Effective Ways to Shield Your Business From Spam

There’s a never-ending list of problems to deal with as a business owner. Protecting yourself from spam is one of many. Spam ranges from irrelevant and unsolicited messages to nefarious activities like phishing attempts and spreading malware.

According to Securelist, nearly 46% of emails in 2021 were spam. And Comparitech, in a recent report, says Americans received a “record-breaking 55.4 billion spam texts” in 2020. The report also says, “Fraudulent phone calls resulted in a loss of $1,170, texts a median loss of $800, and emails a median loss of $400.”

While spam levels spiked during the lockdowns and have since dropped back to pre-pandemic levels, they’re no less a nuisance or threat.

Here are five strategies you can employ to protect your business from spam.

Implement Vigorous Filters and Anti-Spam Technologies

The first line of defense against spam is setting up strong email filters and anti-spam technology. These tools automatically detect and filter out spam emails, reducing the risk of phishing and other email-based threats.

Become vigilant about reporting spam through your email provider, blocking the senders, and adjusting your privacy settings, or consider using a service to protect you.

Use CAPTCHA on Your Website

We get it; everybody hates CAPTCHA (Completely Automated Public Turing Test to Tell Computers and Humans Apart) but adding it to your website forms can significantly reduce spam.

CAPTCHAs differentiate between human users and automated bots, preventing the latter from submitting forms, commenting, or engaging in other automated spam activities.

While many web users get irritated using CAPTCHAs, they’re indispensable in stopping much of the spam you get.

Keep Your Security Systems Updated

You’d be surprised by how many online businesses don’t have any security systems in place or ignore the ones they do have, but it’s something you can’t afford to ignore.

Cybercriminals exploit vulnerabilities in outdated software to send spam or launch attacks. That’s why keeping your software updated is essential, including your content management system (CMS), plugins, and web applications. This includes applying security patches as soon as they’re available.

If you’re unfamiliar or uncomfortable with this, hiring a professional is worth every penny, considering how much you stand to lose.

Educate Your Team About Spam and Best Security Practices

A security system is only as strong as its weakest link, and sadly, the weak links are typically people on your team. Not that they’re up to no good, but more that they don’t know and compromise the system through negligence or human error.

Conduct regular training sessions to keep the team updated on recognizing phishing emails, the importance of strong passwords, not using the same one across multiple sites or devices, and the risks of clicking on suspicious links.

Monitor And Audit Your Website Regularly

Regularly monitoring and auditing your website can help you detect suspicious activities early before they can do any real damage. Use software tools to scan the site for vulnerabilities and signs of hacking and check the website’s analytics for unusual traffic patterns or spikes that could indicate spam or bot activities.

These regular audits and fixing security vulnerabilities can protect your site from being exploited.

Additional Tips

• Utilize Web Application Firewalls (WAF) to block malicious traffic.
• Implement SSL/TLS certificates for secure data transmission.
• Use two-factor authentication (2FA) wherever possible to add an extra layer of security.
• Regularly backup your site and data to mitigate the impact of a security breach.
• Stay updated on the latest scams and phishing tactics and keep your team informed.

Contact the Pros at Brandtastic

Whether you need help securing your website or want to take your business to the next level, we can help. We provide expert web design, SEO and analytics, Social Media Services, Google Ads, Graphic Design, and more.

We’re based in Florida but will fly anywhere in the United States to work with new clients like you.

Call us today at 813-441-0275 or via our online form for a consultation.