Are digital zombies hiding in your business?

A lot of us love a good “zombie’ movie and with the release of Sony Pictures’ 28 Years Later this summer, which has become the best horror ticket pre-seller of 2025, we are gripped.

We don’t often make pop culture references so please bear with us a moment. Sony Pictures’ ‘28 Years Later’ is being released this summer and if cinematic zombies don’t make you shudder, we hope the cyber security version will and you’ll jump into taking protective action against them.

So, what are we talking about? In cyber security terms, a “zombie” simply refers to forgotten online accounts. For those operating businesses, there may be old services or platforms no longer in use that are still lurking about and these “zombie” accounts could be leaving your business and personal data vulnerable to cyber-attacks.

Every dormant account is a potential entry point for hackers to steal credentials and gain access to more sensitive accounts, especially if you’ve reused passwords.

Why it matters for your business:

·       Increased attack surface

The more accounts you have, the more targets cybercriminals have to exploit.

·       Credential stuffing risks

If a hacker breaches a low-value account, they can reuse your credentials across different platforms, including critical business systems.

·       Data breaches

Many of these accounts store sensitive business information—without regular monitoring, they become easy targets.

What you can do:

·       Audit and clean up

Regularly review old accounts and delete those you no longer use.

·       Use secure password practices

Ensure unique, complex passwords for every account and avoid reusing them across platforms.

·       Update regularly

Always use the latest security updates on your active accounts to mitigate vulnerabilities.

As we become more digitally connected, taking the time to clean up these “zombie” accounts can protect both personal and business data from being targeted by cybercriminals.

We offer a range of affordable cyber security services as well as our free membership programme that allows businesses access to guidance, tools and ongoing support so you and your business can be more resilient against cybercrime.