I Don’t Have Anything Anyone Would Want to Take

It’s common to hear people say:

“I don’t have anything valuable.”
“No one would want my data.”
“Why would anyone target me?”

While understandable, this belief is one of the most dangerous myths in cybersecurity.

This post explains why attackers don’t think the way we do, what they actually want, and why every account and device has value.

Attackers aren’t looking for your data — they’re looking for access

Most cyberattacks are not personal.
Attackers are not targeting individuals because of who they are — they’re targeting systems at scale.

They want:

  • Any valid login

  • Any working device

  • Any foothold into a network

Your account is valuable because it opens doors, not because of what you personally store.

What attackers actually want

1. Access to other systems

Your account may allow access to:

  • Email

  • Shared drives

  • Internal applications

  • Cloud services

  • Other users

Once inside, attackers often move laterally to find more valuable targets.

2. A trusted identity

When attackers use a real user account:

  • Emails look legitimate

  • Access appears normal

  • Security tools are easier to bypass

Stolen accounts are far more useful than malware alone.

3. A launch point for attacks

Even basic accounts can be used to:

  • Send phishing emails internally

  • Spread malware

  • Exfiltrate data

  • Deploy ransomware

The attacker doesn’t need your files — they need your position.

“But my files aren’t important”

Even if you don’t handle sensitive data directly, your account may still expose:

  • Contact lists

  • Internal conversations

  • File names and structure

  • Password reset paths

  • Authentication tokens

This information helps attackers plan bigger attacks.

Data doesn’t have to be valuable to be abused

Attackers also monetize:

  • Email accounts (spam and phishing)

  • Cloud storage (malware hosting)

  • Computing power

  • Access resale on underground markets

Your data doesn’t have to be “important” to be profitable.

Real-world examples

Many major breaches started with:

  • A low-level user account

  • A receptionist

  • A contractor

  • A single compromised email account

The damage happens after the initial access — not because of it.

Why “small” businesses and users are targeted

Attackers often prefer:

  • Smaller organizations

  • Less mature security

  • Fewer protections

  • Lower awareness

Being small does not make you invisible — it often makes you more attractive.

Why this matters for everyone

This is why security controls like:

  • MFA

  • Least privilege

  • Monitoring

  • Training

  • Strong passwords

are applied broadly — not just to “important” users.

Security isn’t about trust or value judgments.
It’s about reducing risk across the entire environment.

Our recommendation

Assume:

  • Every account has value

  • Every device matters

  • Every login is a potential entry point

Good security doesn’t assume attackers won’t care — it assumes they will and plans accordingly.

If something ever feels suspicious — even if you think it’s “probably nothing” — report it. Early awareness prevents real damage.

Al Davis