Target. Home Depot. JP Morgan Chase. The question of whether area residents will become victims of cyber attacks isn’t “if, but when.”

Speaking at a meeting of the Chadds Ford Business Association, Sarah Gregg offered some tips to small business owners trying to prevent data breaches. Gregg, an underwriter for Pennock Insurance Inc. in Chadds Ford, said her industry has responded to the prevalence of hackers by creating policies - and security tips - that offer protection to entrepreneurs.

The number of people taking advantage of those policies has definitely increased, she said, and recent research showed that 62 percent of those companies improved their security policies in response to purchasing cyber insurance. But Gregg pointed out that most of the precautions those business owners are now taking represent common-sense options that anyone can implement.

For those who think their companies may be too small to be targeted, Gregg suggested otherwise. In the time it takes to infiltrate a large company, Gregg explained that hackers could break into the systems of 12 small ones – any one of which could provide a gateway into a larger operation.

She reminded the audience at Gables restaurant that the Target breach occurred through a third-party HVAC vendor. “They basically came in through the air-conditioner,” she said.

Gregg recommended a number of tips to avoid cyber attacks. She suggested purging excess data; studies have shown that 65 percent of the information companies keep qualifies as unnecessary. Controlling access to sensitive data also helps reduce the likelihood of a breach, she said.

Other suggestions included regular use of anti-virus software and regular password changes, making sure to keep them complex and unique. In addition, she advocated encryption of all portable devices and awareness of the various phishing scams that are prevalent.

“Double-check everything on the screen before you hit send,” she said, pointing out that many scammers are aggressively seeking your personal information. She cited a recent Forbes magazine article that labeled information as “the new oil.”

 

 

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