The JBS Cyberattack: An Example of How to Be Prepared
Grant Ackerman • Jun 18, 2021
Having frequent and complete backups of all company systems is the best way to recover after computer failure, malware infection, or a targeted cyber-attack. Another one of these cyber-attacks occurred last week, this time targeted at JBS, the largest meat processing company in the world. The attack was distributed by a group known as REvil, which crippled critical systems in at least 10 JBS plants found across the globe. Luckily for JBS, they were much more prepared than Colonial Pipeline for this attack. "The criminals were never able to access our core systems, which greatly reduced potential impact," said Andre Nogueira, chief executive of JBS USA.
The shutdown of certain plant functions occurred on May 30, 2021, over Memorial Day weekend. Impressively, the Brazil-based company said the “vast majority” of its plants would be operational on Wednesday, June 2, meaning their systems were restored in under 48 hours without any money paid out as a ransom. This is quite the feat considering 10 separate plants with multiple computer systems each needed to be restored to working order from backups. Unlike Colonial Pipeline, JBS deserves to be commended for not paying any ransom to the cybercriminals and having the proper measures in place to bring their operations back online as quickly as possible.
It is never advisable to pay a hacker’s ransom as since as the FBI explains, “Paying a ransom emboldens the adversary to target other organizations for profit and provides for a lucrative environment for other criminals to become involved.” Furthermore, in Webroot’s 2021 Security Report they add, "paying a ransom does not guarantee an organization will regain access to their data. According to our research, nearly 17 percent of businesses paid the ransom but were still not able to decrypt their data.” Paying one of these ransoms is a major gamble. Even if you do receive a decryption tool in exchange for a ransom, that tool may take so long to decrypt your data that it quickly ends up being cheaper to pay IT support to recover the data.
EV Consultech keeps its customers protected by offering remote and in-person support in addition to ensuring all devices have their own backup system s. We also offer services like AI-powered email filtering that keep employees and subsequently their company and customers safe
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In today's day in age, the use of AI-generated platforms has become increasingly popular across the internet. These platforms allow for a fast and facilitated way to complete tasks such as professional work, education, or expanding one's personal knowledge. Anyone has the ability to discover new or pre-existing information regarding a multitude of topics by simply imputing their inquiries on platforms such as Chat GPT. Chat GPT has had a striking impact on society because of how easy it is for people to gather information on any topic. The platform provides information on anything asked through its online chat and it does so with a fast response. However, Chat GPT and AI-generated platforms can have potential risks such as... Data Breaches Data breaches can happen when using any type of online platform, especially those generated by AI. Chat GPT must be accessed through a web browser since it cannot be downloaded. Because of that, data breaches can occur if an unauthorized party gets a hold of your online chat logs, personal information, or any other sensitive data. A few consequences are: Privacy compromises : If an unknown person or group gains access to your personal information through the platform, your privacy has been compromised and you identity could be exposed. Identity theft : Cybercriminals could use your personal information to act under your name rather than their own. They would steal your identity by using it against you in order to perform fraudulent actions. Misuse of data : User data could be subject to misuse when a data breach occurs on an AI platform. With that, your information could be used without your consent for suspicious activity online. Open AI appears to be taking accurate cyber security measures in order to make it less likely for data breaches to take place. However, not all systems are free from errors or breaches in security, and Chat GPT is a good example of this. Access to Confidential Information Chat GPT has the ability to use personal information entered into the online chat by its users. In order to ensure the user's safety and continual privacy while using the platform, it's best to not exploit one's own information when using the AI chat. Gaining access to user information isn't easy for an AI-generated platform to achieve, but if the user provides the data themselves, it can have some consequences. Biased or Inconsistent Information An additional risk in using Chat GPT is that it could potentially provide biased or inconsistent information to its users Because of the wide range of information the platform contains, it could possibly generate false data that could be confused for something else. This can definitely affect industries or companies that use AI-generated content for their line of work These businesses could provide faulty service to their customers all due to the misleading data given by an AI platform. This has the potential to hinder the company’s advances and overall performance as a result. In the end, it's up to the user and the user alone how they interpret the information given by the AI chat bots; it could be completely right or completely false. Question: Is it safe to use? In certain aspects, Chat GPT contains multiple potential threats to one’s online experience. A platform such as this one can provide misinformation and exploit your personal information. However, it can still be used without problems if certain measures are taken accordingly. Safety Measures You Can Take: Browse on and interacting with AI platforms through anonymous accounts Keep personal or sensitive information private Review the platform’s privacy policy and be well-informed about its activity To conclude, yes, Chat GPT is safe to use as long as it is used responsibly and accordingly to reap the benefits. These types of platforms will continue to be prevalent in the world for years to come and it’s important to know how to ensure we have the best experience with AI. Where can I learn more about the effects of AI for my business? At EV-Consultech, we can answer any questions or concerns you may have regarding the influence of AI. Learn more by contacting us below.
Why Using A.I. Chatbots Will Impact The Way You Conduct Business
Pandemic Impact
When an employee decides to leave a company, there is an offboarding process that needs to happen. This process “decouples” the employee from the company’s technological assets and is vital to cybersecurity.
The pandemic has been a reality check that companies all around have shared. It required major changes in how they operate. No longer, did the status quo of having everyone work in the office make sense for everyone. Many organizations had to quickly evolve to working through remote means.
The one constant about technology is that it changes rapidly. Tools that were once industry standard, like Internet Explorer and Adobe Flash, age out, replaced by faster and more secure alternatives.