Cybersecurity Threats deal with emerging dangers and include protecting and preventing means against hacker attacks. New technologies are booming, and our gadgets are becoming more advanced. Both artificial intelligence and machine learning are proliferating.
But, new technologies bring new problems. Cybercriminals are also trying to keep up with the times. Thus, risks to cyber-security are directly related to the goals and objectives of the attackers.
The topic is a hotly debated one, with novelty methods of both defense and attack appearing daily. If you have to submit an assignment related to cybercrime and Cybersecurity Threats you might consider services where students can buy research papers to get a deeper insight into the issue.
Table of Contents
Ten Risks That Can Jeopardize Cyber Security This Year
The Use of Various Stealth Methods
Theft of Personal Data
Threats to Public Life
The Danger for Industrial Enterprises
Threats to Company Networks
Attacks on Financial Institutions
Black Trading
Threats to Mobile Networks
Digital Vulnerability of Systems
Integration of Cyber-Criminals
Conclusion
Ten Risks That Can Jeopardize Cyber Security This Year
It is predicted that various cyber-attacks will continue this year. So, what are the most probable Cybersecurity Threats in 2024?
Certainly, here are ten risks that could potentially jeopardize cybersecurity this year, along with a brief definition of each:
1. The Use of Various Stealth Methods
Given the ongoing development of cyber-security systems and the use of artificial intelligence (AI) along with machine learning, hackers are going to increasingly resort to some secretive and unusual methods of carrying out their attacks, and AI may not be able to detect them.
For example, it can be the use of files with atypical extensions (.url, .iso, .pub, and so on) that were not previously used to distribute malware, viruses that damage the RAM without getting on the hard disk, malicious software with legitimate digital signatures and remote control, changes in system files that are imperceptible for antiviruses, etc.
Devices of the Internet of Things (IoT) and smart houses can also be targets of digital attacks. This smart equipment is expected to be hacked by criminals more often, so manufacturers have to take into account their vulnerabilities and take action to increase security measures.
2. Theft of Personal Data
This year, a lot of stolen user data will still be used in a big way. Given the large number of data leaks, it is likely that hackers will use the information they get.
Hackers can take advantage of the fact that many people still use the same passwords and emails to sign up for multiple websites because they can use automatic methods to pick them.
As a result, attackers will be able to do things like make transactions on behalf of users, sign up for multiple websites using stolen identities, use their loyalty program benefits, control social media accounts for cyber-propaganda, post fake reviews on online stores, and vote in different polls with false information.
3. Threats to Public Life
The spread of fake news is expected to be more intense during the electoral races in various countries of the world. In 2019, elections must be held in several states, including Greece and Poland, as well as in some countries in Asia and Africa.
Many experts are confident that despite all developers’ efforts, the measures taken to prevent cyber propaganda and influence public opinion through social networks will not be enough to stop cyber criminals and the tsunami of fake news.
At the same time, the constant development of new technologies like, for example, Adobe VoCo, complicates the process of separating obvious fakes from actual data dramatically.
4. The Danger for Industrial Enterprises
Cybersecurity Threats to control systems of industrial enterprises will become more frequent. Cyber-criminals and espionage units of some countries can and will use security vulnerabilities to hack various subsystems to eliminate or severely harm the activity of potential competitors.
The first objects at risk are energy and water supply facilities, as well as industrial control systems. Such attacks can lead to a halt in production, equipment damage, indirect financial losses, and even a threat to the health of employees.
5. Threats to Company Networks
The ability to work from home (and more recently, from a “smart house”) and the rising popularity of the “Bring Your Own Device” (BYOD) idea can be a security risk for businesses.
On the one hand, many workers feel comfortable working from home using their own devices and connecting to the company’s cloud services from their home network. In the US in 2012, only 14% of employees took advantage of this chance. The Gallup Institute says that by 2018, two-thirds of them had done so.
On the other hand, hackers could use this to their advantage because home networks are much less protected from attacks than business networks. A home switch or router could be used as a way to get into a company’s system and attack it.
6. Attacks on Financial Institutions
Financial organizations continue to be the top targets for cyber-criminals. The fundamental motives are the same — getting direct monetary benefits, data for accessing financial applications, and credit card details.
Among the “trends” of the year, it is also worth noting the proliferation of specific malware for ATM hacks. The present protection of ATMs against hackers’ attacks leaves much to be desired.
Today, in the shadow market, it’s not only possible to buy devices with pre-installed malware to “open up” ATMs but also to get technical support.
7. Black Trading
In 2018, studies showed that the security of trade terminals that let people buy and sell stocks, bonds, futures, currency, and other assets is not good enough.
In 60% of cases, an attacker might be able to trade a user’s assets, get information from their balance sheet about how much money they have, change the settings for automated trading, and see the past and schedule of financial operations.
So, an attacker can boost the value of different stocks by buying a lot of them for other people or lower the price of shares by actively selling Cybersecurity Threats.
In the same way, currency rates can be changed if a big player or a large number of users are attacked. Because trading applications don’t have very good security and attackers want to make money quickly, trading systems could be used in this way a lot more this year.
8. Threats to Mobile Networks
Mobile providers know how important security tools are and take steps to stop the biggest threats. However, there is still a big chance that fraud will happen in cell networks.
Some parts of mobile systems don’t protect both users and managers as much as they could. Not only are older networks still vulnerable but so are 4G and 5G systems as well.
Based on what happened in 2018, the most common way to attack is to install a rogue app on the user’s phone.
Normal users still don’t know enough about basic security, so the number of people who fall victim to these kinds of attacks is expected to rise in the next two or three years.
9. Digital Vulnerability of Systems
Information technology is used in every part of life and work right now. But years of use have shown that even systems that have been around for a long time have flaws.
Security is also getting worse because digital technologies like telecommunications, security, information systems, and different web services are all linked to each other.
Some weak spots show up where they meet, giving cybercriminals more chances to use mixed attacks, which use different technologies to take advantage of a system’s flaws. Strikes like this one have happened before, but they were very rare.
Now, they are likely to have more of them. So, companies will have to pay more attention to figuring out what’s really going on in each information system and making more accurate predictions about what bad things could happen.
10. Integration of Cyber-Criminals
According to Counterpoint Technology Market Research, hackers will increasingly use remote desktop protocols as a starting point for spreading malware in 2019.
Also, cyber-criminals can create and sell entire software packages to spread malware, which will allow them to apply finished products and carry out attacks, regardless of their own experience in this field.
Analysts predict that individual hackers will form groups to start working together and take advantage of other malware products and the experience of their new “friends.”
Conclusion
Raising awareness of users is not only one of the information security directions but also one of its eternal trends. Fraudsters are actively using social engineering — they manipulate people and use their weak points, such as curiosity, greed, gullibility, fear of authorities, etc.
Therefore, it is necessary to be more attentive to such incidents. Companies should train their employees in safety regulations.
Although there are many problems related to Cybersecurity Threats, the task of security experts, software developers, and company managers is to prevent all those negative scenarios listed above.
FAQ
1. What are cyber threats PDF?
A digital document in Portable Document Format (PDF) that gives information, research, or details about different online and digital security threats. This PDF might talk about malware, ransomware, phishing, and other types of hacks.
It’s important to remember that many of these PDFs come from reliable sources and are safe to use. However, cybercriminals can also use PDFs to spread malware or carry out phishing scams.
2. What is risk vulnerability?
A security system, process, design, or implementation that has a flaw or hole that can be used by threats to get in without permission, damage, or compromise the integrity of information.
Vulnerabilities can be found in software (when there are mistakes in the code), hardware (when there are flaws in the design), and even in people (when they are easy to socially engineer).
The appearance of a vulnerability does not cause harm by itself; rather, it gives threats a chance or way to act. One of the most important parts of risk management is finding and fixing weaknesses.
3. What are assets in cyber security?
In the context of Cybersecurity Threats, an organization’s assets are any important parts, systems, devices, or data that it wants to keep safe from possible threats.
These include hardware, software, knowledge, and other resources that can be seen or not seen.
Assets can include servers, computers, user data, intellectual property, network infrastructure, application software, and any other important system or information that, if compromised, could cause a loss or damage to the company.
The main goal of any cybersecurity plan is to protect these assets.
