5 Cybersecurity Holes You Probably Don’t Know You Have
Kalamazoo, MI | October 14, 2025
This article at a glance:
- Most SMBs have cybersecurity holes they aren't even aware of
- Hackers know exactly how to look for these common vulnerabilities
- There's no such thing as absolute security, just risk management
Most SMBs have 5 cybersecurity holes they aren’t even aware of:
Preventable Human Error
Guessable Passwords
Misconfigurations
Outdated Systems
Insecure Cloud Storage
And here’s the truth: without someone managing your IT, there’s no saying how safe you are.
Just think about some of the constantly changing variables in your IT:
Software updates
Added and removed users
New hardware (computers, printers, etc.)
Each one of these changes can create a variety of unique security risks. Despite that, most people don’t pay much attention to them.
And let’s be honest—when was the last time you read the security patch notes for your computer’s operating system?
It’s time-consuming to manage your own cybersecurity, and hackers know that.
In this post, I’m showing you exactly how hackers exploit 5 common cybersecurity holes that you probably didn’t know you have.
1. Preventable Human Error
Smart hackers know that they don’t have to fool a computer; they just have to fool the computer’s user.
In 2023, 74% data breaches were attributed to simple human error. On top of that, 98% of cyberattacks rely on social engineering—or, manipulating people to act against their best interests.
So, hackers know that targeting humans works. But the real question is why does it work so well?
Well, hackers use three factors to their advantage:
Cooperation. Humans are naturally cooperative, and our instinct to trust will even bias us against security decision-making.
Over-Communication. The average person receives 120 emails per day. Most people receive so much communication every day that they fail to check each one for legitimacy.
Lack of Training. 70% of organizations report that their employees lack “fundamental security awareness.”
So while it’s easy to blame the victims of phishing scams, it’s important to remember how many factors are working against the average worker.
Phishing is a type of fraud where fraudsters send emails that trick people into revealing personal information like credit card numbers, usernames, and passwords. Phishing is the leading form of cybercrime, making up the majority of all successful cyberattacks in the world.
And remember this: In cybersecurity, every employee at an organization has to stay secure all the time. Hackers only have to get lucky once.
2. Guessable Passwords
Most people know not to use passwords like “123456” or “password.”
And even most people that still do use these passwords know that they’re taking a security risk; they just don’t bother to change it.
But here’s the thing: attackers don’t need you to use a weak password. They just need you to use a password that they can guess.
And while that might sound like an impossible task at first, it’s easier than you think.
Your password is overwhelmingly likely to include one or more of the following details:
The name of a spouse, child, or pet
The birthday of a spouse, child, or pet
The name of a place
Your PIN number
A word in the dictionary
On top of that, most Americans’ passwords range from only 8 to 11 characters, while 84% of people reuse passwords.
Attackers know they only need a couple pieces of info about you to access nearly all of your accounts. Attackers also know that most of this information can be found online through social media.
But maybe you feel confident about your password. Even so, there’s one more thing to keep in mind.
Hackers will target anyone and everyone at an organization; not just you. And it only takes a single weak link to expose everyone.
3. Misconfigurations
This one is the easiest to miss for anyone who isn’t tech-savvy.
Misconfigurations are essentially any incorrect settings in a system.
But the dangerous thing about misconfigurations is that they aren’t always obvious.
In fact, 98.6% of companies have misconfigurations in their cybersecurity, while 99% of those misconfigurations go completely undetected.
Often times, systems are even left misconfigured on purpose.
Since security protocols can be annoying, some people might not set them up at all. That leaves vulnerabilities like:
Default usernames and passwords
Lack of Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
Pointless admin permissions (the ability for users to make system-wide changes)
As a rule of thumb, you’re usually vulnerable if you’re not using all of these tools:
MFA
Firewalls
Antivirus
Password managers
But you shouldn’t have to give an arm and a leg to afford tools like these.
That’s why I wrote an article last month about the best free cybersecurity tools available.
4. Outdated Systems
These days, even some refrigerators need routine software updates.
That feels crazy, right?
Well, yes. But (unfortunately) there is a good reason for them.
Every device that connects to your Wi-Fi is a potential gateway for attackers to access your home network.
Computers need to restart in order to get security updates. However, only 37% of people turn their work computers off every night. In fact, some people keep their computers running for months at a time! To keep your devices secure, I recommend restarting them at least once a week. For most people, the best time is the end of the day on Friday.
While laptops and smartphones are some of the most common devices hacked, smart hackers will target the devices you never check, like:
Printers
Bluetooth devices
Wearable health devices
“Smart” devices (TVs, thermostats, lightbulbs, etc.)
Because of the explosive growth of the Internet of Things (IOT), hackers have more entry points into secure networks than ever before.
The Internet of Things is a network of everyday appliances that connect to the internet. These appliances are most often “Smart” devices, but can even extend to industrial machinery and medical equipment. The IOT is beneficial because it allows you to collect data, automate tasks, and remotely make changes in the physical world. But as more devices become internet-capable, managing cybersecurity becomes increasingly complex.
5. Insecure Cloud Storage
Almost everyone uses cloud storage services like:
Google Drive
One Drive
iCloud
Azure
However, your data isn’t secure just because you use one of these services.
If you’re not carefully managing who can access your data, then attackers can steal your information in three steps:
A Vulnerability is Discovered. A hacker finds some part of your cloud storage that’s available to the public. This can be as simple as a link to a shared folder.
Other Entry Points are Tested. After accessing the shared folder, the hacker looks around for any more entry points. If the folder is old, its settings may have been adjusted over time so other folders can also be accessed from it.
Your Data is Stolen. Unless you have certain security protocols set up, a hacker can simply download all the data they accessed directly to their advice.
Sometimes, it really is that easy for attackers.
Just back in August, I wrote an article on how hackers exposed 1.1 million private messages on Tea Dating Advice using this exact method.
And it all happened just because somebody “left the door open” to their cloud storage. Sadly, the same thing could happen to thousands of businesses at any time.
Across years of work, thousands of files, and dozens of employees, vulnerabilities will pop up. Not just for Tea, but for anybody.
That is, unless a cybersecurity professional constantly manages your cloud permissions.
Filling in the Holes with a Cybersecurity Professional
There’s no such thing as absolute security, only risk management.
But how you manage risk will determine the safety (and longevity) of your business.
For more information on managing your risk, read my earlier post about what SMBs need to know about cybersecurity.
Or if you’re ready to talk to a professional, contact our office for more information.
