2022 has cemented our dependence on work-from-home technologies because of the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, cybercriminals have found new vectors for their increasingly sophisticated attacks. The following will discuss seven cyber threats that are growing the fastest in number and frequency this year.

1) DDoS

A DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) attack overloads a server with an immense traffic volume to crash a business’s website. These cyberattacks have rapidly increased frequency, sometimes doubling from the previous quarter. Experts recommend businesses take the steps below to safeguard their websites.

• Analyze DDoS risks and develop mitigation strategies.
• Implement a Zero Trust security framework.
• Monitor website traffic.
• Practice cyber hygiene.

2) Fileless Attack

Cybercriminals are increasingly turning to fileless attacks, a stealthy approach for executing data breaches. This cyberattack does not rely on a file-based payload. It also does not create new files. Insidious, a fileless attack utilizes the existing features in a victim’s IT environment.

A fileless attack typically begins when a victim clicks on a link, which automatically redirects to a malicious website. A social engineering trap leads to the retrieval and execution of malicious payloads directly inside the system memory. Although file-less attacks commonly go undetected, there are simple ways to prevent them, as listed below.

• Do not click on suspicious links.
• Keep the computer’s operating system up to date.
• Monitor the network traffic of your computer.
• Disable the computer’s non-essential system tools.

3) Cloud & Remote Attacks

The COVID-19 pandemic led to millions more employees working from home or working remotely. As a result, companies were forced to implement cloud technologies or create collaborative spaces. Much of the effort was rushed, and security was often neglected. Moreover, employee home networks were not as secure as in the company’s facility.

This often allowed cybercriminals to easily find the most vulnerable point in the network by attacking the home network of employees. After this initial penetration, a cybercriminal can directly attack the company’s cloud infrastructure and cause a data breach. However, data centers can be secured by taking the following steps:

• Seek robust remote working and WFH security solutions.
• Strengthen access control systems.
• Implement an enterprise-grade or virtual firewall at each node.
• Introduce biometric and multi-factor authentication.

Part 2 will discuss more cyber threats that are growing fastest in number and frequency this year.

Alpha Business Support

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