File sharing is a common activity in the modern technological process. If you are not careful when working on the Internet, an organization can be exposed to a variety of security threats.
Regardless of the content of files for sharing, it is a foundation in professional and consumer life. All the time we share different information with others. Because of this, there are different reasons for hacker attacks. Personal protection is extremely important. It is essential to constantly control access to documents. Let’s take a look at the most widespread security threats.
Malicious Software Tool
File sharing is the main reason for intruders to use various viruses and other kinds of spyware. Such problems often arise in peer-to-peer networks because it is more difficult to verify the source of the file here. In any case, the risk can penetrate the organization. If an employee opens a file that contains malicious software, the corporate network could be exposed to a widespread attack.
Common Types of Malware
Unprotected file sharing exposes files to all kinds of malicious code. Therefore, there are always risks of file sharing. Let’s take a closer look at what kinds of harmful programs exist.
Forbidden Content
The disclosure of confidential data, intentionally or not, through file sharing, usually has dangerous consequences. They can go undetected long after the hack and this only increases the danger. The corporation’s data such as competitors’ product plans, financial data, and others, can easily become vulnerable.
An important means of mitigating the threat is what should come first. The organization needs to invest in training colleagues and employees. It’s important to understand what it means to protect sensitive information. Every organization usually has IT professionals. They implement strict controls over files and documentation.
Personal Information
This is information that allows identifying a person’s personality. Data can come in many forms. For example, biometric data, geolocation, and other information. If the wrong parties gain access to it, people can face terrible consequences. It could be data theft, reputational damage, or financial leaks. It’s challenging to know how much of this could spread if unauthorized parties gain access.
Protecting personal data when sharing files is a very important aspect. IT personnel must monitor the strong encryption and use of encryption keys by employees. IT department establishes access restrictions and requires two-factor authentication.
Control and Access
When you work in an organization, secure file sharing is extremely important. Security risks are always present. It is complicated to keep track of whether employees are relying on corporate tools for file sharing. It is often possible to observe that employees use prohibited tools without the IT department’s knowledge. This leads to risks of losing important information.
Recipients should always be verified. An unauthorized agent can easily intercept information during the exchange and transfer of files. To protect against different threats, you will need quality protection.
Disabling Firewalls
There are file sharing services that need to be deactivated or firewalls bypassed in order to download files. Instant opening of a firewall port may be safe at first glance, but in reality it often opens up access for hackers.
Make sure that the firewalls you install are always activated. This will help reduce risks and block unwanted traffic. In this way, it is even possible to reduce the probability of someone installing malicious code.
Legal Prosecution
Files don’t have to have malicious software to be damaging. They may have content that has serious legal implications. Confidentiality of information is important, especially when you consider the emergence of new data regulatory policies.
If an organization doesn’t use the transparency of its information, it will be difficult to keep track of files and ensure compliance with internal policies. Lack of transparency is accompanied by the risk of fines and threats to the company’s reputation.
These risks are more probable with P2P file sharing. A popular way to avoid potential legal threats is to make sure that the sharing service guarantees strong security and encryption. The basic features consist of access control, expiration date and file access.
One of the best programs is securedocsharing.com. The possibility of sharing files has countless advantages. By doing so, collaboration is accelerated, especially in digital times. It is difficult for organizations to ignore the potential risks because it can have a negative impact on reputation.
