MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The ongoing supply chain shortage is taking advantage of it at the cost of the consumer.
“It’s really easy to get spoofware or something like that,” said Brian Heard, general manager of Snappy Computers.
Heard said hackers have increased activity amidst the supply chain shortage.
“The supply chain is leading to these things. It’s not that they’re getting in, but they’re looking for vulnerability,” said Heard.
During the shortage, vulnerability is a consumer’s middle name.
“Especially now, there are people that are looking for something that was supposed to be here like a week ago and it hasn’t. They’ll get a spoof email or grey ware. It’ll say, ‘Your UPS package hasn’t arrived or had problems'. People will say I’m looking for that and click on it. Then, boom. It’s just that fast,” said Heard.
Hackers use tracking cookies just like companies to see your search history or where you shop.
“They know what you’re looking for,” said Heard.
Even on the business side, companies have fallen victim.
“On the supply chain end, let’s just say at the docks, they’re looking for ways for people who are on the network having computers or they might need to be replaced or whatever themselves … They’re looking for ways to get in. Once they get in, they can get to the network. They can get to the servers,” said Heard.
With the supply chain shortage, fixing cyber hacks has also become more costly.
“We’re talking an increase of $60-100 of parts that we would normally need. Everything is just going up,” said Heard.
Those extra dollars may still be worth it if it means keeping your personal information safe.
Cybersecurity experts recommend staying up to date on software upgrades and thinking twice before clicking on questionable links.
“I can say now honestly Microsoft does not call you, Dell does not call you, the government is not calling you, MLGW is not calling you,” said Heard. “Be patient. Don’t click on stuff if you don’t know what it is.”