--- title: 5 Cybersecurity Risks Every GC Needs to Know About description: GCs protect confidential information. Here are 5 of the most common cybersecurity risks you need to be aware of and cybersecurity best practices to help. image: https://blog.linksquares.com/hubfs/5%20security%20.png --- [Skip to content](https://blog.linksquares.com/5-cybersecurity-risks-gc#main-content) [LinkSquares](https://blog.linksquares.com/) Open Mobile Menu [LinkSquares](https://linksquares.com/) Close Mobile Menu [Why LinkSquares](https://linksquares.com/why-linksquares/) [Products](https://linksquares.com/products/) --- [The LinkSquares Cloud One platform for all your in-house legal needs](https://linksquares.com/products/linksquares-cloud/) --- Contract Lifecycle Management Create, review, manage and sign contracts Legal Project Management Centralize your work and keep projects moving Cross-product capabilities Get scalability, efficiency and connectivity LinkSquares Onboarding Experience A step by step guide to get started today --- [Solutions](https://linksquares.com/solutions/) [Customer Stories](https://linksquares.com/customers/) Resources Content [LinkSquares+ Content curated for in-house leaders](https://linksquares.com/plus/) [The Library](https://linksquares.com/library/) In the studio [Demo Library](https://linksquares.com/demo-library/) Community & Events [Customer Stories](https://linksquares.com/customers/) [Events & Webinars](https://linksquares.com/events/) Learning [Blog](https://blog.linksquares.com/) [In-House Insights](https://linksquares.com/inhouse-insights/) [Knowledge Base](https://help.linksquares.com/) [Events](https://linksquares.com/events/) [About Us](https://linksquares.com/about-us/) [Careers](https://linksquares.com/careers/) [Press](https://blog.linksquares.com/tag/linksquares-news-press) [Pricing](https://linksquares.com/pricing/) [Request a demo](https://linksquares.com/demo-request/) Back Close Mobile Menu [Contract Lifecycle Management](https://linksquares.com/products/) [Finalize Streamline your contract creation process](https://linksquares.com/products/finalize/) [Sign Get your contracts executed faster](https://linksquares.com/products/sign/) [Analyze Your post-signature analytics & repository](https://linksquares.com/products/analyze/) [CLM Suite One platform to rule them all](https://linksquares.com/products/) [Request a demo](https://linksquares.com/demo-request/) Back Close Mobile Menu [Legal Project Management](https://linksquares.com/products/) [Prioritize Manage, track, and report on legal work in one place](https://linksquares.com/products/prioritize/) [Request a demo](https://linksquares.com/demo-request/) Back Close Mobile Menu [Cross-product capabilities](https://linksquares.com/products/) [LinkAI Predictive and generative AI](https://linksquares.com/products/analyze/features/ai/) [Integrations Connect the tools you love](https://linksquares.com/integrations/) [Reporting Improve your teams efficiency with KPIs](https://linksquares.com/products/analyze/features/dashboard/) [API Integrate with any third-party app](https://linksquares.com/integrations/linksquares-api/) [Request a demo](https://linksquares.com/demo-request/) Back Close Mobile Menu [Cross-product capabilities](https://linksquares.com/products/) [Onboarding We're here for you from day one](https://linksquares.com/onboarding-services/) [Services Short on time? 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But with the evolving landscape of cybersecurity threats, it’s hard to know where to start. Here are five of the most common cybersecurity risks you need to be aware of and tips on staying safe out there. # 5 Cybersecurity Risks ## Phishing Scams Phishing is one of the most common types of cyberattacks, and it can be tough to detect. These scams typically involve an email that appears to be from a legitimate source but contains a link that leads to a malicious website. Once on the website, the user may be prompted to enter confidential information, such as login credentials or credit card numbers.  **Pro Tip:** Train your employees on how to spot a phishing email, and never click on links from unknown sources. “See something, say something” is the name of the game – encourage employees to share any phishing scams they receive with the company, keeping these practices top of mind.  ## Malware Malware is a type of software that is designed to damage or disable computers and computer systems. It can come in many forms, including viruses, worms, trojan horses, and spyware. Malware can be installed on your system without your knowledge or consent and can lead to data loss or theft, as well as decreased productivity and system performance.  **Pro Tip:** Install reliable anti-malware software on all of your company's devices, and keep it up-to-date. Send out reminders to employees about updates in the software so that employees don’t have a false sense of security. The software isn’t effective if it isn’t updated regularly.  ## SQL Injection Attacks SQL injection attacks take advantage of vulnerabilities in web applications that use Structured Query Language (SQL) databases. Attackers inject malicious code into the database, which can then be executed when the application is used. This can result in the disclosure of confidential information, such as customer data or financial records.  **Pro Tip:** To prevent these attacks, make sure that all input fields in your web applications are validated before being processed by the database. [![Cybersecurity CLM](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/6934676/d4401b0a-8eff-4ae3-8eef-38296acf0b7f.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/6934676/d4401b0a-8eff-4ae3-8eef-38296acf0b7f) ## Denial-of-Service (DoS) Attacks DoS attacks are designed to overload a system with traffic so that it can no longer handle legitimate requests. This can cause businesses to lose significant revenue as customers are unable to access their services or make purchases.  **Pro Tip:** DoS attacks can be prevented by implementing rate limiting on your website or application so that it can only process a certain number of requests per second. ## Ransomware Attacks Ransomware is a type of malware that encrypts a user's files and demands a ransom payment in order to decrypt them. This type of attack can be devastating for businesses, preventing access to critical data.  **Pro Tip:** To protect yourself from ransomware, make sure that you have backups of all important data, and do not click on links or attachments from unknown sources. This goes for all your employees – another item to send out regular reminders about.  These are just a few cybersecurity risks you need to be aware of as a GC. With the constantly evolving landscape of threats, it is important to stay up-to-date on the latest threats and best practices for prevention.  By taking proactive measures and educating yourself and your employees, you can help reduce the risk of becoming a victim of a cyberattack and keep confidential information safe. LinkSquares can also help improve your company’s cybersecurity posture; [check out this guide](https://go.linksquares.com/how-to-use-linksquares-to-improve-your-cybersecurity) to learn how. ![avatar](https://blog.linksquares.com/hs-fs/hubfs/alyssa%20.jpeg?width=290&name=alyssa%20.jpeg) #### [Alyssa Verzino](https://blog.linksquares.com/author/alyssa-verzino) Alyssa Verzino is a Senior Content Marketing Manager at LinkSquares. ## Subscribe to the LinkSquares Blog Stay up to date on best practices for GCs and legal teams, current events, legal tech, and more. ## Related Articles ### [Alyssa Verzino Oct 24, 2022 7 min read More LinkSquares Smart Values for Cybersecurity Welcome back! Here’s the final post in the three-part blog series, outlining how you can use LinkSquares to improve your ... Start Reading](https://blog.linksquares.com/-linksquares-smart-values-cybersecurity) ### [Alyssa Verzino Oct 17, 2022 8 min read LinkSquares Smart Values for Cybersecurity Welcome back to the cybersecurity awareness month blog series, all about how contract management can help you improve your ... Start Reading](https://blog.linksquares.com/linksquares-smart-values-for-cybersecurity) ### [Alyssa Verzino Oct 11, 2022 6 min read 4 Security Stipulations to Demand October is cybersecurity awareness month – and we’re here to lend a helping hand. In this three-part blog series, we’ll outline ... 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Here are 5 of the most common cybersecurity risks you need to be aware of and cybersecurity best practices to help.", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Alyssa Verzino" }, "dateModified" : "2022-10-03T13:59:44Z", "datePublished" : "2022-10-03T13:59:44Z", "headline" : "5 Cybersecurity Risks Every GC Needs to Know About", "image" : "https://6934676.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/6934676/5%20security%20.png", "inLanguage" : "en", "keywords" : "[Security & Data Privacy]", "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@type" : "WebPage" }, "name" : "5 Cybersecurity Risks Every GC Needs to Know About", "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://6934676.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/6934676/Navigation/logo_643dd1b1.svg" }, "name" : "LinkSquares" }, "text" : "As a General Counsel (GC), you protect your company's confidential information. But with the evolving landscape of cybersecurity threats, it’s hard to know where to start. Here are five of the most common cybersecurity risks you need to be aware of and tips on staying safe out there. 5 Cybersecurity Risks Phishing Scams Phishing is one of the most common types of cyberattacks, and it can be tough to detect. These scams typically involve an email that appears to be from a legitimate source but contains a link that leads to a malicious website. Once on the website, the user may be prompted to enter confidential information, such as login credentials or credit card numbers. Pro Tip: Train your employees on how to spot a phishing email, and never click on links from unknown sources. “See something, say something” is the name of the game – encourage employees to share any phishing scams they receive with the company, keeping these practices top of mind. Malware Malware is a type of software that is designed to damage or disable computers and computer systems. It can come in many forms, including viruses, worms, trojan horses, and spyware. Malware can be installed on your system without your knowledge or consent and can lead to data loss or theft, as well as decreased productivity and system performance. Pro Tip: Install reliable anti-malware software on all of your company's devices, and keep it up-to-date. Send out reminders to employees about updates in the software so that employees don’t have a false sense of security. The software isn’t effective if it isn’t updated regularly. SQL Injection Attacks SQL injection attacks take advantage of vulnerabilities in web applications that use Structured Query Language (SQL) databases. Attackers inject malicious code into the database, which can then be executed when the application is used. This can result in the disclosure of confidential information, such as customer data or financial records. Pro Tip: To prevent these attacks, make sure that all input fields in your web applications are validated before being processed by the database. Denial-of-Service (DoS) Attacks DoS attacks are designed to overload a system with traffic so that it can no longer handle legitimate requests. This can cause businesses to lose significant revenue as customers are unable to access their services or make purchases. Pro Tip: DoS attacks can be prevented by implementing rate limiting on your website or application so that it can only process a certain number of requests per second. Ransomware Attacks Ransomware is a type of malware that encrypts a user's files and demands a ransom payment in order to decrypt them. This type of attack can be devastating for businesses, preventing access to critical data. Pro Tip: To protect yourself from ransomware, make sure that you have backups of all important data, and do not click on links or attachments from unknown sources. This goes for all your employees – another item to send out regular reminders about. These are just a few cybersecurity risks you need to be aware of as a GC. With the constantly evolving landscape of threats, it is important to stay up-to-date on the latest threats and best practices for prevention. By taking proactive measures and educating yourself and your employees, you can help reduce the risk of becoming a victim of a cyberattack and keep confidential information safe. LinkSquares can also help improve your company’s cybersecurity posture; check out this guide to learn how.", "url" : "https://blog.linksquares.com/5-cybersecurity-risks-gc", "wordCount" : "757" } ```