Some misconceptions have taken root among small business owners and ecommerce stores owners, especially those with just a few thousand in revenue, about cybersecurity.
If that sounds like you, here’s the deal: a lot of what you think about cybersecurity might be true. But there are costly myths out there—ones that can hurt you if you don’t get your facts straight. That’s why we’ve put together the next few lines, based on real-world interactions and research.
Myth 1: I’m Too Small Fry for Cybercriminals
If you’re thinking, “I’m too small for anyone to bother hacking me,” we’re not surprised. A study by Barrow Group shows that 85% of small business owners believe their company is safe from hackers, viruses, malware, or data breaches.
But does that make it true? Absolutely not.
This belief comes from a distorted image of who hackers really are. Here’s the reality: hackers are just regular people, like you and me, but they choose to survive by destroying other people’s livelihoods.
Some hackers are rich, sure—they have the resources to go after the big fish. But many are broke, mentally unstable, or downright bored, and they take joy in making someone else’s life miserable. Hacking your small business? That’s a game to some of them. They’ll wake up one day, pick you as a target, and see who can bring you down first.
In other cases, your “tiny” business may have just enough money or valuable data to keep them going for a few more days before they move on to their next victim.
Myth 2: Cybersecurity is an unnecessary expense right now.
Here’s something to think about: would you skip planning for sales when setting up your business? What about marketing, supply management, or branding? Now, what excuse do you give when your Instagram gets hacked, and those loyal customers you’ve worked so hard to build trust with get scammed?
Too many people treat security as an afterthought. They’ll set up their Shopify stores, websites, Instagram, and TikTok accounts without much thought about securing them. Some of you might be more careful—maybe you’ve got strong passwords—but you don’t enforce those policies on the employees who have access to your backend. You think as long as you haven’t been hacked yet, you’re safe. Or maybe you just don’t worry about it because there’s already enough on your plate—sales, product development, marketing. It’s understandable, but that doesn’t mean you’re not exposed.
You’re leaving the door wide open to identity theft, scams targeting your customers, or even worse, someone getting their hands on your trade secrets or sensitive customer information.
We get it—you’re trimming costs to the bone, making sure you’re only spending on the essentials. But is cybersecurity really that expensive when you compare it to the cost of a cyber breach? A breach that could tank the reputation you’re working so hard to build?
The real cost is in assuming you’re safe. Tell us what stage your business is in, and we’ll find a solution that works for you.
Myth 3: Cybersecurity Is The IT Department’s Problem
Here’s the truth no security company will tell you: we may be the specialists, but your security is *not* our job. It’s *yours*. Sure, we can set up firewalls, install anti-virus software, and even draft the perfect incident response playbook—but what actually happens in the end? That’s mostly on you.
All it takes is one careless mistake—just *one*—to compromise everything. And it doesn’t matter how big your company is. Take, for instance, the infamous cyber heist that nearly cost the central bank of Bangladesh a billion dollars. They had strong defenses in place, but all it took was one employee clicking the wrong email, and boom—the hackers were in.
So, if you think security is only the IT department’s problem, you’re not seeing the full picture. Security is a collective effort. Even if you don’t have a dedicated IT or security team, you can still reach out to a company like Webifant Security. We’ll give you the insights you need to protect your business—insights you can apply yourself.
Myth 4: I’ve got an antivirus, a firewall, and a bunch of other tools. I’m safe from cyberattacks.
This is a common misconception among business owners, and you might be falling into this trap. It’s like saying you’ve got Tylenol, Morphine, and an inhaler, so you’re safe from illness.
Sure, those can help when you know exactly what you’re dealing with. But how do you even know the condition you’re facing is something these meds can treat? You don’t—unless you go to a doctor, right?
That’s the same situation here. Installing an antivirus or firewall isn’t enough. You need to know exactly what threats you’re up against to set the right defenses in place.
This is why you should perform a full security assessment of the resources you rely on in your daily business. Then, implement the proper safety measures and back them up with a solid incident response plan.
Myth 5: If There’s a Breach, I’ll Notice
This is a dangerous myth that can seriously mess you up. A few years back, it might’ve been true. You’d probably catch a breach if it happened. But today, hackers and cybercriminals are way more sophisticated, and they’ve perfected the art of staying hidden. Phishing is a prime example.
These days, cybercriminals can access a goldmine of public info to craft what looks like an entirely legit phishing email. What’s phishing? It’s when a hacker sends an email that’s designed to trick you into handing over sensitive information or clicking a link that secretly infects your device with malicious code.
To pull this off, hackers can swipe a trusted company’s logo, copy their website design, and even find the correct name of someone at that company using publicly available info. Then they’ll register a fake website that’s almost identical to the real one but with a slightly different domain. Instead of *company.com*, they’ll use *company.net*. And with government websites, it’s even easier. Scammers can switch out *gov* for *.com*, and most people won’t even blink.
The cold, hard truth is that you could click on a phishing link and not realize it until it’s too late. One day, you wake up, and suddenly, you can’t log into your website, your social media is hijacked, or your bank account is wiped clean.
To keep your data safe, you need to get strict. Always double-check the sender’s email. If something feels off, verify that the website in the email is the right one for the organization. And whatever you do, don’t click on links in emails. It might be the easy route, but it’s also the most dangerous. Instead, type the organization’s website into your browser and handle your business from there. Risk is okay for business owners until it comes to security. Better safe than sorry.
Myth 6: “I don’t collect payment details, so I don’t have data worth stealing.”
The next time this crosses your mind, remember it was the exact same thought that Anita Sikma had about her jewelry business. She was just a regular Instagram jeweler—posting her pieces, gaining clients, making sales, and getting referrals. Security? It wasn’t even on her radar.
That is, until one morning she woke up and couldn’t access her Instagram account anymore. A hacker had taken over, completely hijacked her profile. But they didn’t stop there—they claimed her identity, rebranding “Anita” as a bitcoin trader. They filled her page with flashy videos and photos of cars, pretending to own them, all in Anita’s name. Worse, they started privately messaging her followers, asking them to receive codes on her behalf because, supposedly, her Instagram was “acting up.” Some of her best clients were blocked, and others were hit with demands for payment.
Anita’s page was only rescued thanks to media intervention.
Looking back, Anita didn’t lose any actual money. But she came dangerously close to losing something far more valuable—her livelihood and her reputation. And not everyone is as lucky as Anita. Many never get their accounts or businesses back.
So, if you’re thinking you’re safe just because you don’t handle payment details, think again. Hackers aren’t always after your payment gateway. They have other means to penetrate your data. Sometimes, you and your business are just target practice. So, never, ever neglect cybersecurity.
Myth 7: I trust my internal team. They can’t expose me to a cyber threat.
We saved this one for last because, frankly, it’s the hardest to swallow. It’s tough to imagine that the people who’ve been with you through the highs and lows of your business could expose you to a cyber threat.
We get it—trust is the foundation of any successful business. It feels natural to delegate responsibility and access to those who’ve earned your trust. After all, trust fosters growth, collaboration, and loyalty.
But here’s the reality: it only takes one bad decision to put that trust in jeopardy. Greed, anger, jealousy, or any number of human emotions can push someone to do something irrational—like sabotaging your security. The harsh truth is, anyone who understands your security system also has the power to exploit it. It’s like how someone who knows your allergies can either save you or put you in danger.
And even beyond malicious intent, your system is only as strong as its weakest link. If someone on your team isn’t as vigilant about cybersecurity as you are, that gap is all it takes for everything to crumble. This is why at Webifant Security, we stress the importance of limiting access—only give people what they need to do their jobs, no more.
Bottom line? Trust your team, but prepare for the worst. Having an incident response playbook is essential, no matter how much faith you have in your people.
At Webifant Security, we like to say there’s no such thing as an exhaustive list. But we’ve put this together hoping to help you see that some of the cybersecurity myths you’ve heard are way off the mark. We hope it clears things up.
Got questions or comments? Feel free to shoot us a message at the email below. We’re security operators—up and running 24/7, no matter where you’re located. We’d love to hear from you!