What cyber security tools do small charities need?

Small charities make tempting and potentially easy targets for digital fraudsters, extortionists and other cyber criminals, and that’s because they often lack the resources that larger charities and businesses can devote to cyber security.

The good news for small charities is that there are a large number of cyber security tools that can reduce the risk of a successful cyber attack considerably, and many of these are available free or for a very small cost. Despite this, 44% of all charities don’t protect themselves with the right cyber security tools, as they don’t believe they are at risk.

Understanding the risks is vital for small charities, and many of these are outlined in the National Cyber Security Centre’s ’Cyber Security: Small Charity Guide.’ The most significant security threats are outlined below, along with the cyber security tools which can be used to provide security against these threats:

Ransomware

Ransomware is a type of malware which encrypts the digital data stored on a computer so that it can no longer be used, and then demands a ransom to restore the data to a usable form. A ransomware attack can be devastating to a charity, potentially putting a stop to its fundraising and other activities.

Tools to fight ransomware:

• Backup software. By backing up data regularly, small charities can ensure that they have an unencrypted copy of their data if they fall victim to a ransomware attack. Google’s free Backup and Sync tool backs up data to the cloud, and backup software is also available from many security vendors such as Norton and McAfee
• Anti-ransomware software. Many security software vendors offer products which detect when large numbers of files are being encrypted on a computer and stop this activity automatically. Examples include Check Point ZoneAlarm Anti-Ransomware and Acronis Ransomware Protection

Software which is not up to date

When cyber-criminals find digital flaws in an operating system such as Windows, or in specific applications such as Word or Photoshop, they can often use these flaws to launch cyber-attacks on organisations such as small charities which may be using this software - until the flaws are fixed in a software update. That’s why it is vitally important that small charities keep their software up to date by installing updates as soon as they are available. It’s also good security practice to set the operating system and other software to update automatically or "check for updates when starting" whenever possible.

Tools to keep software up to date:

• Software updaters. These programs can take an inventory of all the software running on a computer and check for any updates that are available. Some will also download and run any available updates automatically or with a single mouse click. Examples include IObit Software Updater, FileHippo App Manager, Avira Software Updater, and Thor.