and author of "Leaving a Law Practice: Practical and Ethical Issues for Lawyers and Law Firms" (First and Second Editions), published by the Pennsylvania Bar Institute. He can be reached at dan@danieljsiegel.com.

From: BenefitsPRO

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Cyberattacks Can Happen Anytime, Anywhere

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