SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO AM) - The Better Business Bureau says small businesses lose $75 billion a year to data breaches and other cyber threats.
Jessie Schmidt says the Bureau and it's partners are educating business owners and managers Wednesday on their risks of data threats.
Schmidt says there's been an increase in ransomware. She says cyberthieves get into servers and hold some of the data hostage. If businesses don't pay they don't get their data back.
Schmidt says there's been an increase in incidents but the price of the ransom has been going down. She says some cybercriminals want to be paid in bit coin, a digital asset and payment system.
Schmidt says the panel will include agents from the FBI and the state Division of Criminal Investigation. A cyber expert from Dakota State University and a representative SDN Communications in Sioux Falls will also speak on keeping data secure.
The two hour session is free, starting tomorrow morning at 8 at Avera Prairie Center. To join, go to bbbinc.org and click on the cybersecurity image.