A light-hearted guide to making all the wrong moves in cybersecurity — presented by Trusted Technology Partners
Tired of feeling left out while other small businesses are being hacked? Do you find yourself longing for the sweet chaos caused by data breaches, ransomware attacks, and total system failure? You’re in luck!
This is The 7 Habits of Highly Hackable Businesses – your roadmap to mastering the art of being a cybercriminal’s dream target. This guide highlights all the worst security habits your business needs to adopt if you’re looking to throw cyber hygiene out the window and sabotage your own cybersecurity.
Of course, if you’d prefer to not become a cautionary tale, consider this your checklist of what not to do. Because while we’re joking here, the security risks to small businesses are very real – and the bad habits? All too common.
#1: Reuse the Same Password Everywhere
Consistency is key… to being breached.
It takes a lot of energy and storage space in the brain to remember a bunch of different passwords. Besides, why do all that when ‘Password 123’ works fine for just about everything – from your email to your bank account to sensitive internal company files? Bonus points if you include your pet’s name, your favorite sports team (go Orioles!), or your birthday. Hackers love a good guessing game, and you want it to be easy for them, but not too easy.
That way, if your go-to password gets compromised, it’s only fair that the attacker should get full access to everything, right?
Real talk: Weak, reused passwords are one of the biggest threats to your cybersecurity. Good cyber hygiene starts with strong, unique passwords – and yes, using a password manager is allowed (and encouraged).
#2: Click Suspicious Links Without Thinking
If it says “urgent,” it has to be real.
Who even has the time to verify email senders or hover over links? That flashing red subject line about a missed invoice or “unusual login activity” feels pressing – so click it! Trust is everything on the internet, after all. Plus, downloading random attachments from unknown sources is basically the cybersecurity version of roulette – there’s a real thrill to it. When it comes to cybersecurity, live life on the edge and let fate take the wheel every now and then. Why double-check when you can double-click?
Real talk: Phishing emails are one of the most common ways cybercriminals gain access to systems – phishing/spoofing was a top three cybercrime in the FBI’s Internet Crime Report 2024. Good cyber hygiene means slowing down, checking the sender, and hovering before clicking. Your inbox shouldn’t be a minefield.
#3: Ignore Software Updates
Updates are annoying and slow your computer down—who needs ’em?
They take soooo long, and you’ve got work to do. That little pop-up asking you to update your software? Straight to “Remind me later,” every time. Patches, schmatches. If your system’s still running, why mess with it? Like the old adage says, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
Besides, there’s a certain nostalgic charm in leaving known vulnerabilities wide open. It’s like collecting vintage exploits – and hackers are more than willing to help you reminisce.
Real talk: Skipping updates is like leaving your doors unlocked and wondering why things go missing. Regular updates, included in this article about security best practices from IT provider SD IT, are essential to maintaining strong cybersecurity and good cyber hygiene – they close the holes attackers love to crawl through.
#4: Let Non-IT Staff Handle IT
Who needs professionals when Bob from accounting once set up a printer at home?
Outsourcing your cybersecurity? To a stranger (albeit with IT expertise)?! Well, they could be just about anyone. Keep things in-house – someone with no formal training but a can-do attitude is a great way to stay unpredictable. Let Bob run your firewall, configure your backups, and Google his way through ransomware response. What could go wrong?
IT certifications? Overrated. Experience? Optional. As long as someone thinks they know what they’re doing, that’s probably enough to protect your business.
Real talk: Proper IT support isn’t a luxury – it’s a necessity. Relying on unqualified staff puts your data, operations, and reputation at serious risk. Trusting expert IT support in Baltimore is a key part of building strong cybersecurity and cyber hygiene foundations.
#5: Disable Multi-Factor Authentication
Too many steps? No problem – just turn MFA off.
You’ve got passwords; that should be enough! Why bother with codes, apps, or push notifications when you could be logged in instantly? MFA slows you down – and your time is valuable, unlike your data security.
Besides, if someone does get into your account, maybe they needed it more than you did. Have you ever considered that?
Real talk: Multi-factor authentication is one of the simplest, most effective tools in cybersecurity. Disabling it for convenience is like removing your front door because keys are annoying. For good cyber hygiene, MFA is essential.
#6: Store Passwords in a Spreadsheet Called “Passwords.xlsx”
Why use a password manager when Excel exists?
For true efficiency, save all your passwords in a single, easy-to-access spreadsheet. Even better if you leave it right on your desktop and name it something creative like “SuperSecretPasswordsFinalFINAL.xlsx.” Better yet, skip the password entirely and just keep it open.
After all, what’s the point of passwords if not to be conveniently available to anyone who opens your computer?
Real talk: This is a goldmine for hackers. Storing passwords in plain text – especially in obvious places — is the antithesis opposite of cyber hygiene. Use a reputable password manager to keep your credentials encrypted, organized, and secure.
#7: Believe “It Won’t Happen to Me”
Cybercrime only targets big corporations, right?
Your business is too small, too niche, and too under-the-radar to be worth a hacker’s attention. Why would they waste their time going after you when they could go for one of the big companies worth billions? That’s why you don’t need a security strategy, regular backups, or even basic cyber hygiene. You’re basically invisible online – like a digital ninja… with zero armor or even the remote ability to defend yourself.
Ignore reports of cyberattacks targeting small businesses. They’re just trying to scare you into being responsible. Be part of the 40% of small businesses that aren’t concerned about cybersecurity threats. If they really are that bad, surely more people would be worried about them?
Real talk: This mindset is exactly what attackers hope for. Cybersecurity isn’t just for enterprise giants; it’s for everyone. Small businesses are often the easiest targets because they underestimate the risks and lack the resources to effectively protect themselves.
Break Your Bad Cybersecurity Habits with TTP
While we’ve had some fun walking through the worst cybersecurity habits out there, the reality is no laughing matter. These “tips” — reused passwords, ignored updates, blind trust in emails — are exactly the kinds of missteps that leave small businesses wide open to attack.
We get it. You’re busy. Budgets are tight. And sometimes, cyber hygiene just isn’t top of mind. But hackers aren’t waiting around for you to catch up – they’re counting on you to stay complacent.
At Trusted Technology Partners, we help small businesses like yours build smarter, safer systems that keep threats out and operations running smoothly. We’ll help you ditch those hackable habits and replace them with real, proactive cybersecurity support.
Change your habits and talk to our experts today to get cybersecurity support from TTP.
