We tend to think of hackers as loners, but the reality is that cybercrime has grown into an extremely sophisticated and collaborative system. Hackers can have a variety of motivations, from the financial aspect to political motives. Knowing what they’re looking for can aid in preventing attacks and put security measures in place to safeguard your small-scale business.

Some hackers use their skills for good, by spotting security flaws and how to run diagnostics on macbook reporting them so they can be fixed. They are referred to as white hat hackers and they’re typically paid by businesses they work for to perform penetration tests. Others hackers have more sinister motives, such as getting personal data to perpetrate fraud on credit cards or identity theft, or using viruses in order to create unauthorized charges or cause attacks on service (which will shut down devices).

A secure password is your first defense against hacking. By adding two-factor verification to websites like banking and social media will improve your security. Encrypting your hard drive is a simple way to block hackers from gaining access to your private data even if they manage to get into your device. Finally, keep your operating system, browsers and other important applications up-to-date regularly. Most devices update automatically and fix any vulnerabilities in software that could otherwise permit hackers to access and steal information.

We live in a connected world where our smartphones, laptops, computers and tablets are always connected. Hackers are searching for information that you divulge online. It is tempting to fall into a state of vulnerability and give away too much. Avoid shopping on public Wi-Fi and logging into personal accounts. Also be sure to keep a separate account open 24/7.