Top 5 Cybersecurity Trends
The recent pandemic has led to a surge in cybercrime, resulting in a whole host of new attack types, as more and more companies switch over to remote work. Currently, statistics puts the increase in cybercrime at over 600% since the pandemic started, several years back. Additionally, there was a study that found over 35% of IT executives had experienced an increasing number of security vulnerabilities as a result of remote work. Many employees who are now working from home, may find that they are working over a router that isn’t properly configured or on an insecure mobile device, which makes it near impossible for IT teams to properly manage and secure.
These criminals have leveraged off the situation to target those they deem most vulnerable, sending out phishing phone calls, emails, and even SMS asking individuals to donate to a fund that in reality, does not actually exist.
Cyberattacks are something that have been around since the beginning of the internet, and won’t be going anywhere, anytime soon. In this article, we will be discussing 5 of the top cybersecurity trends for you to look out for.
1. Ransomware Data Breaches
Ransomware attacks originally started off as a type of denial of service. The cybercriminals would target a network and encrypt all of its data, then demand that the owner pay a ransom in return for a key. However, over the years, this has changed quite a bit.
Ransomware attacks still involve the encryption of user’s data, but in many cases today, you’ll find that they also steal the victim’s data, and will oftentimes threaten to release the data to the public, in order to put pressure on the victim. A way of coercing additional money out of them. There are even situations where the hackers may threaten to contact the client base of the company, a tactic referred to as triple extortion. Whatever method they may choose to use, ransomware attacks should also be looked at as a form of data breach. If an attacker finds themselves in a position to be able to encrypt your data, that means they can also steal it too.
2. Increase in Automobile Cybersecurity
Automobiles today now come with automated systems, which feature seamless internet access for whoever is driving. The software within the vehicle may be used to control cruise control, engine timing, door locking, advanced driving assistance and much more.
Vehicles that come with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi technology built into them are convenient, but they are also vulnerable to cybercriminals. These criminals are able to infiltrate the systems of these modern vehicles, leading to a whole host of issues.
Another kind of cyber threat for individuals to look out for is eavesdropping, through the use of microphones in the car. This presents a possible risk, for any business owners or individuals with any influence within a company. For this, you may want to take the necessary steps to ensure your vehicle is adequately secure.
3. Investing In AI
The introduction of AI has led to a whole host of benefits, many of which we experience consistently. From more advanced algorithms for the major search engines, to smart devices being able to monitor and learn out behaviours, this technology, has helped improve our lifestyles in many different ways. This may include, face detection, automatic threat detection and much more.
Despite all that, cybercriminals are also hip to the benefits of AI, and thus use it in their hacking software, such as smart malware, which is used to bypass the security protocols that a business may adopt in an attempt to protect their data. For this reason, companies should look to invest in AI-enabled threat detection systems, which are able to counter the techniques cybercriminals use.
4. Malware-as-a-Service (MaaS)
When it comes to SaaS (Software-as-a-Service), you’re looking at companies providing software to their customer base, using a subscription system. With MaaS (Malware-as-a-Service) companies lease malware (which may be in hardware or software form), in exchange for a monthly, weekly fee. This makes it possible for almost anyone to become a hacker, as no prior knowledge is required, in either programming languages, computer systems or cybersecurity protocols.
When a cybercriminal decides to use a MaaS company service, it allows them to lease a botnet, which is basically an entire network of infect systems, that can be programmed to do whatever the hacker wishes. The systems that make up this network, are referred to as zombie machines, they have all been infected with a malicious file, which can be remotely programmed to carry out a wide range of repetitive tasks, such as flooding a website with traffic, in order to bring it down, sending out tons of spam emails, mining for cryptocurrency and also crashing servers.
In most cases, the client will be offered an account for which they can log into and use to control their attack type, this also comes with technical support. The software used is also regularly updated, just like what you would expect with legitimate software. With this new MaaS, the entire process, from hacking to identifying potential victims, to delivering the malicious files, is all done automatically.
5. Edge Computing Threats
Edge computer distributes infrastructure for networks, such as VPNs to lots of different locations, routers, switches. All of which are designed with enhanced technology for better latency, when compared to its competitors. However, there is a downside to all of this, as this presents additional problems or issues.
The first notable issue is that this increases the attack surface quite dramatically, for a large number of networks, by increasing the number of points of which the network can be accessed. The second issue has to do with improving its latency. Especially when this technology is used together with 5G wireless. While on the surface, this is definitely a good thing, the downside is that this also increases the speed of which threats can be carried out on the networks.
The lesson is, you have to take the good with the bad, when it comes to the vast majority of improvements in the field of internet connectivity.
AUTHOR INFO
Uchenna Ani-Okoye is a former IT Manager who now runs his own computer support website https://www.compuchenna.co.uk.