Navigating the 2021 Threat Landscape: From Ransomware to Botnets
While we are recovering from the worst pandemic. So cyber threats have shown no signs of slowing down. and cybercriminals still have no shortage of malicious and advanced means to achieve their goals.
The Global Threat Landscape Report projected a tremendous hike in sophisticated cyberattacks targeting digital infrastructures, organizations, and people in 2021. Although these types of ransomware continue to haunt businesses and individuals. threats will come in so many forms to commit fraud and harm businesses and people. Ransomware, DDoS attacks, phishing, malware, and interceptor attacks are today considered the greatest business threats. From Ransomware To Botnets
When new threats appear, attackers take advantage. However, most businesses are only aware of current threats.
Associations battle to adapt to these dangers. because of the refinement of their assets. and their absence of comprehension of developing danger scenes. Consequently, associations need perceivability into cutting edge dangers explicitly focusing on their framework.
Evolution of threats: what you don’t know
1. Ransomware
Ransomware continues to be one of the most dominant. Then Evolving cybersecurity threats in the last year with significant incident cases. Organizations, businesses, and individuals stand worse off financially when a ransomware case hits. It costs money to solve the problem, disrupts operations, and exfiltrates data. Compromises of vulnerabilities and misconfigurations related to the Internet, third-party and managed service providers, Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP), and phishing emails remain the most common infection vectors.
The number of extortion schemes increase from one to many in 2021. After initially encrypting the victim’s sensitive information. and threatening to reveal it publicly unless a ransom is paid. The attackers target partners and the victim’s customers for a ransom to maximize their profits.
2 – Cryptojacking
Another assault pattern in 2021 is crypto-jacking, which is related to the developing precariousness in the digital currency market. There are numerous types of cryptocurrencies but this anonymity makes it a handy and desirable means of exchange for attackers In this attack, cybercriminals deploy hidden crypto jacking software.
From Ransomware To Botnets Siloscape, a new malware,
which appeared in June 2021, targets Windows containers. and creates malicious containers, and charges cryptocurrency miners. who identify and steal the cryptocurrency.
3 – Data breaches
Sensitive data stolen from organizations or users is nothing new, but the way threat actors approach it has evolved. Just like organizations embrace new technologies to exist in the digital space, threat actors are also using sophisticated means to leverage attacks – Deepfake technology.
While this is not a concept that has developed overnight, it has evolved significantly. That is, with MI and AI, Deepfake technology allows the creation of a digital image of an individual, then used in efforts to impersonate the victim. Tools that use AI and ML enable artificial voices or videos to be created.
Cybercube security researchers have warned that spoofed audio and video content could become a major cyber threat for businesses around the world. In addition, the widespread damage associating with this alleged content is expected to increase in the years to come. The increased reliance on video communication is also expected to be the main factor motivating attackers to focus more on Deepfake technology.
Recommendations for Deepfake Monitoring and Removal:
Improved digital archiving to identify fake video and fake voice clips
Implement Content Authenticity Initiative to validate the creator as well as the origin of data
4 – Botnets
New botnets continue to emerge as old ones continue to transform to bypass current security solutions. Indeed, cybercriminals see a new paradigm of botnets-age-a-service. Then the hats sell to companies or individuals for misuse and financial gain.
In addition, the existence of botnets in the cloud and mobile environments offers a new possibility. They will soon be able to learn from their weak patterns of user interaction.
And exploit them:
the growing adoption development and deployment of IoT. The lack of security presents another potential limitation for botnet proliferation.
IoT Attacks. In 2020, research from X-Force indicated that the Mozi botnet attack accounted for 89% of all IoT attacks. Besides Mozi, Eco boat, Zeroshell, Gafgyt, and Loli are four notable botnets impacting businesses around the world.
New cyber threats are detected all the time. and they have the potential to affect any operating system, including Linux, Windows, iOS, Mac OS, and Android. Additionally, new threat vectors are evolving due to potential vulnerabilities in the continued adoption of remote working and a growing number of connected IoT devices.
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