Businesses make moves in cybersecurity war

ALBANY, GA (WALB) –More South Georgia businesses are concerned about recent computer breaches, and are looking for ways to protect themselves from criminals.

Several businesses had their and their customers’ financial information recently stolen through computer hacks.

Now more business owners are taking steps to make sure it doesn’t happen to them.

Tommy Padgett of Dasher & Padgett Financial Advisors says criminal computer hacking in businesses has become “overwhelming”, and they are being proactive.

“It can happen anywhere and to anybody,” he warned. “What we’re trying to do is find out some additional ways to protect ourselves and to protect our clients.”

Padgett was one of dozens of business owners who attended a seminar by HighTide Technology, a cyber security company.

They said Albany small businesses are at risk.

High Tide Technology president Norman Chandler said

“Identities stolen through the fraudulent filing of tax returns.  We’ve had people here locally that have had credit card information stolen.  We’ve had health records stolen. All this has happened here locally.”

Chandler says businesses need to become aware of cyber crimes, and learn how to protect their and their customers’ data.

“Doing a penetration type test, assessing your network, things of that nature. Those are all things that you should do at least once a year,” said Chandler. “Of course in a perfect world you would want to do it continuously.”

Padgett said he hopes all businesses will start to get serious about cyber crime and security.

“We depend on the people we give our information to to protect it,” said Padgett. “And we want those businesses to protect the information we give them.”

Chandler warned business owners that most insurance will not cover cyber crimes and their damage. He said owners need to increase their security, because cyber hackers are targeting companies here.

These kind of cyber security companies are some of the fastest growing in the industry because officials said hackers are targeting businesses of all sizes.

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