Do you think you know everything about cybersecurity? Think again. Cyber-attacks are an ever-growing threat to businesses and individuals. No matter how secure you think your organization is, it’s important to stay up-to-date on cyber security trends in order to protect yourself from cyber-attacks. There is a lot more to cyber security than keeping your antivirus updated. Here are some of the most interesting facts about cyber-attacks that you should know.
Cyber attacks are Becoming More Common
Cyber security threats are on the rise. Since 2018, the number of attacks continues to rise each year. Contrary to popular belief, most cyber-attacks are automated and carried out by groups of attackers. These groups are often organized into sophisticated criminal enterprises with a large pool of resources and highly specialized skill sets.
It’s important to understand that cybercriminals can target any kind of business or organization—from small mom-and-pop businesses to multinational corporations—and they don’t discriminate based on industry type or size or geographic location. This makes it especially important for companies across all industries to be vigilant about their cybersecurity practices, so they’re not caught unprepared if they become targeted by hackers.
Some Cyber Attacks Last for Months
Sometimes, a cyber-attack can last for months. Other times, it can last for years. These are considered an advanced persistent threat. These APTs can infect computers for a long time. Sometimes long-term problems in a major system can be traced to a long-term cyber attack. These attacks can cause tremendous damage and are difficult to eradicate. Because they often seek out as many devices as possible, including mobile devices, computer scientists may struggle to find all the sources of the threat.
Some Cyber Attacks are Created for Fun
Some hackers do it just for fun. For example, there are people who like to hack systems just because they can. This type of hacking is often done with the intent to show off the hacker’s skills and talents. They use their ability to exploit vulnerabilities as a way of getting attention from others, sometimes even bragging about it publicly on social media platforms or forums where fellow hackers congregate. They may even get into smartphones and other devices because people forget to protect these as well as their computers are protected. Other hackers don’t do it to cause damage, but simply to steal money. For them, it’s easier to get into a computer system to find information to sell or to drain bank accounts than it is to rob a bank in person.
Cyber Attacks are Not Cheap
The global cost of cybercrime is in the trillions of dollars. Most companies will be hacked due to the fact that they all leverage technology and the internet. As more and more companies become dependent on technology and connectivity, they become vulnerable targets for hackers who want to steal their data and use it for nefarious purposes such as blackmailing individuals or companies into paying them large sums of money. This is why so many companies spend millions on systems and processes meant to keep persistent hackers out of their systems.
Cyber Attackers can be Found Anywhere in the World
Cyber attackers are not limited by borders, time zones, or language. They can be found anywhere in the world. For example, cyber attackers may live in New York but attack a company from London. A common misconception is that most cyber attacks come from other countries such as Russia and China; however, this isn’t true. Many of these hackers come from all over the world including within your own country. Groups of hackers reside anywhere that there is internet access.
It Only Takes One Person
It only takes one employee to compromise an organization’s security. One employee can be the weak link in the chain and make it easier for hackers to breach your network. For example, you may have a strict policy against downloading any files from the Internet or installing any apps on your work computer that hasn’t been vetted by IT.
They may click on a link they receive via email and install malware onto their device without realizing it. Then, once they’ve been infected with malware, they open up a connection to another machine on your network where sensitive data is stored and begin copying things over, which allows hackers access to those files as well.