In today's digital age, businesses rely heavily on social media platforms like Facebook to connect with customers, promote their products or services, and build brand awareness. However, the recent incident where hackers seized control of a business's Facebook account serves as a wake-up call for organizations. This article examines the story of Benjamin Black Goldsmiths, a jewelry business on Facebook, that fell victim to hackers and explores the lessons learned from this unfortunate event. What Happened? Benjamin Black Goldsmiths’ director, Amy Cunningham, found that they were locked out of Benjamin Black Goldsmiths’ Facebook page account after hackers managed to gain unauthorized access. Cunningham discovered that hackers had reactivated some of their old advertisements and are trying to run a $24,000 advertising campaign through her account. Although they canceled the credit cards, the ads are still running, which left them in debt to Facebook. Cunningham tried reporting the page, attempted to recover the account, and even went to the government cybersecurity body CERT. Despite reaching out to Facebook for help, the business was met with frustration and a lack of effective support - Meta has not responded to their requests for help. This hacking occurred even though they implemented multi-factor authentication and all the necessary security measures Facebook has asked them to do. Sadly, this has not been a lone occurrence. Other businesses have spoken out about similar hacking incidents that happened to their accounts. It was even reported that Meta has been slow to act, and even found it tough to contact someone in Meta for help to get their accounts back. Lessons Learned From This Incident: 1. Strengthen Authentication Measures The incident emphasizes the importance of robust authentication practices. Not only should businesses need to enable 2-factor authentication, but also you need to implement strong, unique passwords, and regularly update login credentials. These measures will help add an extra layer of security and reduce the risk of unauthorized access. 2. Establish Recovery Account Procedures “It is better to be proactive, than to be reactive.” In the event of an account takeover, it is crucial that you have established account recovery procedures in place. Businesses should proactively set up account recovery options, such as secondary email addresses or phone numbers, and ensure they are regularly updated and easily accessible. This enables swift recovery and minimizes potential downtime.
3. Monitor Account Activity Regularly monitoring account activity can help detect suspicious behavior early on. Businesses should stay vigilant by regularly reviewing login history, monitoring posts and messages, and promptly addressing any unauthorized or suspicious activity. Implementing account activity alerts can provide real-time notifications of potential security breaches. 4. Implement Endpoint Security Physically regularly monitoring account activity is not plausible all the time. This is made more difficult with the increasing sophistication and complexity of cyber threats. Hence, traditional security measures like firewalls and antivirus software are no longer sufficient to protect against these advanced threats. . To protect against advanced cyber threats, implementation of endpoint security solutions, such as Endpoint Protection Platform (EPP) and Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR), are essential as they are designed to provide a more comprehensive and proactive approach to security by detecting and preventing breaches at the device level. It is highly recommended to use both EPP and EDR, as they are complementary solutions. 5. Educate Yourself And Employees on Security Practices You and your employees must be educated about cybersecurity best practices, particularly when it comes to social media account management. Training programs should cover topics such as identifying phishing attempts, recognizing suspicious links or attachments, and reporting unusual account behavior. By fostering a culture of cybersecurity awareness, businesses can empower their employees to be the first line of defense against cyber threats. 6. Establish Communication Channels with Social Media Platforms Maintaining open lines of communication with social media platforms is crucial for timely support and resolution in the event of an incident.This is important even if sites such as Meta, is slow to take action or has a lack of support. Businesses should still familiarize themselves with the platform's support options, including dedicated security contacts or reporting mechanisms. Being proactive in establishing these connections can expedite the response process and minimize the impact of an attack. Also it allows you to understand the capability of each platform, and take the appropriate security measures. Takeaway The unfortunate experiences of businesses that fell victim to hackers seizing their Facebook account serves as a valuable lesson for organizations of all sizes. By implementing strong authentication measures, establishing account recovery procedures, monitoring account activity, implementing endpoint security solutions, educating employees, and maintaining communication channels with social media platforms, businesses can enhance their cybersecurity posture and better protect their online presence. In an ever-evolving digital landscape, businesses must remain vigilant and proactive in defending against cyber threats. By prioritizing cybersecurity practices, businesses can safeguard their digital assets, preserve their reputation, and continue to leverage the benefits of social media platforms for growth and success. Securing Your Business With TAFA With today’s cyber environment, cybersecurity solutions that prevent zero-day and advanced cyber threats are essential to your cybersecurity strategy. There are many cybersecurity solutions that exist in this space, therefore selecting the right cybersecurity protection solution is necessary to prevent and block cyber attacks and threats. With our prevention first and zero-trust approach to security using Machine Learning (ML) and Artificial Intelligence (AI), TAFA Shield will strengthen your company's ability to prevent and block cyber attacks and threats. With our comprehensive customized vulnerability assessment and penetration testing (VAPT) service, not only do we ensure the safety and security of your organization’s operation and data, but also we ensure that you will meet the required industrial and regulatory compliances. To learn more information about TAFA Shield and our VAPT service, and how we can help your company, do not hesitate to contact us for more information. Related Topics 7 Types of Cybersecurity Measures SMEs Need to Protect Their Business Ransomware - A Growing Problem & Best Practices For You And Your Company Insider Threats: What Is It & Best Practices Why do businesses need to be cyber secure? Is it as important as emphasised everywhere? Comments are closed.
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