You may believe that cybercriminals only aim for the big fish – large corporations with deep pockets. But, guess what? They’re not so picky.

Recent findings reveal that cybercriminals are targeting businesses of all sizes, from your neighborhood mom-and-pop shop to multinational conglomerates. Their weapon of choice? The seemingly innocuous “botnets.”

If you’re scratching your head wondering, “what’s a botnet?” you’re not alone. Simply put, botnets are armies of hijacked devices under the control of a malevolent puppet master. These could range from your laptop to your smart fridge. Yes, even your refrigerator can be weaponized!

A recent report identified “huge surges” in botnet activity, with over a million devices engaged in harmful activities at one point. This is a hundredfold increase in typical botnet activity levels.

Usually, we see around 10,000 devices misbehaving daily. The highest number previously recorded was 20,000. However, December 2023 saw those numbers skyrocket to 35,144, then 43,194 two weeks later.

But it didn’t stop there. The biggest surge yet was observed, with an astonishing 143,957 unique devices being used simultaneously. On January 5 and 6, there were spikes of over a million devices!

Why are they doing this? Botnets are employed to scour the internet for vulnerabilities in websites, servers, and email systems.

Think of the internet as a castle with numerous entrances and exits. Cybercriminals are on the hunt for unsecured access points to infiltrate. They target specific “ports” or entryways.

So, how can you shield yourself from these digital threats?

It boils down to fortifying your defenses. Here’s a quick guide:

Keep your software, operating systems, and apps updated. Regular updates often patch security holes.
Install a robust firewall and trustworthy antivirus software.
Train your team on cybersecurity best practices, like steering clear of dubious links and emails.
Enforce strong, unique passwords across all accounts and devices.
Regularly back up your data to mitigate loss from a cyber attack.
Monitor your network for any unusual activity.
Consider engaging a cybersecurity expert (like us) to evaluate and improve your security measures.

If you need assistance in bolstering your business’s cyber defenses, reach out to us.