As we prepare for the opportunities that may reveal themselves in 2023, the New Year is a time of renewal. Additionally, now is the time to prepare for safeguarding against persistent cyberattacks.
Sixty-eight percent of corporate executives questioned believe that cybersecurity dangers are increasing and they are correct in their thinking. Attacks keep evolving in sophistication and are frequently committed by powerful criminal organizations. These criminal organizations approach these assaults as a business.
It’s critical to keep an eye on attack patterns to safeguard your company in the upcoming year. What new techniques do hackers employ? What types of attacks are happening more frequently? Knowing these things is essential. It enables you to more effectively upgrade your IT security to lessen the chance of a malware outbreak or data breach.
The security crystal ball for the following year has been taken out. We also looked into what cybersecurity professionals anticipate. The Top Cybersecurity Attack Trends that you should be aware of are listed below.
Enhanced Phishing Using AI And Machine Learning
Phishing emails are harder to detect these days. They used to almost contain invariably grammatical or image quality issues. While a few still do, the majority do not.
Using AI and machine learning, criminal organizations enhance current phishing. It is customized and has the same appearance as emails from a legitimate brand. These strategies are used by hackers. Additionally, they enable hackers to send out more precise phishing messages faster than in the past.
5G Devices Attacks
5G has been making headlines throughout the globe for some time. The promise of blazing-fast internet is now starting to materialize. Anticipate seeing this as a high-attack area as providers expand the infrastructure.
Hackers are attempting to exploit the 5G gear in use by PCs, mobile devices, and routers. It’s inevitable for new technologies like these to have some coding flaws. This is the exact situation that hackers are looing to take advantage of.
As a result of being informed of the software security of the devices you purchase, you can be ready. For those with 5G equipped devices, this is especially true. Better firmware security will be incorporated into some manufacturers’ designs than others. Inquire about this before buying any new equipment.
Mobile Device Attacks And Smishing
These days, we almost always carry our mobile devices with us. Cybercriminals are aware of this close relationship to our mobile devices, creating other opportunities for them to prey on you. Watch out for increased mobile-based assaults, such as SMS-based phishing (also known as “Smishing”).
Many clients don’t expect getting fake messages on their mobile phones. However, the secrecy around cell numbers has diminished over time. Online vendors sell lists of them to hackers. Then they create plausible fraudulent SMS that appear to be shipment notifications or receipts. An account or data breach only requires one incorrect click.
Mobile malware is quickly increasing its presence. The amount of malware that targets mobile devices increased by 500% in the first few months of 2022. It’s critical to have effective mobile anti-malware. Additionally, your devices may have additional security measures like a DNS filter.
Attacks And Events In The World
The volume of cyberattacks grew by almost 600% during the pandemic. Large criminal hacking organizations have learned how lucrative current events and natural disasters can be.
For major world events, they start phishing efforts. Everything is attacked, from the most recent storm or hurricane to the conflict in Ukraine. People who are unwary frequently fall for these tricks. This is because the crisis frequently diverts their attention.
Scams related to these kinds of events should be avoided by people. To manipulate people’s emotions, they frequently employ social engineering techniques like depressing photographs.
Bypassing One-time Passwords (OTP)
This worrying new trend aims to circumvent one of the finest account security measures. It is commonly known that multi-factor authentication (MFA) works wonders at thwarting fraudulent sign-in attempts. Even in situations where the criminal possesses the user’s password, it can thwart account takeovers.
Hackers have used a number of methods to get around MFA. These consist of:
• Reusing a Token: Obtaining a recent user OTP and attempting to use it again
• Sharing Unused Tokens: To obtain an OTP, the hacker uses their own account. The OTP is then used to access a different account.
• Leaked Token: Utilizing an OTP token that was compromised by a web application.
• Password Reset Feature: Phishing is a technique used by hackers to trick users into changing their passwords. They then trick clients into sending their OTP via SMS or email.
Conclusion
Is your organization ready for the Cyber threats in 2023? Avoid waiting to learn the hard way! To arrange a cybersecurity check-up so you can keep one step ahead of online attackers, please reach out to our President, Frank Stephens, at [email protected], or our Service Delivery Manager, Simon Jakubzcak, at [email protected].