Cybercrime is intensifying to a frightening degree. Every year, more cybercriminals become active, and every second, more cyber threats appear online. Individuals, businesses and public agencies are increasingly coming under direct attack of direct attacks, and traditional authorities have limited ability to deter, disrupt and prosecute offenders.
Many online users feel hopeless about the current and future of cybersecurity, but the truth is that awareness of cybersecurity threats is one of the best ways to avoid them. You can learn more about the most serious threats to you in 2023 right here:
Ransomware
Ransomware is not a new threat; in fact, the first ransomware attack occurred in 1989, and ransomware has been surging in popularity for more than a decade. Still, ransomware remains among the most dangerous cyberthreats simply because there is so much of it on the web.
Cybercriminals are heavily incentivized to create and deploy ransomware. It is a relatively simple program that can generate incredible amounts of ill-gotten income, especially if the ransomware is designed to attack business networks rather than personal devices. With ransomware, cybercriminals gain not just the money paid through ransoms but also the data pilfered during the attack.
You can avoid ransomware with a strong cybersecurity suite and effective cyber hygiene. Generally, you want to avoid paying ransoms, which provide no guarantee of the return of your data or devices and might result in additional ransomware attacks. If you are struggling to recover from a ransomware attack, you should work with ransomware experts to recover your data and develop stronger defenses for the future.
Cloud Threats
So much digital information and applications exist entirely on the cloud — which is why the cloud has become such a significant target for cyberattack. While cloud computing is typically safer than storing valuable data on in-house servers or local hard drives, there have been an increasing number of vulnerabilities identified in cloud infrastructures, and cloud threats are likely to proliferate in coming years.
The best way to avoid risks associated with cloud computing is to thoroughly research and vet potential cloud providers before partnering with them. You should ask detailed questions about security solutions and protocols to understand how safe your information and applications will be. You may also want to invest in additional cloud protections to secure data as it passes out of the cloud and onto your network.
Mobile Malware
For years now, mobile web traffic has exceeded traffic from traditional computers, but only now are cybercriminals putting effort into developing malware capable of infiltrating mobile devices. There are several different types of mobile malware, but the most common is malware masquerading as legitimate applications, like QR code readers and games.
Fortunately, there is a relatively simple way for every mobile user to avoid mobile malware almost entirely: download mobile apps only from trusted stores. The Apple App Store and Google Play aggressively vet every available application and eliminate apps with malicious codes. You should never download an app from a third-party website, as it is much easier for cybercriminals to corrupt it with malware.
Weaponization of Tools
There is a fine line between malware and the tools used by cybersecurity professionals to perform penetration tests and manage system administration. The same functionality that cybercriminals might utilize in malware is often present in a target’s operating system in the form of legitimate tools, with the effect that cybersecurity tools might not recognize this functionality as a threat. Unfortunately, cybercriminals have increasingly found ways to leverage built-in features of legitimate tools, which makes the detection and removal of malware increasingly difficult.
There is little you can do to combat the weaponization of the tools present on your devices and systems beyond working with cybersecurity firms to improve detection of threats across your network. Ideally, more advanced malware detection tools in the future will be capable of identifying threats that utilize this strategy, but for now, you should not expect bargain cybersecurity solutions to protect you from all such attacks.
If you find yourself interested in the latest cybersecurity threats, you might look into different types of online cybersecurity degrees. Because of rising cybercrime rates, the cybersecurity field is truly recession-proof, and everyone from small businesses to state governments desperately need knowledgeable and skilled cybersecurity professionals to keep them safe. By investing in yourself with a cybersecurity degree, you can help turn the tide against cybercrime, making the world a better place.
