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Tag: information security

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Artificial Intelligence

ChatGPT: Your Information is on the Dark Web

In an increasingly digital landscape, where new technologies, such as ChatGPT, are being inserted into our daily lives, data security has become an unquestionable priority.

Companies and individuals are constantly in the crosshairs of cybercriminals, willing to exploit any breach to gain unauthorized access to confidential information.

An alarming example of this reality is the recent leak of more than 100,000 account credentials from ChatGPT, a widely used artificial intelligence tool from OpenAI, whose information ended up being sold on illicit markets on the dark web.

This incident not only underscores the growing sophistication of cyber attacks, but also highlights the urgency of robust data security strategies to protect corporate and personal information from these threats.

ChatGPT Credentials Leak ChatGPT credentials

The ChatGPT credentials leak, one of the largest data security incidents since its inception on November 30, 2022, represented a worrisome milestone in the enterprise cybersecurity landscape.

More than 100,000 ChatGPT accounts have been compromised, with their credentials found for sale in various illicit marketplaces on the dark web, highlighting the breadth and depth of the problem.

The modus operandi consists of
Information Stealers
or information thieves, malicious software that specializes in stealing personal and corporate identifying information.

Three Info Stealers, as they are also known, stood out in this operation: Raccoon, Vidar and RedLine. These have proven to be especially effective, accounting for a significant portion of the credentials stolen and sold on Internet black markets.

These info stealers, in addition to stealing login credentials, also have the ability to hijack passwords, cookies, credit card information, and other sensitive data from browsers and cryptocurrency wallet extensions.

A worrisome scenario for companies that are incorporating ChatGPT into their operations

The ChatGPT credentials leak resonates with particular intensity in Brazil. The country unfortunately stood out as the third most affected by this data compromise, with a significant number of compromised ChatGPT credentials found for sale on the Dark Web.

This puts both Brazilian companies and individuals in a potentially high-risk position.

ChatGPT - your information is on the Dark Web - IB Group Graphic
source: Group IB, 2023.
The situation is even more worrisome when we consider the growing role that ChatGPT plays in business operations

Many organizations, especially those in the technology sector, are integrating ChatGPT into their operational flows to optimize various processes, from customer service to data analysis.

However, this integration has its pitfalls. Given the default ChatGPT configuration, which retains all conversations, confidential business information and classified correspondence can be exposed if account credentials are compromised.

This vulnerability could inadvertently provide a goldmine of sensitive intelligence for cybercriminals if they gain access to ChatGPT accounts.

This highlights the urgent need for robust security practices in businesses, particularly those that rely on tools like ChatGPT in their daily operations.

Information security, data protection, and data privacy should not be an afterthought, but vital components of any company’s operational strategy.

The importance of data security and best practices for corporate use of ChatGPT

The advent of info stealers, who have demonstrated effectiveness in hijacking passwords, cookies, credit card data, and other sensitive information from browsers and cryptocurrency wallet extensions, presents a significant challenge for companies using AI tools like ChatGPT in the corporate environment.

The use of ChatGPT by businesses and organizations has grown in popularity due to its ability to streamline processes and improve operational efficiency.

However, the default ChatGPT configuration, which retains all conversations, can inadvertently provide a great deal of sensitive information to criminals, should they be able to obtain the prompts and their outcome.

This can include details of classified correspondence and proprietary codes, creating a significant security risk for companies.

Mitigating risk is key to integrating enterprise use with the benefits of ChatGPT

To mitigate these risks, it is crucial that companies adopt robust password hygiene practices and implement security measures such as two-factor authentication (2FA) on their internal systems.

Two-factor authentication offers an additional layer of protection because it requires users to verify their identity using two different methods before accessing their accounts.

This can effectively prevent account takeover attacks, even if a user’s credentials are compromised.

In addition, companies should consider implementing data security policies that limit the type of information that can be shared through ChatGPT.

This, along with regular employee education on data security best practices, can help minimize the risk of compromise to company information.

It is vital that companies recognize the need to incorporate robust security, data protection and privacy practices into their use of ChatGPT and other AI tools.

In this way, they can enjoy the benefits of these advanced technologies while remaining secure against cyber threats.

About Eval

Eval has been developing projects in the financial, health, education, and industry segments for over 18 years. Since 2004, we have offered solutions for Authentication, Electronic and Digital Signature, and Data Protection. Currently, we are present in the main Brazilian banks, health institutions, schools and universities, and different industries.

With recognized value by the market, Eval’s solutions and services meet the highest regulatory standards of public and private organizations, such as SBIS, ITI, PCI DSS, and LGPD (General Law of Data Protection). In practice, we promote information security and compliance, increase companies’ operational efficiency, and reduce costs.

Innovate now, lead always: get to know Eval’s solutions and services and take your company to the next level.

Categories
News

Eval expands its Latin American operations with the opening of a subsidiary in Florida

Eval, a nationally renowned company that has already been operating successfully in Brazil and Latin America, announced this year the opening of its new branch in Florida.

After almost two decades of dedication and commitment to the market in different sectors, the time has come to take a bold and courageous step, opening our first office in the United States.

Since our foundation in 2004, Eval has consolidated itself as a reference company in the technology market, developing innovative information security solutions in Brazil.

International expansion is more than just a growth phase

The expansion is aimed at serving the growing market for cybersecurity and means of payment in the region, which, according to Statista, is expected to double in size over the next few years.
double in size over the next few years
.

Additionally, Latin America is experiencing a significant increase in the cybersecurity market as a result of a combination of relevant factors, such as:

  • Increased use of the Internet and adoption of digital technologies.
  • Growth of e-commerce and digital payment services.
  • Increased awareness about the importance of digital security and data privacy.
  • Implementation of data protection and privacy regulations, such as the LGPD in Brazil.
  • Increase in cases of cyber-attacks and security incidents.

Success Stories in Latin America

In recent years Eval has worked on several projects in Latin America. Among them, we highlight the development of several internet banking projects for a global bank and the participation in the Mercosul Digital project, financed by the European Community and supported by the Brazilian Ministry of Science and Technology.

In Mercosur Digital, the project’s objective was to analyze the situation of the Public Key Infrastructure (ICP) in Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay and to propose the complementation of the necessary infrastructure. In Paraguay, the project also involved the generation of technical standardization.

Another successful example of Eval’s operations in Latin America was a payment media project, in which we supplied the equipment and specialized professional services.

This diverse experience allows Eval to understand the specific needs of each market and offer customized and innovative solutions.

Our goal in Florida is to ensure that our clients have access to the best information security technology resources

With the opening of the Florida branch, Eval intends to further expand its presence in Latin America, focusing especially on the professional services area.

The company has sought qualification with manufacturers to ensure the offer of high quality services and updated with the latest technologies and market practices.

To better serve its customers in the region, Eval has developed a trilingual website, available in Portuguese, English, and Spanish, making it easier for customers in various Latin American countries to access information and contact the company.

“The experience we already have in the Brazilian market and in projects in Latin America gives us the confidence and expertise to expand our operations in the region. We are committed to providing state-of-the-art cybersecurity and payment media solutions, always striving for excellence in our professional services and personalized service to each customer.”.
Marcelo Giusti Tiziano, Eval’s Director.

Eval’s expansion into Latin America is an important step for the company and the region, as it demonstrates Eval’s commitment to contributing to the growth and digital security of Latin American countries.

The American branch in Florida will be a strategic base for the company, allowing greater proximity to customers and the local market, as well as facilitating communication and logistics between different countries in the region.

For more information about Eval and its cybersecurity and payment solutions, visit the company’s official website at
https://eval.digital/

About Eval

EVAL has been developing projects in the financial, health, education, and industry segments for over 18 years. Since 2004, we have offered solutions for Authentication, Electronic and Digital Signature, and Data Protection. Currently, we are present in the main Brazilian banks, health institutions, schools and universities, and different industries.

With value recognized by the market, EVAL’s solutions and services meet the highest regulatory standards of public and private organizations, such as SBIS, ITI, PCI DSS, and LGPD. In practice, we promote information security and compliance, increase companies’ operational efficiency, and reduce costs.

Innovate now, lead always: get to know Eval’s solutions and services and take your company to the next level.

Eval, safety is value.

Categories
Data Protection

Personal health information: ensuring safety and security

Personal health information refers, in short, to demographic information, medical histories, test and lab results, mental health conditions, insurance information, and other data that a healthcare professional collects to identify an individual and determine appropriate care.

This same detailed information about our health is also a product. In addition to their use for patients and healthcare professionals, they are also valuable for clinical and scientific researchers when anonymized.

For hackers this data is a treasure trove. After all, this is personal patient information that could be stolen and sold elsewhere. What’s more, they can hijack the data via ransomware until the medical institution pays the ransom.

Medical institutions deal with personal health information and this can be a risk

As we have seen, by the nature of the sector, healthcare institutions deal with confidential patient data. This information includes date of birth, medical conditions and health insurance applications.

Whether in paper records or in an electronic record system, personal health information describes a patient’s medical history, thus including diseases, treatments and outcomes.

To give you an idea, from the first moments after birth, a baby today is likely to have their personal health information entered into an electronic health record system, including weight, length, body temperature and any complications during delivery.

Tracking this information over the course of a patient’s life provides the clinician with the context of the person’s health. This way it is better for the professional to make treatment decisions.

When properly recorded, personal health information can be stored without identifying features and added anonymously to large databases of patient information.

These de-identified data can contribute to population health management and value-based care programs.

However, there are cases where data security, protection and privacy measures are not applied. This puts health institutions, staff and especially patients at serious risk.

Cybersecurity threats in healthcare affect patients and institutions

As technology advances, healthcare professionals work to implement innovations to improve care, but cybersecurity threats continue to evolve as well.

Ransomware attacks ransomware and healthcare data breaches remain top concerns for healthcare entities and business partners of all sizes.

Ransomware is a good example of a major impact for the healthcare sector. It is considered high-risk, as healthcare organizations are tasked with caring for people. Thus, if certain information is locked or inaccessible, this care may be affected.

The responsibility for the protection of personal health information lies with all institutions and their business partners.

A situation that is sometimes misunderstood by health institutions is that privacy and security of health information do not always move together.

While privacy requires security measures, it is possible to have security restrictions that do not fully protect the private information of patients and caregivers.

Let’s think of an example: if a healthcare institution or a cloud provider shares encrypted medical data to an outpatient clinic, protection and privacy may be at risk.

After all, institutions need to enter into a partnership agreement that includes requirements for data security processes and policies. If this does not occur, the information shared is at high risk.

Despite the high risk, it is possible to protect your organization from cybercrime by securing patient information

Ransomware and other cybercrime attacks occur when a hacker gains access to an organization’s network. In the aftermath, files are encrypted or stolen.

In the specific case of ransomware, the files are inaccessible by the target until a ransom is paid.

To protect your organization from attacks like this and other cybercrimes targeting the healthcare industry, data protection experts recommend ten practices for securing health information:

1. Define clear data protection and privacy policies and processes

An important step in the protection and privacy of patient and caregiver health information is to clearly define data protection and privacy policies and processes.

This is the kick-off for all the other safety recommendations for the benefit of medical institutions.

2. Protect patient information in the workplace

Use access controls to ensure that patient health information is accessed only by authorized staff.

 
3. Conduct staff training on health data protection and privacy policies and processes

A protected health organization must train all members of its workforce on the policies and procedures regarding personal health information.

Training should be provided to each new professional within a reasonable period of time after the person joins the institution.

In addition, staff members should also be trained if their roles are affected by a material change in policies and procedures in the defined privacy and protection rules.

4. Procedures for disclosure or sharing of health information must be documented and authorized

A written authorization from the patient is required when a healthcare facility needs to share or disclose psychotherapy, substance abuse disorder, and treatment records, information, or notes.

5. Define secure health data storage and retrieval procedures

Data should be backed up periodically. Incidentally, it is also a best practice to regularly back up data via hardware such as flash drives and external hard drives, and then copy the data through the cloud while it is being modified.

This redundancy ensures that critical information is readily available. If possible, health institutions should have backups in multiple locations.

6. Firewalls are essential to ensure that protected information is not improperly destroyed

Properly using a firewall can help prevent your organization from falling victim to unauthorized access that could potentially compromise the confidentiality, integrity or availability of patient health information.

7. Health data recorded on paper should be protected

The concern for data protection and privacy also applies to the use of paper and other physical files. In addition to policies and procedures covering the physical security of documents, staff should be instructed to immediately report all incidents that may involve the loss or theft of such paper records.

8. Personal health information should never be left unattended

Extra care should be taken when patient records are temporarily transported to other health care institutions.

This information must be supervised and protected by responsible professionals during the journey, delivery and storage of personal health information.

9. Document and device encryption must protect medical data from cybercriminals

In short, devices and documents should be protected using encryption and digital signature when sharing between institutions and other healthcare professionals.

10. Keeping anti-virus and anti-malware software up to date is vitally important for personal health information

In addition, software updates and patches must be applied in a timely manner to keep networks and systems secure.

It is also worth remembering that common sense is always a good best practice. Employees should never share passwords. Default passwords should be changed immediately after assigning a new application. Finally, they should not be reused between different systems and should also be changed if they are compromised.

The ultimate goal is to achieve high levels of data security, protection and privacy, thus ensuring the integrity of the personal health information of patients and other caregivers.

About Eval

A EVAL está a mais de 18 anos desenvolvendo projetos nos segmentos financeiro, saúde, educação e indústria, Desde 2004, oferecemos soluções de Autenticação, Assinatura Eletrônica e Digital e Proteção de Dados. Atualmente, estamos presente nos principais bancos brasileiros, instituições de saúde, escolas e universidades, além de diferentes indústrias.

Com valor reconhecido pelo mercado, as soluções e serviços da EVAL atendem aos mais altos padrões regulatórios das organizações públicas e privadas, tais como o SBIS, ITI, PCI DSS, e a LGPD. Na prática, promovemos a segurança da informação e o compliance, o aumento da eficiência operacional das empresas, além da redução de custos.

Inove agora, lidere sempre: conheça as soluções e serviços da Eval e leve sua empresa para o próximo nível.

Eval, segurança é valor.

Categories
Data Protection

Digital identity benefits businesses and customers

Companies understand that providing a great customer experience is essential in this digital age. And digital identity is one of the key ways.

However, for many managers, requests for digital identification and the sharing of personal information undermine strategies aimed at facilitating user interaction in operations that involve converting into business through digital transactions.

The common practice of asking customers to confirm their identities at all points of contact has become a stumbling block. This situation affects both attendance and data security.

Isn’t it potentially risky to continue reporting personal data that is considered sensitive? Who might be listening or reading this information? And why provide digital identification to, for example, sign up for a newsletter? What does this have to do with safety?

The challenges in managing digital identities

The questions above highlight two challenges of managing customers’ digital identities.

The first of these is the onerous process for which most security strategies are standardized, making it potentially as difficult, “to buy a replacement keyring for a set of car keys as it is to buy the car itself”.

The following is a confusing view for the customer, where digital validation is often not connected to non-digital validation. In addition, access records for different customer touchpoints are stored in separate locations.

There are many dots, but no way to connect them, this format is still a standard for many companies.

Underlying these challenges is the tension between IT leaders and their marketing colleagues. After all, the former want to protect this data and the latter want to exploit it to improve the customer experience.

Given this, the two perspectives can be difficult to reconcile.

Digital identification: the potential to boost brand value

Today’s Chief Marketing Officers (CMOs) are challenged to drive brand value. That value comes from delighting customers. Customers are often delighted when they feel connected to brands.

However, the possibility of this happening is often related to marketers gaining access to the personal data needed to personalize the customer experience.

When done right, these personalized experiences can build not only trust, but also brand advocacy.

Imagine for example a soccer player loyal to a certain brand. Because this brand has earned his trust, he shares personal information that he wouldn’t necessarily share with other soccer brands.

The customer experience, the emotional connection created, the perceived brand value, these things are now inseparable and dependent on digital identity.

Digital identity is the fuel for customer engagement. It is also a source of great concern for CIOs, CISOs and IT teams responsible for ensuring the security of sensitive information, such as digital identities.

But while these points for customer experience and security seem contradictory, they don’t have to be.

After all, there is a converging path. What marketing and technology teams need to better and more confidently serve customers is a way to see and connect the dots. One way to do this: risk-based digital identity authentication.

Four principles of risk-based digital identity management

Business and IT leaders should consider the notion that customer identity is not just about security.

Instead, they can think of it as a feature that can also be flexibly applied across multiple platforms and tailored to individual marketing moves and preferences, as well as making it less obvious to customers.

Marketing and IT leaders can help each other by working together to design a system with four well-defined characteristics.

1. Context dependency

Companies using a flexible approach may, for example, require multiple means of authentication for financial transactions, but at a lower level of verification for interactions such as updating a newsletter subscription.

This type of risk-based authentication has the potential benefit of improving the customer experience and reducing complexity for the organization.

2. Transparency

Rather than standing out as a separate, onerous activity, risk-based authentication can be an integral part of the online experiences customers already engage in, such as searching, buying, servicing or registering.

Getting rid of CAPTCHAs or remembering the name of something favorite at every step of the customer journey is only part of the change.

After all, in this view the initial setup of customer identity profiles is more comprehensive and expands beyond just a few obvious tests, so that fewer visible authentication steps (if any) are required once the customer engages.

3. Personalization

The digital age has allowed us to define choices: one customer may like to authenticate through a secure password manager, while another may prefer biometric recognition.

Combine this ability to choose with an identity-based relationship management system capable of applying these preferences across time and platforms, and the result can be an experience that encourages customers to engage with a brand more often and more willingly.

4. Omnipresence

Any customer-friendly digital identity system should work consistently across marketing platforms, e-commerce, management and communication tools, so that customers do not have to deal with different authentication requirements for different parts of the business.

By working together to ensure this is the case, marketing, IT and other leaders can help deliver a unified and secure user experience, thereby beginning to build brand loyalty and trust.

Generating digital identities

A digital identity can be created through a digital certificate issued by a Certification Authority (CA), based on asymmetric cryptography.

The certificate contains data that is associated with a user or device (for example, its name or the copy of the public key).

The use of digital certificates has many benefits for organizations, for example:

  • Ensure legal compliance;
  • High degree of security, protecting information and reducing the risk of fraud;
  • Increased user and customer confidence.

In turn, digital certificates can be used together with digital signature software to generate digital signatures. In addition, identity management becomes a priority issue for organizations.

Digital identity through digital certificates already a reality

You need a system that allows you to associate and unify your data, provides access to all the systems that must use it and, above all, offers a high degree of privacy and security.

Digital identity transformation is more than just implementing new security technologies and tools. After all, it also involves systemic changes, from the core functions of information security, marketing and services to areas such as governance, finance, culture, even business model.

In some countries, digital identity is fully consolidated and has many applications in everyday life. Perhaps the most striking example is Estonia.

This small Baltic country of 1.3 million inhabitants introduced the digital identification system based on the national register and the national digital identity document in 2002.

This document, mandatory for those over 15, allows its citizens to vote, buy public transportation tickets, encrypt emails, renew their passport, access their medical records, sign documents and perform almost any kind of administrative management online, anywhere at any time and allowing users to own their own data.

But the Estonian system is just a taste of things to come. After all, the number of market participants connecting online is expected to grow exponentially in the coming years.

Thanks to the development of the Internet of Things, millions of objects (from refrigerators to internet-connected containers) will predictably start operating simultaneously and integrated. This will also require setting standards to verify their identities.

About Eval

EVAL has been developing projects in the financial, health, education, and industry segments for over 18 years. Since 2004, we have offered solutions for Authentication, Electronic and Digital Signature, and Data Protection. Currently, we are present in the main Brazilian banks, health institutions, schools and universities, and different industries.

With value recognized by the market, EVAL’s solutions and services meet the highest regulatory standards of public and private organizations, such as SBIS, ITI, PCI DSS, and the General Data Protection Law (LGPD). In practice, we promote information security and compliance, increase companies’ operational efficiency, and reduce costs.

Innovate now, lead always: get to know Eval’s solutions and services and take your company to the next level.

Eval, safety is value.

Categories
Data Protection

How does a lack of investment in security affect a company?

A lack of investment in cybersecurity and a data breach can have three major consequences: financial, reputational and legal.

In fact, cyber security is no longer just a matter of technology, but an essential aspect of business.

Gone are the days when companies could hand over data protection responsibilities to the IT department alone. After all, it has become strategic and affects all sectors.

The impact of lack of investment in security

Lack of investment in security results in substantial financial losses:

  • Theft of corporate information;
  • Theft of financial information (e.g. bank details or card details);
  • Theft of money;
  • Business interruptions (e.g. inability to carry out online transactions);
  • Loss of business or contracts;

Companies that suffer cyber breaches usually also have costs associated with repairing systems, networks and devices.

This is especially important as companies are becoming increasingly digital, which means they will be exposed to a greater number of threats if they don’t manage security risk properly and make the necessary investment.

Reputational damage is greater than financial damage

Many companies have not yet realized or measured the real impact of the loss of credibility. Trust is undoubtedly an essential element in customer relations.

After all, cyber attacks and data theft can damage your organization’s reputation and completely break down the trust that consumers have in you.

This, in turn, can lead to consequences such as:

  • Loss of customers;
  • Loss of sales;
  • Significant reduction in profits;
  • Bankruptcy.

The effect of reputational damage due to a lack of investment in security can impact even your suppliers, as well as the relationships you have with partners, investors and third parties involved in your business.

Understanding the importance of changing the mindset when it comes to investing in cybersecurity has become vital. In the midst of the digital transformation era, companies cannot risk suffering an attack or not knowing how to handle an incident.

Legal consequences of a lack of investment in security

We mustn’t forget that failing to invest in security also results in legal problems. After all, the General Data Protection Act (LGPD) requires your company to manage all the personal information it holds, whether it’s about your staff or your customers.

If this data is accidentally or deliberately compromised, and you fail to implement the appropriate security measures, you could face fines and regulatory sanctions that could make your business unviable.

Recent global breaches have impacted more than 200,000 computers in 150 countries and cost millions; nothing could make the importance of investing in cyber security clearer, as it impacts companies as a whole, not just IT departments.

 

The risk of attacks is real and affects every company

It’s not enough to read this post, agree that we need to invest in security and do nothing. Because you have to be aware that the risk is real and will affect your company’s operations cycle at some point.

A simple risk analysis is enough to see what can happen to your organization, employees and, above all, customers:

  • Physical loss of data. You can lose immediate access for reasons ranging from flooding to power outages. This can also happen for simpler reasons, such as a disk failure;
  • Unauthorized access to data. Remember that if you have confidential client information, you are often contractually responsible for protecting it as if it were your own;
  • Interception of information in transit. The risks include data transmitted between company sites or between the organization and its employees, partners and contractors, at home or elsewhere;
  • Your data could fall into the hands of other people. Do you share this information with third parties, including contractors, partners and other important data? What protects them while they are in your hands or those of your partners?
  • Data corruption, intentional or not. This can modify them to favor an external party or because of a software error.

Every company needs to have a security investment program

A lack of cyber security needs to be seen as a business risk and not just a technology problem. It is therefore necessary to follow guidelines that help the organization achieve adequate levels of protection.

So no matter what size your company is, it needs to have an investment plan to guarantee the security of its information assets.

This plan is responsible for all the policies and processes for creating a cyber security program, as well as making you think holistically about your organization’s data protection.

In short, a program provides the framework for keeping your company at an adequate level of security, assessing the risks you face, deciding what to prioritize and planning how to have up-to-date practices.

Investing in security means protecting its confidentiality, integrity and availability

Having a security investment program means that you have taken steps to reduce the risk of losing data in various ways and have defined a lifecycle for managing the information and technology in your organization.

Fortunately, cybersecurity technologies are available to companies of different sizes and segments, so they adapt to their business realities and help them meet the challenges of data protection.

How to minimize the impact of cyber attacks on companies

As we have seen, security breaches can devastate even the most resilient companies.

It is extremely important to manage the risks according to the nature of the business before and after an attack takes place, make the necessary investments and create an effective cyber incident protection and response plan. Since it can help your company:

  • Prevent and reduce the impact of cyber attacks;
  • Report incidents to the responsible authorities;
  • Recover the affected systems;
  • Getting your business up and running in the shortest possible time.

In this way, we can see that making an investment in security means training, educating and raising awareness among your organization’s users on an ongoing basis and, of course, acquiring technologies and services, always seeking to guarantee the protection of customer data and business continuity, enabling the company’s continued growth.

Do you have any questions about this? Our experts will be happy to answer your questions and contribute to your information security projects.

About Eval

EVAL has been developing projects in the financial, health, education and industry segments for over 18 years. Since 2004, we have offered Authentication, Electronic and Digital Signature and Data Protection solutions. Currently, we are present in the main Brazilian banks, health institutions, schools and universities, and different industries.

With value recognized by the market, EVAL’s solutions and services meet the highest regulatory standards of public and private organizations, such as SBIS, ITI, PCI DSS, and LGPD. In practice, we promote information security and compliance, increase companies’ operational efficiency, and reduce costs.

Innovate now, lead always: get to know Eval’s solutions and services and take your company to the next level.

Eval, safety is value.

Categories
Data Protection

What to do in the event of a data breach?

The information most compromised in a data breach is personal. For example, credit card numbers, social security numbers and medical records. Corporate information includes customer lists, manufacturing processes and software source code.

Unauthorized access to this information characterizes a clear data breach, resulting in identity theft or violation of compliance requirements vis-à-vis the government or regulatory sectors. Incidents like this lead to companies facing fines and other civil litigation, not to mention the loss of money and credibility.

The problem is that any company can suffer cyber attacks these days. No matter how many preventive actions are taken, the big question that arises – and which should be a priority for organizations of different sizes and sectors – is: what to do in the event of a data breach?

Recently there was a huge leak in which data from approximately 800 million email accounts was stolen. By the way, if you want to check whether your email data has also been stolen, go to: https://haveibeenpwned.com.

Main causes of data breaches

It’s common to think of a data breach as someone attacking a corporate website and stealing confidential information. However, not everything happens that way.

However, it only takes an unauthorized employee to view a customer’s personal information on an authorized computer screen to constitute a data breach.

Data is stolen or breached for various reasons:

  • Weak passwords;
  • Software patches that are exploited;
  • Stolen or lost computers and mobile devices.
  • Users who connect to unauthorized wireless networks;
  • Social engineering, especially phishing e-mail attacks;
  • Malware infections.

Criminals can use the credentials obtained through their attacks to enter confidential systems and records – access that often goes undetected for months, if not indefinitely.

In addition, attackers can target their attacks through business partners to gain access to large organizations. Such incidents usually involve hackers compromising less secure companies in order to gain access to the main target.

Prevention is still the best medicine

Ensuring a completely secure environment is a major challenge.

Today we have various resources and technologies that can considerably minimize the risk of attacks. However, this is a very dynamic environment in different aspects that make cyber attacks possible. Prevention is therefore the best way forward.

In short, the most reasonable means of preventing data breaches involve security practices and common sense. This includes well-known basics:

  • Carry out continuous vulnerability and penetration tests;
  • Apply malware protection;
  • Use strong passwords;
  • Apply the necessary software patches to all systems;
  • Use encryption on confidential data.

Additional measures to prevent breaches and minimize their impact include well-written security policies for employees, as well as ongoing training to promote them.

In addition, there must be an incident response plan that can be implemented in the event of an intrusion or breach. It needs to include a formal process for identifying, containing and quantifying a security incident.

How to Deal with the Consequences of a Data Breach

Considering that a data breach can happen in any company and at any time, an action plan is the best tactic.

The most basic problem is that people still don’t see cyber attacks as inevitable. After all, they believe their defenses are good enough or they don’t think they’ll be targeted.

Another problem is that organizations don’t understand the true value of effective incident response plans. It can take weeks for them to understand what has happened.

The recommended steps during a data breach are:

  • Identifying what happens;
  • Meeting of all related sectors;
  • Getting things under control;
  • Reduced side effects;
  • External communication management;
  • Recovery of business operations;
  • Identification of lessons learned;
  • Process improvement.

The priority is to stop the breach of confidential data, thus ensuring that all the necessary resources are available to prevent any further loss of information.

 
Identification

Understand what happened – how the attackers got in or how the data was leaked – and also make sure there is no leak.

Knowing what your situation is, defining the position to adopt and being able to take the necessary actions from that position are the first steps to take.

Containment

Did the strikers come from outside? Ensuring that nothing else leaves the company should also be one of the initial stages of incident response. The next actions will be carried out from this point.

Eradication

Deal with the problem by focusing on removing and restoring the affected systems.

Ensure that steps are taken to remove malicious material and other illicit content, for example by performing a complete hard disk recreation and scanning the affected systems and files with anti-malware software.

Communication

The next step is to align the discourse when it comes to external communication.

The IT policy must include care related to social networks and the organization’s other communication channels. After all, all the information related to the problem should come out of one place, always aligned with the actions taken by the company.

It is very common these days to include the organization’s legal department in communication issues and in dealing with situations with clients and official bodies.

On the saferweb website, which is a civil association focused on promoting and defending human rights on the Internet in Brazil, you can find a list of cybercrime police stations where you can file a complaint.

In addition to official bodies, remember to notify those affected by the leak, whether they are employees, suppliers or even customers.

Finally, don’t forget that the General Data Protection Act (LGPD) also deals with this issue.

Lessons learnedfrom the Data Breach

If your company can solve the data breach problem and recover quickly, then it is on the right track to restoring business and minimizing the impact.

However, in some cases, the problem reaches the press and takes on greater proportions, affecting the company’s reputation and business.

Follow our tips and the examples of other organizations that have faced similar situations in order to understand what went wrong and make sure you have the best tactics to avoid a recurrence.

Another important tip is to subscribe to our newsletter and keep up to date with the latest news!

About Eval

EVAL has been developing projects in the financial, health, education and industry segments for over 18 years. Since 2004, we have offered Authentication, Electronic and Digital Signature and Data Protection solutions. Currently, we are present in the main Brazilian banks, health institutions, schools and universities, and different industries.

With value recognized by the market, EVAL’s solutions and services meet the highest regulatory standards of public and private organizations, such as SBIS, ITI, PCI DSS, and LGPD. In practice, we promote information security and compliance, increase companies’ operational efficiency, and reduce costs.

Innovate now, lead always: get to know Eval’s solutions and services and take your company to the next level.

Eval, safety is value.

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Data Protection

Data Loss Prevention: What You Need to Know

Data loss prevention is defined as the strategy used to guarantee information security so that digital and corporate users don’t send confidential or critical information outside a corporate network or even a home network.

The term also defines software that helps a network administrator control what data end users can transfer.

With the recent approval of the General Personal Data Protection Law (LGPD), the Brazilian legislation that determines how the data of Brazilian citizens can be collected and processed, concern about the issue of data loss prevention will be even more prominent.

In this post, we’ve compiled the main information you need to clear up your doubts on the subject and take the next steps in protecting your company’s data.

Preventing data loss will have an impact on purchasing decisions

In the midst of the Digital Transformation era, where data and information have come to play a fundamental role in the purchasing process, preventing data loss has become a priority in protecting customers and the image of companies.

In this way, all it takes is a virtual attack or a security breach to result in data theft. This directly affects the credibility of the organization affected and the purchasing decisions of its customers.

Data loss prevention doesn’t just apply to large companies – it’s strategic for any business. Involving all sizes of companies and segments of activity. Being subject to cyber-attacks, hijackings and data theft has completely changed organizations’ view of information security. That’s why data protection has become part of any company’s business model.

Investment in Technology is Fundamental

Software products developed for data protection use business rules and policies to classify and protect confidential and critical information. They aim to prevent unauthorized end users from accidentally or otherwise sharing data that could pose a risk to the organization.

In practice, for example, if an employee tried to forward a business email outside the corporate domain or upload a file considered strategic to a cloud storage service such as Dropbox, Drive and so on, they would be denied permission.

The adoption of data protection is happening as a result of insider threats and stricter privacy laws. As well as being able to monitor and control activities, data protection tools can use filters to control the flow of information on the corporate network and protect data that is still in motion.

Data protection is a shared responsibility

Data loss can happen for different reasons. Some companies may be more concerned about vulnerabilities and external attacks, while others worry mainly about human error.

To give you an idea, data loss can occur during a standard IT procedure such as a migration. It can also happen after attacks by ransomware or other malware. What’s more, these threats can be triggered by a simple email.

The impact of data loss can also vary according to the segment or size of the organization. In addition to impacting internal information, losing data puts a company’s legal position at risk in the face of compliance laws.

However, the burden and the challenge cannot be left to managers and IT teams alone. After all, the responsibility for preventing data loss needs to be shared by everyone.

In many cases, it is the employees themselves who accidentally send information that is considered sensitive. In addition, sometimes they also perform an operation that opens the door to a virtual attack.

Therefore, more than just implementing a data loss prevention program, we need to raise awareness. And to do this, the team responsible for information security needs to provide training for executives and end users on the benefits of data protection for the company, its own employees and customers.

The challenge of data protection

Common unintentional causes of data loss include hardware malfunctions, corrupted software, human error and natural disasters.

Data can also be lost during migrations and during power outages or incorrect system shutdowns. This shows us just how big a challenge data loss prevention has become.

 
Hardware malfunction

This is the most common cause of data loss in companies. All it takes is for a hard disk to crash due to overheating, mechanical problems or simply time.

Preventive hard disk maintenance helps to avoid data loss. It also enables IT teams to replace the unit in situations of risk.

Corrupted software

Another common problem in the data loss prevention challenge is corrupted software. This situation can occur when systems are switched off incorrectly. They can usually be attributed to power outages or human error. That’s why it’s essential that the infrastructure team is prepared for incidents and ensures that systems are shut down properly.

Natural disasters

Natural disasters are related to all the items described above. In this way, it can cause both hardware damage and system corruption. A disaster recovery plan and frequent backups are the best strategies to avoid this type of data loss.

In addition to these examples, computer viruses and virtual attacks are potential factors for data loss. And they also cause great damage to organizations and their customers.

The direct impact on the business

As you can see, in addition to the challenge, preventing data loss can be an expensive process, requiring the purchase of software and hardware solutions, as well as backup and data protection services.

However, although the costs of these services can be high, the investment in complete data loss prevention is usually worth it in the medium and long term. Especially when compared to the impacts of a lack of protection.

In the event of major data loss, business continuity and processes are severely affected. Company time and financial resources often have to be diverted to resolving incidents and recovering lost information, so that other business functions can be restored.

Next steps

With the convergence of businesses towards the digital economy, worrying about information security and preventing data loss has become essential.

Not only will companies’ participation in this period of digital transformation be compromised, but any kind of initiative aimed at future growth will be difficult to achieve if financial and credibility losses hit companies.

About EVAL

A EVAL está a mais de 18 anos desenvolvendo projetos nos segmentos financeiro, saúde, educação e indústria, Desde 2004, oferecemos soluções de Autenticação, Assinatura Eletrônica e Digital e Proteção de Dados. Atualmente, estamos presente nos principais bancos brasileiros, instituições de saúde, escolas e universidades, além de diferentes indústrias.

Com valor reconhecido pelo mercado, as soluções e serviços da EVAL atendem aos mais altos padrões regulatórios das organizações públicas e privadas, tais como o SBIS, ITI, PCI DSS, e a Lei Geral de Proteção de Dados (LGPD). Na prática, promovemos a segurança da informação e o compliance, o aumento da eficiência operacional das empresas, além da redução de custos.

Inove agora, lidere sempre: conheça as soluções e serviços da Eval e leve sua empresa para o próximo nível.

Eval, segurança é valor.

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Data Protection

Information Integrity Can Be a Challenge

Business process management and automation are two factors that are leading companies to use digital documents more and more. This strategy also results in reduced costs and increased productivity. However, concerns about the integrity of the information have generated major doubts and insecurity for managers.

Digital documents are one of the main strategies adopted to improve business processes. They are also present in optimizing the use of companies’ investments and IT infrastructure in the production process.

One example of this strong trend is print outsourcing. He recommends assessing which documents should be printed and which can be kept digitally.

As well as cutting costs, digital documents make workflows more efficient and help businesses evolve. Despite the benefits, many doubts have arisen and need to be clarified in order to effectively adopt this strategy.

Digital document processing has benefited companies, but there are many doubts

This is very reminiscent of when cloud computing first appeared. After all, at the time many companies showed good results in terms of cost reduction and increased productivity. However, others had many doubts and therefore postponed using the technology.

And the migration of documents to digital media is no different. Similar to what happened with the cloud, the possible problems with information integrity have led to a number of questions:

  • Will my stored document not be modified?

  • When I consult a document, has it not changed since I read it?

  • Who can guarantee that an approved document hasn’t been manipulated?

  • Who is responsible for the integrity of the information?

  • Who solves the problems with information integrity?

So realize that these are pertinent questions that can have an impact on your business. Especially when issues such as corporate governance, data security and compliance are increasingly demanded by companies in audits and regulatory requirements.

All these doubts and regulatory requirements converge around a common point: the integrity of information.

Who will be responsible for resolving problems with information integrity?

When it comes to IT, you can’t think of a single person responsible for the integrity of digital documents.

Technology and innovation must be used to define an efficient control process, with results that guarantee data security.

Improving business processes should be part of any company’s strategic planning, regardless of size or segment.

Therefore, adopting methodologies that can implement efficient and automated workflows for the digital environment is the best way forward.

In addition, associated with methods that map business processes, such as BPM(Business Process Management), where the main business operations are evaluated, problem areas are located and the company’s workflow is adjusted, the authenticity of the information must be prioritized.

In addition, the best way to eliminate information integrity and authenticity problems is to use a digital signature solution.

This way you can guarantee the accuracy of the data. It is still possible to retrieve a digital document in the future and be sure that it has not been altered irregularly.

Digital signature solves problems with the integrity of information in the digital environment

When digitally signing a document, a hash is used. This guarantees the user that the file has not been altered

In addition, other mechanisms are applied to the digital signature to help verify and validate the document. Adding a record of the date and time of the signature, for example, guarantees that the document was signed by a specific person or company at that time.

In addition, the time instant of a reliable service can be obtained so that it has this guarantee.

To better understand the use of digital signatures, we can compare them to the process of signing a document in one’s own hand. We even have an article here on our blog that explains this analogy in more detail, but in a nutshell we can say that:

  1. The person sends you a document with certain content and a handwritten signature.
  2. The first property that can be checked is the integrity of the document. You can do this by looking for erasures or changes in the document.
  3. The second property to be checked is subscriber authentication. This verification is done by comparing the signature on the document with a reference signature of the person.

The concept of irretractability can also be used to verify the authenticity of the document. However, our aim is to draw a simple analogy between digital and handwritten signatures.

That’s why digital signatures pursue the same goal as traditional signatures. By digitally signing a document, it is possible – through technological resources – to verify its integrity and authenticity. This also reduces the possibility of problems with information integrity.

Integrity of a digital document

In short, in order to guarantee the integrity of a digital document in terms of its content, it is checked whether the set of data of which it is composed remains in its original content or in the form that was approved.

To do this, the technology used in digital signatures makes use of two technologies: a cryptographic summary function, which calculates all the bytes in the document to generate a value, determined as a cryptographic summary, and private key cryptography.

Therefore, this integrity code will always be used when it is necessary to verify the integrity of this electronic document. This makes it possible to check whether the document has any differences from the original and encryption guarantees the authenticity of this value.

Authenticity of a digital signature

If the content is guaranteed to be valid in the version presented, the authenticity of the signature used must be legitimized. Unlike the traditional way, we will once again use technology to guarantee what has been signed.

To do this, encryption keys are usually used to verify the authenticity of the signature, thus eliminating the possibility of any problems with the integrity of the information.

It is also worth highlighting the importance of digital signatures in authentication processes. Implementing digital technologies associated with information security policies is the first step towards reducing the risk of incidents, guaranteeing confidentiality and avoiding problems with the integrity of information about clients, employees, suppliers and the company itself.

Finally, the use of the digital environment is a reality, especially at the moment – an intense period of digital transformation with an impact on companies and customers.

To find out more about digital signatures and keep up to date with Eval’s latest news and technologies, subscribe to our newsletter and keep following us on our Linkedin profile.

About Eval

EVAL has been developing projects in the financial, health, education, and industry segments for over 18 years. Since 2004, we have offered solutions for Authentication, Electronic and Digital Signature, and Data Protection. Currently, we are present in the main Brazilian banks, health institutions, schools and universities, and different industries.

With value recognized by the market, EVAL’s solutions and services meet the highest regulatory standards of public and private organizations, such as SBIS, ITI, PCI DSS, and LGPD. In practice, we promote information security and compliance, increase companies’ operational efficiency, and reduce costs.

Innovate now, lead always: get to know Eval’s solutions and services and take your company to the next level.

Eval, safety is value.

Categories
Data Protection

Banks 3.0: Future of branches and branches of the future

Unsurprisingly, and even before the term gained traction in the market, Digital Transformation reached financial institutions and, more specifically, banks and their financial transactions. The idea of Banks 3.0 has been consolidated for some time.

Not only because of the advance of the Internet, but also with the help of innovation and information security technologies.

Talking about the future of financial institutions and their financial transactions, especially for us in technology, makes us think about how much we have evolved in different ways.

While for the banks’ target audience we talk about Internet Banking, Mobile Banking and even BitCoin, for us experts we associate this evolutionary leap with cryptography solutions, digital signatures, data protection, Blockchain and various other security-related terms.

Undoubtedly, in the face of so many developments in digital transformation, it is worth reflecting on the future of banks, Banks 3.0.

An evolution based on innovation

Technological developments are pointing to an increasingly digital future. After all, financial transactions are being incorporated into our routines as something more simplified and transparent.

We can see this reality through payments made with mobile devices and “ wearables “.

The financial sector is one of the most advanced in IT investments, products and services linked to financial transactions. It’s no wonder that the basis of Banks 3.0 comes from technologies such as cloud computing and cyber security.

It’s worth noting that this evolution came from a paradigm shift. After all, the rise of digital banking has represented one of the biggest challenges for the financial market.

Because it has led to major changes in consumer behavior.

We can see that in the near future there will be a major conceptual change in financial institutions. Thus, in the era of Banks 3.0, they are no longer banks but financial assistants.

Everything happens online and with little interference from people or regulatory institutions, such as the Central Bank or any government body.

The foundation of Banks 3.0 will be cyber security

The big leap from traditional to digital banking is based on efficiency and trust through technology and cybersecurity and financial transactions

The digital banking experience is the essence of the Banks 3.0 concept. It will be driven by the more intuitive, intelligent and secure delivery of products and services.

But in order to consolidate this new banking concept, information security will be fundamental. CIOs who intend to offer this new experience in the near future, in addition to understanding the new business models, processes and technologies that will allow us to evolve towards the concept of Bank 3.0, must consolidate the idea that without investments in security this will not be possible.

Ultimately, Bank 3.0 needs to be agile enough from a technological, structural and cultural point of view. This way, you can constantly adapt to rapidly changing business and technological environments.

A major challenge when integrating so much technology and security, identity and compliance requirements.

 

The role of IT in consolidating Banks 3.0

Banks today are facing a major challenge. After all, they are struggling to keep up with the race for innovation, especially when it comes to customer-facing financial transaction apps developed by giants such as Amazon, Google, Facebook and Alibaba.

In this competition we have platforms that provide trust in untrusted environments. They operate as financial institutions that connect the supply and demand sides. In view of this, there are two outstanding scenarios:

  • Financial technology companies (fintech). E-commerce providers and telecom operators are cutting into banks’ traditional sources of income.

    They provide faster payments, more convenient transfers, real-time loan facilities and automated investment advice.
  • On the other hand, Banks 3.0, in order to consolidate their position as the future of the sector, have a mission to evolve and adopt the business platform model, both internally and externally, to improve efficiency, create new commercial value and, above all, increase customer confidence.

It is possible to increase this trust by increasing business transparency, gathering more information and intelligence to better understand customer behavior and desires, and focusing even more on IT management, security and identity management. Missions that Banks 3.0 will certainly have to solve.

The future of agencies and the agencies of the future

In short, a true Bank 3.0 is a bank that improves the customer experience, creates new and powerful revenue and value streams, offers services without or with reduced fees and can support multiple non-traditional business models.

Digital banks must pursue a vision and a business strategy that makes it possible to reorganize the bank’s resources, both to optimize costs and to leverage the latest technologies, so the priorities for new technologies include:

As for Information Security, there are increasing investments in:

  • Cryptographic key management.
  • Application analysis and security.
  • Data protection services. Check out 7 tips here.
  • Threat detection services.
  • Protection against DDoS attacks and malicious traffic.
  • Specialized human capital.

The way consumers are engaging with their financial institutions has changed significantly. Traditional banks are being challenged with a new distribution perspective, in line with the strong movement towards mobile and digital channels.

Finally, based on investments in new technologies, it is possible to take advantage of and mitigate the impact of implementing these major changes in the vision and strategy applied to the “bank of the future”.

In a nutshell, Bank 3.0 is about the transition from dependent banking to a dedicated online structure, which allows it to be used at times or places that are more convenient for the customer.

This is a new form of engagement and user experience that harnesses the power of the internet and all the technological advances created by the Digital Age.

Subscribe to our newsletter and stay up to date with Eval news and technologies. Keep following our content on the blog and take advantage of our Linkedin profile.

About Eval

A Eval está há mais de 18 anos desenvolvendo projetos nos segmentos financeiro, saúde, educação e indústria. Desde 2004, oferecemos soluções de Autenticação, Assinatura Eletrônica e Digital e Proteção de Dados. Atualmente, estamos presentes nos principais bancos brasileiros, instituições de saúde, escolas e universidades, além de diferentes indústrias. 

Com valor reconhecido pelo mercado, as soluções e serviços da Eval atendem aos mais altos padrões regulatórios das organizações públicas e privadas, tais como o SBIS, ITI, PCI DSS, e a LGPD. Na prática, promovemos a segurança da informação e o compliance, o aumento da eficiência operacional das empresas, além da redução de custos. 

Inove agora, lidere sempre: conheça as soluções e serviços da Eval e leve sua empresa para o próximo nível. 

Eval, segurança é valor. 

Categories
Data Protection

Security on mobile devices – 10 steps to protect yourself

A segurança em dispositivos móveis é um tema cada vez mais relevante no mundo moderno. Com o crescimento do uso de smartphones e tablets, é fundamental que as pessoas se preocupem em proteger suas informações pessoais e profissionais armazenadas nesses dispositivos.

Infelizmente, muitos usuários não têm conhecimento sobre as ameaças e os riscos envolvidos no uso desses dispositivos, o que pode resultar em violações de privacidade, perda de dados e até mesmo roubo de identidade.

Neste contexto, é essencial que os usuários de dispositivos móveis adotem medidas preventivas para garantir a segurança de suas informações.

Para isso, reunimos neste artigo 10 passos que podem ajudar na segurança em dispositivos móveis contra ameaças cibernéticas.

São medidas simples e eficazes, que podem ser adotadas por qualquer pessoa, independentemente do nível de conhecimento em tecnologia.

Com esses 10 passos, você estará mais preparado para lidar com os riscos e ameaças à segurança em dispositivos móveis. Afinal, a proteção de seus dados é um assunto que deve ser levado a sério, e é responsabilidade de cada usuário proteger suas informações pessoais e profissionais.

Siga nossas recomendações e mantenha-se protegido no mundo digital!

#1 – Mantenha o sistema operacional dos dispositivos móveis protegidos com as últimas atualizações

Keeping the operating system of your mobile devices up to date is one of the most effective measures for ensuring security on mobile devices and protecting your information.

Here are some reasons and benefits for doing so:

  • Correções de Vulnerabilidades: Fabricantes de dispositivos móveis frequentemente lançam atualizações para corrigir vulnerabilidades que foram descobertas desde o último lançamento. Ao atualizar, você garante que seu dispositivo está protegido contra essas vulnerabilidades conhecidas.
  • Melhorias de segurança em dispositivos móveis: Além de correções de bugs, as atualizações do sistema operacional muitas vezes vêm com melhorias de segurança que tornam seu dispositivo mais resistente a novos tipos de ataques.
  • Compatibilidade com Novos Aplicativos: Aplicativos mais recentes podem exigir versões mais recentes do sistema operacional para funcionar corretamente. Ao manter seu sistema atualizado, você garante que pode usar e aproveitar os aplicativos mais recentes e mais seguros disponíveis.
  • Otimizações de Desempenho: Atualizações frequentemente incluem otimizações que fazem seu dispositivo funcionar mais rápido e de maneira mais eficiente.
  • Proteção Contra Malware: Muitos malwares são projetados para explorar vulnerabilidades em versões mais antigas de sistemas operacionais. Ao atualizar, você reduz o risco de seu dispositivo ser infectado.

#2 – Mobile device security also involves backing up your information

Regularly backing up information stored on mobile devices is one of the most essential practices for ensuring the security of mobile devices.

Data loss prevention happens because mobile devices are subject to physical damage, software failures or even theft. In any of these scenarios, without a proper backup, the stored information could be permanently lost.

In practice, in the event of data loss, having an up-to-date backup allows you to restore your information quickly, minimizing interruptions and ensuring the continuity of your daily activities.

#3 – Busque fontes confiáveis para garantir dispositivos móveis protegidos

Marketplaces validate the APPs available, but they are not infallible. For example, in November 2017 a fake version of WhatsApp was downloaded more than 1 million times.

When it comes to installing applications on mobile devices, it is crucial to ensure that they are downloaded from reliable sources.

Applications from unverified sources can contain malware, which can compromise the security of your device and steal your personal information.

In addition, some malicious applications can disguise themselves as updates to popular applications, but in reality, they are fake versions that can harm your device or steal your data.

#4 – Use a screen lock password

Locking the screen with a password is one of the first lines of security on mobile devices. It serves as an initial barrier against unauthorized access, protecting information, applications and device functions from prying eyes or malicious intent.

In addition, the screen lock password is not only a reactive security measure, but also a proactive one. It discourages access attempts, as potential attackers know they will have to overcome this barrier before accessing anything on the device.

This can be especially useful in situations where the device is lost or forgotten in a public place.

Technology has also evolved to offer various forms of screen locking, from traditional alphanumeric passwords and drawing patterns to biometrics such as fingerprints and facial recognition.

These options offer varying levels of security and convenience, allowing users to choose the method that best suits their needs and lifestyle.

#5 – Watch your screen exposure

A person next to you or over your shoulder could be collecting information in an unauthorized way, with the added aggravation of the victim not even detecting it.

To minimize this risk, you can use a privacy film, for example.

In addition to the screen, today audio messages are exchanged, often “played” on speakerphone.

That way, it’s even easier to get information about who’s in the conversation.

#6 – Manter o antivírus atualizado é essencial para a segurança em dispositivos móveis

Keeping your antivirus up to date is essential for the security of your mobile device. With the advance of technology and the growing sophistication of cybercriminals, new types of malware are developed and released on a regular basis.

Antivirus updates are designed to combat these new threats by adding definitions of new malware to their database and improving detection algorithms.

An outdated antivirus may not recognize the latest threats, making the device vulnerable. On the other hand, an up-to-date antivirus identifies and neutralizes these threats, protecting your information and the functioning of your device.

#7 – Securing mobile devices means paying attention when using public Wi-Fi

Public Wi-Fi networks, such as those found in cafés, airports and squares, are convenient, but often not secure. By connecting to one of these networks, you could be exposing yourself to a number of risks.

Firstly, these networks are often unprotected, which means that anyone can access the data you send or receive while connected. This includes sensitive information such as passwords, bank details and personal messages.

There is also the risk of “Man-in-the-Middle” (MitM). In this type of attack, the criminal places themselves between the user and the connection, intercepting and, in some cases, altering the communication between the two. This can be used to steal information or insert malware into the user’s device.

#8 – Configure notifications properly when the screen is locked

The notifications that appear on the locked screen of a mobile device can be a window into personal and sensitive information.

When applications such as email or social networks display previews of your messages or notifications on the locked screen, this can allow someone, at a glance, to find out more about your activities, appointments, contacts or any other information that may be displayed.

In addition, the information displayed in notifications can be used by malicious people in social engineering attempts or other types of attacks.

When it comes to security on mobile devices, it’s crucial to properly configure notifications on the locked screen, limiting the amount of information displayed or completely disabling previews for sensitive applications.

This ensures that your information remains private and protected, even when the device is locked.

#9 – Be aware of the information stored on mobile devices

Mobile devices have become an extension of our lives, storing a vast amount of personal and professional information.

From photos and messages to work documents and bank details, these devices contain details that, if they fall into the wrong hands, could have devastating consequences.

It’s crucial to be aware of the type of information you keep on your smartphone or tablet. Some information, such as sensitive or confidential data, may not be suitable for storage on a device that can easily be lost or stolen.

Being aware of the information stored on your mobile devices is not just a matter of organization, but a fundamental step in ensuring protected mobile devices.

#10 – Enable the remote lock and wipe feature

The remote lock and wipe feature is an essential tool for mobile device security. It allows users to remotely lock their devices, making them inaccessible to anyone who finds them or tries to use them without permission.

In addition to locking, the remote wipe feature allows users to erase all data from the device, ensuring that sensitive information doesn’t fall into the wrong hands. This is crucial because, in many cases, the information contained on the device can be more valuable than the device itself.

In extreme scenarios, it may be more beneficial for the user to ensure that their data is completely erased, even if this means losing access to the device, than to risk exposing this data to malicious entities.

About Eval

EVAL has been developing projects in the financial, health, education and industry segments for over 18 years. Since 2004, we have offered Authentication, Electronic and Digital Signature and Data Protection solutions. Currently, we are present in the main Brazilian banks, health institutions, schools and universities, and different industries.

With value recognized by the market, EVAL’s solutions and services meet the highest regulatory standards of public and private organizations, such as SBIS, ITI, PCI DSS, and LGPD. In practice, we promote information security and compliance, increase companies’ operational efficiency, and reduce costs.

Innovate now, lead always: get to know Eval’s solutions and services and take your company to the next level.

Eval, safety is value.

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[email protected]

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