Recent Cyber Security Breaches: City of San Marcos, Pitney Bowes Inc. and More

Monica Morris • November 7, 2019

In this day in age, keeping your technology safe should be #1 on your list. Cyber security breaches are happening monthly, daily or even by the hour. As an outsourced IT solution provider with an emphasis in IT Services for San Diego we want to make sure to “stay in know” about the latest cyber security attacks. Every few weeks we like to share our findings with you here on our blog. Please take a peek below to learn more about some of the most recent hacks affecting small to large businesses. Please be sure to read about the latest cyber attack to hit us locally, our very own City of San Marcos.

City of San Marcos

Unauthorized database access

The Hack: Cyber Attack

Analysis from Kevin Lancaster:  “Hackers accessed the city’s computer systems and restricted access to significant portions of their IT infrastructure. The attack, which began on October 24th, brought down email accounts and other communication services. As a result, messages sent to city employees were not delivered, though government facilities remain open. Recovering from the attack is proving especially difficult, as the services are still restricted for more than a week after the initial event. To prevent further attacks, employees are being asked to change their passwords and enable two-factor authentication on their accounts.”

 

Web.com

Domain name registration and web services provider

The Hack: Unauthorized database access

Analysis from Kevin Lancaster:  “An unauthorized third party accessed Web.com’s network, which compromised their customers’ personally identifiable information. The intrusion took place in August 2019, but IT personnel were not able to identify the breach until October 16th. Data breach notifications went out this week, but the significant detection delay will certainly compound the damage for both the company and its customers.”

 

Pitney Bowes Inc.

Mail Management Company

The Hack:  Malware Attack

Analysis from Kevin Lancaster:  “A malware attack prevented Pitney Bowes’ employees and customers from accessing critical services. The company, which specializes in mail management, lost business directly as a result of the attack. Customers were unable to refill postage or upload transactions on their mailing machines. In addition, news of the announcement sent the company’s shares down 4%, which underscores the many ways that a cybersecurity incident can negatively impact a company’s bottom line.”

 

Ontario Science Center (Canada)

Science museum in Ontario Canada

The Hack:  Unauthorized database access

Analysis from Kevin Lancaster:  “The Ontario Science Center endured a data breach after an employee of a third-party contractor downloaded personal data from the museum’s newsletter subscribers. The breach impacts subscribers, along with participants in camp programs and birthday parties. Although the breach is relatively restricted, it will still drain resources from an educational institution with better priorities in mind.”

 

Billtrust

B2B billing service provider

The Hack: Ransomware attack

Analysis from Kevin Lancaster:  “A ransomware attack crippled Billtrust’s customer-facing systems, forcing them to bring all infrastructure offline to stop the malware’s spread. The company discovered the attack on October 17th, and it’s taken nearly a week just to begin recovery efforts. Fortunately, Billtrust maintained backups that were unaffected by the attack, which made it possible to avoid paying the ransom demand. Nevertheless, the lost revenue, reputational damage, and recovery expenses will definitely chip away at the company’s bottom line.”

 

The Canada Post (Canada)

Primary postal operator in Canada

The Hack: Credential stuffing attack

Analysis from Kevin Lancaster:  “

“The Canada Post recently acknowledged that it discovered a data breach from 2017. The credential stuffing attack relied on redundant username and password credentials obtained from previous hacks to access user accounts. The postal provider was unable to identify the scope of the attack, so Canada Post is resetting all user account passwords.”

To learn more about how to keep your company safe and secure, click  here  to explore our San Diego IT Services & IT Security plans that are offered by SDTEK.

 

 

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In today’s interconnected digital landscape, cybersecurity is more than just a necessity—it's essential to business survival. Cyberattacks are becoming more frequent and evolving in sophistication, leaving companies vulnerable to data breaches, financial losses, and reputational damage. A robust cybersecurity strategy is critical to safeguarding your business from these growing threats. One of the most effective ways to enhance your cybersecurity defenses is by leveraging the expertise of professional IT support services. The Importance of a Strong Cybersecurity Strategy Every business, regardless of size or industry, is a potential target for cybercriminals. The consequences of a successful cyberattack can be devastating, ranging from financial losses and operational downtime to legal liabilities and damage to your brand's reputation. This is why developing and maintaining a robust cybersecurity strategy is more important than ever. A strong cybersecurity strategy helps your business: Protect sensitive data: Safeguarding customer information, intellectual property, and financial records. Ensure compliance: Meet regulatory requirements, such as CMMC, HIPAA, and SOC2, to avoid fines and legal repercussions. Maintain business continuity: Minimizing disruptions caused by cyberattacks and ensuring quick recovery when incidents occur. Build customer trust: Demonstrating to customers and partners that their data is secure, which can lead to stronger relationships and business growth. While some businesses attempt to handle cybersecurity internally, IT support services offer a more comprehensive, proactive, and scalable approach to protecting your business. Cybersecurity Services Provided by IT Support Teams IT support services can significantly enhance your cybersecurity strategy by offering a wide range of specialized services. Here’s how they contribute to protecting your business: 1. Risk Assessments and Vulnerability Audits One of the first steps in strengthening your cybersecurity strategy is understanding where your business is most vulnerable. IT support teams conduct risk assessments and vulnerability audits to identify potential weaknesses in your network, applications, and infrastructure. These assessments provide a clear picture of your business's risks, enabling you to take targeted action to mitigate those risks. 2. Implementation of Security Protocols Once vulnerabilities are identified, IT support services implement security protocols tailored to your business’s needs. This may include: Firewalls and Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS): Establishing barriers that prevent unauthorized access to your network. Data Encryption: Ensuring that sensitive data is encrypted in transit and at rest, protecting it from cybercriminals. Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Adding extra authentication layers ensures that only authorized personnel can access critical systems and data. Endpoint Protection: Securing all devices (laptops, desktops, mobile phones) connected to your network from malware and other threats. Applying these and other security measures can help IT support services fortify your defenses against internal and external threats. 3. Ongoing Monitoring and Threat Detection Cyberattacks can happen at any time and often occur when businesses are least prepared. IT support services provide 24/7 monitoring to detect suspicious activity in real-time. Through advanced monitoring tools and threat intelligence, IT teams can quickly identify and respond to potential threats before they escalate into full-scale attacks. This proactive approach to monitoring reduces downtime, prevents data breaches, and minimizes the impact of cyber incidents. IT support teams can continuously update and patch systems to address emerging vulnerabilities, ensuring your cybersecurity defenses remain current. 4. Incident Response and Remediation Even with robust security measures, no system is entirely immune to cyberattacks. When an incident occurs, the speed and efficiency of the response are critical in minimizing damage. IT support teams are equipped with incident response protocols to quickly isolate affected systems, investigate the root cause, and restore normal operations. With a well-coordinated incident response plan, businesses can significantly reduce downtime, prevent further data loss, and recover quickly from attacks. 5. Security Awareness Training for Employees Employees are often the weakest link in cybersecurity, with many attacks originating from phishing schemes, weak passwords, or social engineering. 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By partnering with an IT support service, businesses can enhance their cybersecurity defenses through risk assessments, security protocol implementation, continuous monitoring, and employee training. These services protect data and help ensure business continuity and compliance with industry regulations. If your business wants to strengthen its cybersecurity posture, now is the time to consider working with an IT support provider. Doing so lets you stay ahead of evolving cyber threats and focus on growing your business with peace of mind. Ready To Strengthen Your Cybersecurity With SDTEK? Don't leave your business vulnerable to cyber threats. At SDTEK, we offer comprehensive IT support and managed cybersecurity services designed to protect your business and ensure seamless operations. Whether you need risk assessments, ongoing monitoring, or incident response, our team of experts is here to help. 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