Many small businesses mistakenly believe they are too insignificant to be targeted by hackers—a misconception known as the "small target illusion." However, statistics show that half or more of cyberattacks target small and mid-sized businesses due to their often weaker defenses.

Rather than being individually targeted, small businesses fall victim to cybercrime as part of a broader numbers game. Hackers use automated tools to cast wide nets, leveraging phishing emails, compromised websites, malware-infected software, and botnets to gain access to business systems. These attacks are often indiscriminate and exploit security vulnerabilities rather than focusing on specific companies.

How Small Businesses Are Exploited

• Malware Distribution: Via phishing, malicious websites, or compromised downloads.
• Automated Hacking Tools: Used by cybercriminals to attack many businesses at once.
• Botnets & Malware-as-a-Service: Attackers rent these tools to propagate attacks on a massive scale.

How to Protect Your Business

1. Keep systems updated to patch vulnerabilities.
2. Use email malware filtering to block harmful attachments and links.
3. Limit admin privileges to prevent unauthorized software installations.
4. Deploy firewalls and endpoint security for network protection.
5. Restrict downloads and installations to prevent exposure to threats.
6. Stay vigilant against suspicious emails and links.
7. Back up data regularly to mitigate ransomware risks.
8. Use multi-factor authentication or passkeys to strengthen access security.

Cyber insurance alone is not enough—it doesn’t prevent attacks, only mitigates financial losses. Small businesses must take proactive security measures to reduce their risk of falling victim to cyber threats.

Source: https://www.zdnet.com/article/why-no-small-business-is-too-small-for-hackers-and-8-security-best-practices-for-smbs/