Cybercrime: Protecting Small Businesses - Strategies and Laws

This report focuses on the increasing threat of cybercrime to small businesses. It begins with an executive summary and a table of contents, followed by an introduction emphasizing the importance of cybersecurity for small businesses. The report highlights the vulnerability of small businesses due to their perceived lack of valuable data, making them targets for cyberattacks. It suggests crucial protective measures like installing updated antivirus software, encrypting data using digital signatures and new cryptology procedures, implementing strong password policies, securing Wi-Fi networks, and, most importantly, educating employees about cybersecurity best practices. The discussion section delves into cybercrimes, including online fraud, theft, and phishing, and outlines relevant cyber laws such as the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA). The report also includes a reflection on the importance of employee education and system security. It concludes by reiterating the need for increased awareness and robust protection measures to combat the ever-evolving cybercrime landscape. The report also provides references to support its claims.

Running head: PROTECTING SMALL BUSINESS FROM CYBERCRIME
Protecting small business from cybercrime
Name of student
Name of University
Author note

1PROTECTING SMALL BUSINESS FROM CYBERCRIME
Executive Summary
The report is on how small businesses are falling victims to cybercrimes. This report aims to lay
down the cybercrimes that are taking place and how the business units should deal with it. The
cyber laws should be adequately implemented and certain precautions should be taken to avoid
cybercrimes.

2PROTECTING SMALL BUSINESS FROM CYBERCRIME
Table of Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................3
Discussion........................................................................................................................................3
Cybercrimes.................................................................................................................................3
Cybercrime laws..........................................................................................................................4
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................4
References:......................................................................................................................................5

3PROTECTING SMALL BUSINESS FROM CYBERCRIME
Introduction
This paper focuses on how cybersecurity is an essential weapon to protect small
businesses. To protect the small businesses, the owners must take adequate steps and resort to
cyber protection in order to avoid crimes. Cyber laws have been framed to control the crimes that
are taking place online like fraud, defamation, theft and others.
Brief synopsis
Small businesses do not give priority to cyber security as they think that hackers would
not be bothered to attack their sites as they contain insignificant data, unlike top companies. This
is the reason why small businesses have become the biggest victims of all time (Shackelford,
2014). Business owners should take certain steps like Anti-virus software should be installed and
kept upto date, encrypting and encoding data which involves digital signature, SSL and new
cryptology procedures to prevent crimes which takes place on the basis of block cipher process..
In case of robbery, it is hard for a third party to access the data unless a password is entered.
There should be a password policy along with secured wi-fi network. The most necessary step is
to educate the employees on how to keep their system secured as prevention is better than the
cure ("How to protect your small business from cybercrime", 2018). There should be clear
policies for them to follow and to train them when security breaches take place.
Implementation of Cybercrimes laws
Cybercrimes are criminal activities involving computer networks or device. Cyber crimes
that usually take place are cyber fraud that is committed in online auction and online retail, cyber
theft where thieves steal data like victim’s identification to access the financial resources or
phishing (Miller, 2013). The cyber laws have been created which determines the acts that are

4PROTECTING SMALL BUSINESS FROM CYBERCRIME
illegal and can cause harm to the computer system. The Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA)
was enacted to deal with unauthorized access to computers. This Act empowers to search and to
seize records from ISP, for protecting trade secrets and other information. Both civil and criminal
suits can be brought against persons illegally accessing another’s computer or tampering with the
data (Aggarwal, Arora & Ghai, 2014). Investigation powers have been given to authorities to
conduct into the matters. Along with this, legislations have been made to protect the Intellectual
properties.
Reflection
After going through the video, I feel that while running a business, one of the top
priorities should be educating the employees. Aware employees can prevent the cyber attacks in
a more efficient way. The second top priority should be keeping encrypted and well-secured
systems so that it is not easy to retrieve materials easily.
Conclusion
The cybercrime industry is gaining success day by day, and there is no slowdown in the
growth. The reason for such increase is lack of awareness and less protection in the small
business unit. They keep finding innovative ways to steal information. To avoid such threats,
necessary techniques and laws should be implemented

5PROTECTING SMALL BUSINESS FROM CYBERCRIME
References:
Aggarwal, P., Arora, P., & Ghai, R. (2014). Review on cybercrime and security. International
Journal of Research in Engineering and Applied Sciences, 2(1), 48-51.
How to protect your small business from cybercrime. (2018). Retrieved from
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhgBFzTPHbE
Miller, R. L. (2013). Fundamental of Business Law: Summarized Cases (Doctoral dissertation,
South Western).
Shackelford, S. J. (2014). Managing cyber attacks in international law, business, and relations:
In search of cyber peace. Cambridge University Press.