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

Ransomware

The ransomware threat is growing as a new generation of cybercriminals is adopting new technology like AI. This type of ransomware is more powerful because it can effortlessly bypass advanced malware detection software applications and succeed in denying victims access to their critical data.

Just one entry point for ransomware can completely infect a network and corrupt stored data. Perhaps the best way to minimize the effects of a ransomware attack is to create several data copies and back up that data to prevent it from being held hostage by cybercriminals.

Social Media Spoofing

It is now common for fake social media accounts to be used to facilitate targeted phishing attacks. Cybercriminals have escalated matters by spreading misinformation and conspiracy theories. Spoofing will become an even more serious problem when deepfake (deep learning + fake) technology is perfected and capable of accurately mimicking human beings on video.

Businesses can prevent being victimized by social media spoofing by educating their employees regarding this cyber threat. They can also do a better job verifying the authenticity of social media profiles. Those that are found to be suspicious should be blocked and reported.

Zero-Day Exploits

A zero-day exploit finds security loopholes and vulnerabilities in software and uses them to infect the programs. Of course, these exploits occur before developers can identify and patch the flaw. This is why these exploits came to be known as “zero-day.”

Software security flaws are unintended, and their risk can be mitigated in several ways. Below lists several ways to protect your business from zero-day exploits:

• Install all updates and security patches for software and computer operating systems.
• Ensure that all device settings are compatible with software settings.
• Scan regularly for vulnerabilities by performing tests and simulations.
• Have a reactive plan ready.

5G Swarm Attacks

5G implementation will be a new frontier for both cybersecurity and cybercrime. High-speed network connections will enable highly sophisticated swarm-based cyberattacks. Researchers found that swarm cyberattacks are almost doubling annually, and all 5G users are vulnerable.

Swarm devices result in multiple devices becoming infected simultaneously. Infected devices are subdivided into groups. Each group possesses a specialized function. A swarm bot is then launched to attack other devices or networks while sharing data in real time with each other.

Alpha Business Support

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