
Every IT security personnel dread being a victim of a data breach. History has shown it over and over again. The cost of a data breach, especially in large corporations, has proven unimaginably fatal, sometimes costing millions of money.
Not to mention the loss of credibility, such events could cost the business exposure of trade secrets and possibly even liquidation of the company’s total assets. Businesses need a way to monitor their information for warning signs of a data breach in progress. That way, they can prevent running into unimaginable loss owing to a hack.
While running the day’s activities, it’s often easy to get too much into the day’s task to notice a breach. But there’s no need to worry. We’ll highlight some easy-to-detect warning signs of a data breach to note in this guide. Whether it’s an online slots platform, a financial services company, or a personal social media page, these tips can help you notice data breaches.
Slow Devices or the Internet
An occasional bug or slow internet connection might be acceptable. But a prolonged internet challenge might be a silent indication that there’s a hack. On noticing this, contact the IT section as soon as possible to ensure there’s no malware in sight.
Additionally, with the appropriate security plans, end-users should have the chance to readily report such unsavory developments. Begin an investigation as soon as you receive such reports of slow devices or internet over your business.
Inaccessible User Addresses or Accounts
Again, sometimes, user accounts might be temporarily inaccessible for various reasons. But when multiple workers and end-users are reporting the same challenge, it’s a sure sign you’ve been hacked. In such situations, consider requesting the IT security section to format all accounts and review the passwords.
Moreover, you may also have to work towards tracing the events that led to the breach. A common cause of such breaches could be weak passwords. To avoid this, ensure you replace the old passwords with complex alternatives to keep your employees’ and end-users’ accounts safe.
Unusual System Activity
During a malware invasion, computers could identify that there’s a breach. However, that would occur when there’s adequate cybersecurity protection to detect malware. Sadly, many organizations either use outdated cybersecurity solutions or don’t have them at all. The result is a company prone to hackers’ whims.
Let’s see some warning signs of a data breach in a weak system. There could be several sudden crashes in computer information or activity. Then you might have an unusually slow browse or ingenuine anti-virus warnings.
Sometimes, these developments could ensure the system appears ‘running’ even after shutting all computers down. Discovering any of the above signs might indicate someone is tampering with the system. You want to immediately report this to a security team or file for compensation.
Unusual Admin User Activity
Breached user accounts are often fatal because they might not only indicate that a user account has been hacked but can also be a threat to the entire system. If there’s a history of viewing sensitive data or indications of a high volume of database activities or unexpected permission reviews, the admin user accounts may be already breached.
It’s always important to train employees about tech basics to ensure everyone monitors the organization’s information security. Doing so can also help your team quickly discover cybersecurity challenges and take action to stem a significant data breach.
Obvious Signs of Tampered Device
If an end-user reports their device continues running after switching it off, report the case immediately to the security department. That could indicate someone else has illegal physical access to their device.
It always helps to train your users on security issues to avoid having an information breach.
Other indicators that there might be device tampering include a sudden rise in incoming messages or untraceable browser toolbars. Once you notice such tampering, the concerned end-user should avoid touching their device until the security issues are solved.
Conclusion
We’ve seen five warning signs of a data breach in progress to ensure you save your company or business its reputation and liquidity. Also, ensure to train your team and end users appropriately for quick monitoring and detection of unusual activities that may indicate a data breach.