Month: April 2019

[The following is an excerpt from a guest contribution by Silicon Valley-based writer Leslie Kelsay, who explains why crisis communications pros need to take a stand in regards to attorneys over-lawyering messaging when a simple explanation is best.]

We get it: Corporate counsel’s job is to protect the organization from risk. But crisis communicators often must exert authority on clear messaging with attorneys who would sacrifice clarity hoping to minimize future legal or financial risk, even when they don’t have to.

Take Nabisco parent company Mondelez when limited batches of Chewy Chips Ahoy! were recalled in April 2019.

Mondelez’s press release said the recall was because of “an unexpected solidified ingredient.” They indicated “some reports of potential adverse health effects have been received.”

What was a cookie consumer to think? The worst, that’s what.

Rat droppings? Globs of grease from the machine that forms the dough? Blobs of curdled milk?

Somewhere in the communications approval chain was an attorney or two who wanted to tamp down the potential economic value of existing claims and limit the number of potentially false claims.

But the murky language raised more headlines and consumer concerns than the recall itself.

What was the “unexpected solidified ingredient”?

Cornstarch.

To continue with the rest of Leslie Kelsay’s article, click here.

[While this guest post from tech expert Josh Wardini isn’t exactly about crisis management, cyber security risks stopping you in your tracks will quickly lead to a crisis situation!]

Cyber security is a crucial practice in today’s top companies. It is essentially the practice of protecting a network, a single or a series of devices from attacks that come in various forms. For cyber security to exist, there has to be underlying threats that companies need to protect themselves from.

There are numerous threats companies are vulnerable of, and as hackers are becoming more advanced, more techniques are being implemented as well. While there is a library of potential dangers to be wary of, here are a few threats that are more dangerous and are more common than others.

Software Issues

Surprisingly, there are still many companies that run on outdated operating systems or software. There is a reason why the developers behind these software release updates and new versions, and that is to protect their clients from viruses and other dangers online. Many companies are hesitant to update their software as it takes time and money to do so. However, refusing to use the latest versions opens up their network for more attacks.

Unsecure Connections

Even Wi-Fi can be an entry point of attacks. Understandably, companies want to provide their customers with free Wi-Fi connection while they are within the vicinity, but there should at least be some restrictions. Making Wi-Fi connections publicly open will give attackers an entry point when making their attack.

Phishing Scams

Phishing scams are mostly spread through emails. Attackers will recreate a website or an email that looks like it truly came from the company being imitated. Using this email, the attackers are able to extract important credentials such as addresses, contact details, and the most worrying of all, bank account details.

While it may seem primitive, many still fall for phishing scams to this date. Perhaps its simplicity and effectiveness are two of the reasons why it remains popular among other hackers.

Ransomware

By the name itself, Ransomware is a form of extortion. Attackers will block a company’s servers or assets and prevent them from being accessed by anyone else. The block will only be lifted if the company chooses to pay a fee before a given set of time. If companies fail to pay within the allotted time, the hackers often destroy crucial data to further coerce the company into paying up.

Staff With Lack of Training

Threats to cyber security don’t always have to come from attackers from outside the companies. Even the employees themselves could make a company’s servers or systems vulnerable to attacks if they are not properly trained. They could be prone to falling for phishing scams while browsing under the company’s servers. Even minor issues such as weak passwords could become a hole in a company’s cyber security. Brands should invest in proper training for their employees as they are the key entry point of most attackers.

The threats to cyber security are real, and they are getting harder to deal with each year. Companies should adapt and fortify their cyber security as the attackers behind the threats are becoming smarter and more aggressive.

Infographic URL: https://techjury.net/stats-about/cyber-security/