Big Tech Bugs and Cyber Safety for Small Business

Jason Riley
Oct 8
2 min read

Even the biggest names in technology can slip up, and this week’s headlines prove it. Oracle released an emergency fix after hackers found a way to exploit one of its business systems. Researchers uncovered a new cloud vulnerability that could, in rare cases, allow data to leak between shared servers. And Microsoft quietly announced a change to Outlook, disabling a type of image file that cybercriminals were using in phishing scams. It’s a busy week in cybersecurity — but each story carries a simple lesson for small businesses and everyday users.

Big Tech Bugs

When a company like Oracle faces a zero-day bug — meaning hackers discovered and used the flaw before a patch was available — it shows how quickly things can unfold in today’s digital world. Businesses running similar systems are reminded to update software as soon as patches are released. For small business owners, it’s a good time to check that automatic updates are turned on for your operating systems and key apps. Cyberattacks often target those who are slow to patch, not those with the biggest budgets.

The cloud leak story highlights another modern reality: convenience always comes with responsibility. Cloud computing lets businesses of all sizes work faster and more flexibly, but shared environments also mean shared risk. That’s why it’s important to use reputable providers, keep login details private, and separate sensitive files into encrypted areas or secured drives. For home users, it’s as simple as making sure your cloud storage requires two-step verification before allowing access to your data.

Then there’s Microsoft’s Outlook update. The company is phasing out support for inline SVG images — a popular format that attackers were hiding malicious links inside. If you’ve ever received an email that looked perfectly normal but led you somewhere unsafe, this change helps stop that. But even the best security measures won’t help if curiosity wins. Training yourself and your team to pause before opening attachments or clicking unexpected links is still the best defence there is.

Cyber Safety for Small Business

Think of cyber safety for small business like locking up your house. You don’t need barbed wire and alarms on every window — you just need good habits. Keep everything updated, use strong passwords (a password manager can help), and add multi-factor authentication wherever possible. Back up your important files to an external drive or secure cloud so that even if something goes wrong, you can recover quickly. Cybersecurity can be easier than you think!

Big tech may make the news when something breaks, but the same rules apply to everyone. Whether you run a shopfront in Darwin or a small consultancy from home, small steps in digital hygiene can protect you from big headaches.