3 Predicted Trends For Cyberthreats In 2018
Prevention is better than cure – this old adage perhaps best describes the ideal strategy towards cyberthreats. Cyberattacks show no sign of slowing down, with notable incidents like WannaCry and Petya taking up headlines in 2017. Here are some trends experts believe will persist from the year before; with this knowledge, businesses can be better equipped to improve their cybersecurity strategy in 2018.
1. More Cybercriminals
Simply put, the increased accessibility of technology has made it easier for one to become a cybercriminal. In this digital age, information is everywhere – any individual can search for relevant know-how or tools on the internet.
Successful cybercrimes also are publicised widely through online means. While this may be done with the intention of raising awareness, the internet’s wide reach would cause the information to land in the wrong hands, unintentionally motivating cybercrime instead. Particularly, the potential gain from the recent spike in cryptocurrencies has driven the popularity of cryptojacking, where hackers secretly mine cryptocurrency from unknowing parties.
2. Education & Healthcare Targeted
From the perspective of cybersecurity, these two industries share several similarities. For starters, a shift towards more convenient tech like Internet of Things and cloud storage in these fields has not been matched with a sufficient emphasis in proper security measures, leading to vulnerable network endpoints for hackers to exploit.,
Secondly, these industries have access to a wide pool of confidential personal information, and such data holds significant value in today’s data-driven society. This combination of weak data security and value of information to be gained makes these fields attractive targets for cybercrimes, and increased vigilance and security should be exercised.
3. Beware of Malware
Unfortunately, malware could be considered a victor in 2017. The widespread effectiveness of malware in episodes like WannaCry and Trickbot had demonstrated the efficiency of this method in compromising entire networks. Its main downside is its lack of subtlety and invisibility upon introduction, but the data breach often happens so quickly that the damage is already done before security measures can clamp down on it. It can be expected that malware will continue being cybercriminals’ preferred weapon of choice for 2018.
While it is impossible to predict the future perfectly, being aware of these trends at least places us in a better position to exercise vigilance towards cybersecurity as a whole, safeguarding our businesses and customers this new year.
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