Hackers Don’t Knock — Protect Your Home with Personal Cyber Insurance

In today’s world, “home” doesn’t just mean four walls and a roof—it means smart devices, Wi-Fi, personal data, online banking, and connected everything. As our digital lives continue to expand, the risks do too. Cyber threats aren’t just for big corporations anymore, they’re happening every day to individuals.

Here’s why personal cyber insurance coverage matters more than ever.

The Hidden Risk Isn’t Always What You Think

Savvy homeowners know to protect their property from fire, theft and natural disasters. What often gets overlooked? Digital threats. According to the Insurance Information Institute, 75% of consumers have experienced some form of data loss or cyber-attack, and yet more than 50% of insurance agents say their clients don’t fully understand the value of cyber insurance.

Homeowners insurance traditionally covers physical damage, property liability or theft but not necessarily when your malware-infected smart device triggers a breach or hackers get into your laptop. That’s why personal cyber insurance is becoming a crucial add-on.

Growing Exposure to Cyber Crime

Digital threats aren’t theoretical. They’re happening, and they’re expensive. Three out of four consumers have had their personal information lost or stolen, and 28% of consumers have had a social media account hacked. The average payout for a home cyber claim is more than $10,000.

Your home now hosts a host of entry points for hackers: smart doorbells, Wi-Fi cameras, network-connected thermostats and even your child’s tablet. A single phishing email, ransomware incident or data breach can set off a chain reaction of fees, identity restoration and reputation damage.

It’s easy to assume cybercrime only happens to big companies or wealthy individuals, but most incidents target everyday people. Take, for example, a family whose Wi-Fi baby monitor was hacked, allowing strangers to see and hear inside their home. Or a retiree who unknowingly clicked a phishing link that wiped out their savings account in minutes. Even small events like a teen’s social media account being hijacked and used for scams can lead to legal headaches, reputation damage and financial loss.

What Cyber Insurance Covers

How can personal cyber insurance help you in the instance of a breach?

• Identity theft & online fraud: Coverage for legal and financial institution fees, credit monitoring and lost wages after an identity incident.

• Cyber extortion/ransomware: Services to handle ransomware attacks and recover compromised files.

• Data breach expenses: Costs tied to investigating how a breach occurred and notifying impacted individuals.

• Smart-home device attacks: Help repairing or replacing systems hacked via IoT vulnerabilities.

• Online harassment / cyber-bullying: For families, especially, coverage can help deal with consequences of cyber-bullying or online defamation such as social media monitoring, counseling or reputation management.

Because most standard homeowners policies don’t explicitly cover these scenarios, cyber insurance often comes as an endorsement or separate policy.

Why Cyber Insurance Is So Important Now

Modern homeowners face new risks — from hacked smart devices to stolen identities — and traditional coverage isn’t always enough. Consider this:

• Exposure is everywhere: From remote work to connected devices, your home is a digital hub—and cyber risk follows.

• It’s not about if, but when: Accepting that cyber threats are inevitable is the first step. The right coverage helps you react, not just suffer.

• The right policy matters: Every cyber policy is different in what it covers. Knowing the exclusions, and what your coverage provides, can save you headaches.

• Budget-wise, it makes sense: Personal cyber endorsements can cost a nominal amount compared to what you stand to lose if you’re a victim.

What You Should Do Right Now

1. Ask your agent if your homeowners or renters policy explicitly includes or excludes cyber risk.

2. Consider adding a cyber endorsement or standalone policy if you use smart devices, do remote work, shop online frequently, or have multiple connected family members.

3. Review what’s covered: identity theft response, ransomware recovery, device repair or replacement, reputation restoration, etc.

4. Keep your digital house in order: enable two-factor authentication, use unique passwords, update firmware, and be wary of email links. Prevention is still the most effective first line of defense.

The digital world is part of daily life, but it also brings new risks to every household. Personal cyber insurance is a simple way to protect what matters most—your identity, your data and your sense of security. Having the right coverage in place means you have a partner to help you navigate the aftermath while minimizing disruption to your life.

Contact us to ensure your home is fully protected: 937-324-8492.

Rising Cyber Threats to Ohio’s Blue-Collar Industries: Why Now Is the Time to Assess Your Cyber Insurance

Cybercrime is no longer an issue reserved for technology companies, hospitals or financial institutions. Increasingly, industries that have historically considered themselves “low risk” for cyberattacks, such as construction, manufacturing and distributors, are finding themselves in the crosshairs of cybercriminals. Attackers are going where defenses are weakest, and right now, that includes blue-collar industries across Ohio.

For Ohio business owners, this trend carries significant implications. Many of these industries are the backbone of the state’s economy, employing thousands and supporting vital supply chains. Unfortunately, these same sectors often lag behind in cybersecurity investment, leaving gaps that attackers are eager to exploit.

We’re exploring why blue-collar industries are now prime cyber targets, how attacks unfold and what steps businesses can take to protect themselves against potentially devastating losses.

Cybercrime by the Numbers

The scale of cybercrime continues to rise year over year. In 2023, the FB’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) received 21,489 complaints related to Business Email Compromise (BEC), with reported losses exceeding $2.9 billion. BEC is a sophisticated scheme that targets both businesses and individuals engaged in fund transfers. These scams are often executed by compromising legitimate business email accounts, typically through social engineering or computer intrusion, and then using them to initiate unauthorized transfers of money.

What’s striking is that attackers are no longer just chasing sensitive personal data or credit card information. They’re looking for ways to disrupt operations, lock down systems and extort ransoms – tactics that work just as effectively on a manufacturing plant in Ohio as they do on a tech startup in Silicon Valley.

In fact, a recent IBM Cost of a Data Breach Report found that the average cost of a breach globally reached $4.4 million. Even smaller breaches, affecting fewer than 1,000 records, can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars when factoring in downtime, recovery and reputational harm.

Why Ohio’s Blue-Collar Industries Are Being Targeted by Cyberattacks

1. Legacy Systems and Limited IT Resources

Many construction, manufacturing and distribution firms operate with outdated software, machinery or enterprise systems. These legacy platforms may not receive regular security patches, creating vulnerabilities. In smaller cities like Urbana and Springfield, Ohio, IT teams are often lean, making it difficult to keep up with evolving threats.

2. Operational Disruption as Leverage

Unlike banks or hospitals, blue-collar industries may not store vast amounts of consumer financial data. But what they do have is something equally valuable: production continuity. If a ransomware attack locks up a manufacturing line in Dayton, Ohio, the cost of halted operations can skyrocket within hours. Attackers know this urgency often forces companies to pay ransoms quickly.

3. Supply Chain Weakness

Wholesale distributors and manufacturers are critical links in supply chains. Cybercriminals may target these companies not only for direct profit, but also as stepping stones to larger businesses and clients. A compromised vendor can become the entry point for attacks across an entire network of companies.

4. Underestimation of Risk

Perhaps the most significant factor is perception. Many blue-collar businesses have historically believed they weren’t “interesting” enough for hackers to target. That misconception is changing rapidly and unfortunately, it means many companies are underinsured or unprepared when an incident occurs.

Real-World Examples of Cyberattacks on Ohio Businesses

• Rumpke Waste and Recycling in Colerain Township, Ohio was hit by a ransomware attack attributed to the cybercriminal group Hunters International. The attackers reportedly demanded a ransom within 24 hours to prevent further data exposure.\

• Crown Equipment, a manufacturing company based in New Bremen, Ohio with nearly 20,000 employees, was forced to shut down temporarily due to a cyberattack in 2024.

• The City of Athens lost $700,000 in a phishing scam when scammers faked a bank transfer agreement that looked like it was coming from Pepper Construction, the company that built the city’s new fire station and is remodeling the Armory building.

These cases highlight that no business, regardless of size or industry, is immune.

Cyber Liability Insurance in Ohio

Even the most diligent cybersecurity strategy cannot guarantee 100% protection. That’s why cyber liability insurance has become an essential tool for Ohio businesses.

A strong cyber liability policy can cover:

• Data Breach Response Costs – including forensic investigations, legal fees and notification to affected parties.

• Business Interruption Losses – compensating for lost income during downtime caused by an attack.

• Ransomware and Extortion Payments – helping businesses respond if criminals demand payment.

• Third-Party Liability – covering damages if an attack on your systems impacts clients, partners or vendors.

• Reputational Harm and Public Relations Support – assisting in managing customer trust after an incident.

It’s important to note that not all cyber insurance policies are created equal. For example, some exclude coverage for social engineering fraud, while others may cap payments for ransomware incidents. Businesses should work with a trusted insurance partner to carefully review their existing coverage and identify gaps.

How Ohio Businesses Can Strengthen Their Defenses Against Cyber Criminals

Beyond insurance, companies in construction, manufacturing and distribution should take proactive steps to reduce risk:

1. Employee Training
   Human error is often the weakest link. Regular training on phishing, password hygiene and suspicious email recognition is critical.

2. Patch and Update Systems
   Keeping operating systems, industrial control software, and even IoT devices updated closes many of the most common security gaps.

3. Implement Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
   MFA significantly reduces the risk of compromised credentials being used in attacks.

4. Conduct Regular Risk Assessments
   Independent IT security audits can identify vulnerabilities that internal teams may miss.

5. Develop an Incident Response Plan
   Knowing exactly how to respond when an attack occurs – who to call, how to isolate systems, and how to notify stakeholders – can save precious time and minimize damage.

For more guidance, the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) provides helpful resources for small and mid-sized businesses.

Why Now Is the Time to Asses Your Cyber Insurance

Cyber threats are not slowing down. With the rise of artificial intelligence, phishing scams are becoming more sophisticated, and ransomware groups are growing bolder. For businesses, this means the risks are not only growing, but evolving.

Choosing to ignore these risks could result in devastating financial losses, legal liability and reputational harm that takes years to rebuild. On the other hand, businesses that proactively invest in cybersecurity measures and review their cyber liability insurance are positioning themselves to survive in this expanding digital environment.

Wallace & Turner’s Cyber Coverage for Ohio Businesses

At Wallace & Turner Insurance, we’ve served businesses across Ohio for more than a century, and we understand the unique challenges facing our region’s construction firms, manufacturers and distributors. Our team can help you:

• Evaluate your current cyber liability policy

• Identify potential gaps in coverage

• Benchmark your protection against industry best practices

• Provide risk management resources to strengthen your overall cybersecurity

Whether you’re a manufacturing company in Dayton, a construction firm in Urbana or a distributor in Springfield, we’re here to make sure your business is prepared for today’s evolving cyber threat landscape.