CEO of V4 IT warns that silent cyber breaches often begin with employee negligence, not hackers
As cyber threats grow more sophisticated, the real danger to Australian businesses might already be inside the building. Vidit Sehgal, cybersecurity expert and CEO of V4 IT, is warning that staff misuse of company devices is quietly opening the door to devastating cyberattacks.
“Hackers don’t need to break in — they’re often invited by your own staff.” – Vidit Sehgal, CEO, V4 IT
According to Sehgal, everyday habits — like using work laptops for streaming, connecting to public Wi-Fi, or clicking on suspicious links — are making it easy for hackers to slip through the cracks unnoticed.
“Most business owners think hackers are getting in through some high-level cyber warfare,” said Sehgal. “But in reality, they’re often getting in because a staff member has clicked the wrong link, ignored a warning, or downloaded something they shouldn’t have.”
Unlike dramatic ransomware attacks, these breaches can go undetected for weeks. Hackers often infiltrate systems quietly, monitor communications, gather customer data, and sometimes impersonate staff — even reaching out to clients with fraudulent offers or invoices.
Sehgal points to several warning signs that may indicate a hidden compromise, including:
- Sluggish system performance
- Deactivated antivirus software
- Unusual emails or password prompts
- Random mouse movement
- Webcam light activating unexpectedly
To protect against these insider-driven threats, Sehgal recommends business leaders take a proactive, layered approach:
- Educate staff regularly about secure usage policies
- Enforce strict controls on how work devices are used
- Conduct regular IT audits and endpoint health checks
Most importantly, he advises against attempting to fix a suspected breach internally.
“Don’t try to troubleshoot it yourself or take the laptop to a mall repair shop. Call a professional IT team that can thoroughly assess and clean your systems,” Sehgal cautioned.