Many Cyber Hackers are now targeting small firms, not just the large, global, well known companies like Sony and Lockheet Martin.

Cyber thieves plant software programs on cash registers at small businesses of all kinds which send customer credit card numbers to anywhere around the world they choose to operate. In many cases major credit card companies demand investigations, which the business owner must pay for. 

Hackers are expanding their operations to include small companies that have much lower security levels, and are much easier to get into.

In 2010, according to the U.S Secret Service and Verizon's forensic analysis unit, which investigates cyber attacks, looked at six times more breaches than just one year prior, and over 60% of them were on business with fewer than 100 employees.

Visa says that 95% of the credit card data breaches it finds are on small business owners accounts. The FBI calls this a prolific problem, and that it will get much worse before it gets better.

Large companies have experts on staff working constantly on the security of their system, and do a better job of protecting themselves than smaller companies. This makes it very attractive for hackers to attack the more vulnerable

and easier targets. Dozens of breaches can be made before they are detected. Any business that uses credit cards as a form of payment is susceptible.

A recent survey of small to medium sized retailers found that 64% believed they were not vulnerable to credit card theft, and less than half had assessed their own security safeguards.

The FBI says that one common style of attack is to steal a business's online banking login information and use it to transfer funds out of the business account. There is no lack of creativity, as one hacker added employees to the business account and transferred payroll for the fictitious employees to an off shore account.

Many business owners feel that they are on top of this, but later find out they still got ripped off. Typically, a computer code is planted on the victim's computer, often in an attachment or link from an email sent to an employee. Hackers tweak the codes constantly so that they become undetectable to antivirus software.

The Payment Card Industry Security Standards Council establishes minimum technical protections for a business that accepts credit card payments. Commonly called PCI, or payment card industry, is an important resource to learn how to safeguard you business from these types of fraudulent attempts. If certain standards of protections are not followed the business owner is subject to expensive fines and disciplinary actions.

For more information PCI and how to safeguard your business click here.