The magnitude of major data breaches occurring in 2017 were a wake-up call for corporations where security systems and protocols were sub-par. We have seen a rise in automated bot attacks and witnessed the first AI-powered cyberattack detected in India.
Cyber security industry professionals predict that 2018 will have more data breaches and will be deemed the year of AI-powered cyberattacks.
The CEO of Ward Solutions, Pat Larkin summed it up this way:
"2018 will see cybersecurity threats increase further in sophistication and the amount of damage that they can potentially cause."
''Furthermore, as state-sponsored groups increase their attacks on countries’ national infrastructures, civilians could begin to suffer as essential services come under strain… Continued attacks on nations by cybercriminals will build legitimacy for national cyber response teams, and 2018 marks the tipping point when those targeted nations escalate their response to cyberattacks, which they now classify an act of war."
"Cyberattacks represent a very real threat to national security, and so expect countries to devise official coordinated defensive responses, utilizing both cyber and physical, military force to protect their interests."
Hackers are said to be developing huge botnets to attack IoT networks and devices, and the security industry will have its work cut out trying to fend them off. IT security gurus are constantly scrambling to try and keep up with the threats.
Cybersecurity company Fortinet reported,
"The rate at which the cybercriminal community is targeting known vulnerabilities is clearly accelerating, with the WannaCry and NotPetya exploits serving as perfect examples of the need to patch vulnerable systems as soon as possible."
"Which is why our concerns were raised when we recently learned about some of the largest vulnerabilities ever reported—ones that affect virtually every processor developed since 1995 by chip manufacturers Intel, AMD, and ARM."
As we have seen, the cyber-attacks are not limited to corporations and individuals, hackers within foreign governments do it for political reasons as well. Hackers from Israel recently discovered that Russian spies were using the popular Kaspersky Lab antivirus software to spy on American intelligence agencies, according to reports by
The New York Times and The Washington Post.
After the discovery, the Department of Homeland Security to remove Kaspersky Lab software from government computers.
Small businesses are becoming popular targets for cyber attacks, and the U.S. Government is getting involved. From securityinfowatch.com :
"Earlier this week, the United States House Committee on Small Business hosted a hearing titled, "Small Business Information Sharing: Combating Foreign Cyber Threats" that discussed H.R. 4668, the Small Business Advanced Cybersecurity Enhancements Act of 2017. Congressmen and agency officials from the FBI and DHS examined how federal agencies are facilitating greater information sharing with small businesses that find themselves vulnerable to foreign-backed cyber attacks."
"Small businesses across the country are finding that they have suddenly emerged as potential targets of both nefarious solo hackers looking to steal personal information or engage in ransomware scenarios, as well as foreign-backed agents bent on stealing proprietary company information, disrupting supply chain logistics and weakening national security."
Since recently observed cryptocurrency mining malware attacks have been found leveraging EternalBlue, which was already patched by Microsoft last year, users are advised to keep their systems and software updated to avoid being a victim of such threats.
It is up to each and every one of us to remain vigilant and exercise caution at all times when making transactions, downloading files, clicking links, transferring data, accessing and using apps, etc. We cannot end criminal cyber activity, but we can make a difference collectively in making it harder for hackers to succeed.
May you and your data remain secure at all times!
This article only skims the surface of Cyber Warfare. Here are links to a few highly informative articles I found if you would like to read more about the current cyber threat environment and steps you can take to lessen your chances of being targeted by cyber-criminals:
Study: 70 percent of US oil, gas companies hacked last year
Over 75% of health care industry has been infected with malware over last year
North Korean Hackers Were Behind a Recent Major Cyber Attack
Ransomeware Attacks Rise 250 Percent in 2017, Hitting U.S. Hardest
World Economic Forum: Cyber-Attacks Third Most Likely Global Risk in 2018
State of Cyber Attacks 2018, A big Overview about Cybercrime [Infographic]
21 Mindboggling Cyber Security Statistics
