Existing and emerging cybersecurity threats utilizing artificial intelligence (AI), cryptocurrency, machine learning, malware, and phishing are growing in sophistication. Thus, the assets and data of businesses, governments, and individuals are increasingly at risk. The following will discuss the growing cybersecurity threats this year.

Cloud Vulnerabilities

The cloud offers numerous security advantages. These include implementing cybersecurity solutions, integrated firewalls, limited access to encrypted servers, and much more. Although cloud storage is typically far more secure than a hard drive, it still comes with risks. Warning about cloud vulnerabilities, the National Security Agency (NSA) advises organizations to look out for insecure APIs, weak access control, misconfiguration, shared tenancies, supply chain weaknesses, and unimplemented multi-factor authentication (MFA).

Data Breaches

Data breaches are becoming more commonplace. Large companies like Facebook, LinkedIn, Marriott International, and Yahoo! have been compromised.  

Research has found that more than 212 million Americans have suffered from data breaches in 2022, the most worldwide. This is an increase of 22% since 2020.

Mobile Cyberattacks

American smartphone users spent almost 4.5 hours daily on their devices in 2021. They increasingly use them for social media and business purposes, making them much more vulnerable to cyberattacks. Vulnerabilities include phishing, malicious apps, spyware, and weak passwords.

Phishing Increasingly Sophisticated

Relying on social engineering, increasingly sophisticated phishing attacks use messages to trick users into clicking on a malicious link mistakenly thought to be legitimate. This can lead to inadvertently revealing login credentials or downloading spyware. Both can lead to an economically devastating data breach in an organization.

Remote Work

Before COVID-19, about 8% of workers were exclusively remote. This year almost 25% of employees can be classified as such. Remote and hybrid work arrangements provide various benefits to workers. Unfortunately, they also come with cybersecurity vulnerabilities. Remote workers may access their company’s sensitive data over unsecured Wi-Fi networks. In addition, they may be logging into crucial company databases with weak passwords and not using MFA.

Part 2 will cover more growing cybersecurity threats of 2023.

Alpha Business Support

Choosing an expert computer technology support provider is important for your business. Alpha has been a trusted partner of many Washington, D.C., Baltimore, and Annapolis companies since 1990. For affordable client-focused network consulting services and solutions, please call Alpha today at (410) 295-9500.