We live in 2022, but there are still plenty of folks who keep passwords written down on Post-its, saved in Excel sheets, or even stored in their phone’s unsecured Notes app. Even though plenty of strong security architecture has been created in the past decade, stolen credentials make up half of company security breaches. We as humans are the weak point. It’s a good reminder to use solutions like MFA, password management, and SSO, especially as we’ve seen recent global events spur even more cyber attacks.
Co-Founder & CEO at Hoist
Answered 4 years ago
One of the cybersecurity threats recently gaining momentum is the attempt to have a victim unknowingly give two-factor identification to a hacker. Through various means, hackers will send a code to a victim’s phone, then request that code in order to set up various accounts or even gain control of a victim’s devices. One of the biggest threats about this tactic is there hasn’t been much education given out regarding it–so if anyone asks for a code sent to your phone or email, block them immediately.
The shift to remote and hybrid work environments has meant that teams responsible for data security are mostly overworked. In addition to providing the hardware and software necessary for this shift and ensuring that employees are up and running as quickly as possible, and from multiple locations too, these teams also have to pay extra attention to any security lapses associated with new tools and platforms that have been introduced to the process. All this may lead to errors in security configuration or loopholes in the way these tools and platforms are being introduced into the security environment, putting at risk data as well as entire operations. One way to negate this threat is to bring in reinforcements so that your data security team is able to handle the extra workload without compromising on security. The other is to hire cybersecurity consultants who can help prepare a blueprint that makes things easier for the team.
Data has seen a huge shift toward being stored in the cloud. Though revolutionary, cloud data storage has become a huge target for cybersecurity attacks. With the ability to access information from anywhere, there are many avenues from which attacks can occur. From cloud-delivered malware to unsecured cloud-based applications that are prone to data breaches, there are a multitude of new ways for attackers to take down a whole company.
Ransomware attacks continue to plague the headlines and feature as a top concern for IT leaders. Protection against ransomware attacks can be expensive and time-consuming, and many organisations lack the maturity in their cybersecurity operations to implement effective resilience. Nevertheless, organisations can dramatically reduce the likelihood of a successful ransomware attack by following the basics, such as; backing up key resources, employee awareness training, using anti-malware software across all user devices, email and web content filtering, and having a well-rehearsed incident response plan ready to go.
One of the most common cybersecurity threats out there right now is a man-in-the-middle (MitM) attack. An MitM attack is when a cyber attacker intercepts data from a two-party transaction. Usually there needs to be a vulnerability in a network, like unsecured public Wi-Fi, for this to occur. These attacks are unfortunately harder to detect than most and can result in manipulated or stolen data.
One of the most common cybersecurity threats in 2022 will be phishing. Phishing is when someone poses as a trusted entity to trick victims into giving them sensitive information. This can be done via email, text message, or even social media. It’s important to be aware of this threat and know how to spot it. If you receive an email or message from someone you don’t know, be suspicious. Don’t click on any links or attachments. And if you’re not sure, always err on the side of caution and reach out to the supposed sender to verify. This may seem like common sense, but phishing is still one of the most successful methods for cybercriminals. So don’t let your guard down.
One of the most common cybersecurity threats out there currently is a cross site attack, also called XSS attack. In an XSS attack, a third-party targets a website lacking encryption by setting up malicious code on the site. When a user accesses the site, any information put in goes to the attacker unbeknownst to them. The easiest way to avoid this threat is to only use trusted sites with valid encryption credentials.
With ongoing global conflicts, keep an eye out for tactics that worked in the past for foreign countries looking to damage local infrastructure and businesses. Typically, cyberattacks in the past, whether it was the massive Colonial Pipeline or SolarWinds attacks, rely on the same tactics: phishing. Hackers look to gain access through passwords before locking down a system. For that reason, secure two-factor identification for your companies are a necessity this year.
One of the more common mistakes that startups make is for a married couple to do it together full-time. They do this because each has a talent or skill to contribute and both very much believe in the business. They feel that if they each give it their all, it will succeed. It's a bad mistake for two reasons. First, it sets you up for a severe financial risk. Starting a business is risky and there is no other source of revenue if neither has any other work. One spouse should have a full-time job with benefits so the family can remain solvent with insurance while the other builds the business. Insurance is as big of an issue as incoming money because medical and dental can be expensive. You need a way to pay for it since the business won't be able to offer it for a while. Secondly, couples that work together in startups tend to divorce. They get stressed, start blaming each other, get upset at any financial problems, and the pressure of it all ends up causing a divorce.
A common cybersecurity threat is people figuring out your online passwords and trying to steal your financial records. Minimize the number of passwords you need to remember. Just remember one master password and store the rest in a password manager. Dashlane, 1Password, and LastPass are common choices for password management systems. Dashlane, for instance, uses facial recognition so you'll never need to learn passwords that could be stolen.
One of the most common cybersecurity threats in 2022 is identity theft. This involves stealing someone's personal information, such as their name, address, Social Security number, and bank details. This type of crime can be especially devastating for those who have little or no insurance coverage. This is also related to another threat which is data breaches. These incidents involve unauthorized access to your personal data, which can include credit card numbers, account log-ins, and other sensitive information, that could potentially be used for identity theft as well.
The biggest cybersecurity threat for 2022 is a zero-day exploit attack. These types of attacks have already created huge chaos in 2020 and 2021 as many organizations had to deal with them. This attack managed to slow down the IT system of more than 20 hospitals in one go in Ontario in 2020. So, you can't let it slip easily. As it involves cybercriminals finding new security loopholes, they also take pride to make it happen. They consider them as a skill test. It's clear that more and more zero-day exploit attacks are going to be around you.
In 2022, one of the most common cybersecurity threats will be attacks on critical infrastructure. Hackers will attempt to damage or destroy critical systems, such as power grids, water treatment facilities, and transportation networks. They will do this by infecting computers with malware that gives them control over these systems. As a result, the victims will be unable to access essential services or get their products to market. In addition, ransomware attacks will continue to be a major threat. Hackers will encrypt data on victims' computers and demand payment for the decryption key. This type of attack can cause massive losses for businesses and individuals.
One of the biggest cybersecurity threats in 2022 is phishing. This tactic of social engineering relies on human error instead of technological error which makes it all the more dangerous. If employees are not trained to be aware of phishing attempts, it makes the company susceptible to a breach in security. The threat is relevant to everyone in the company from top-level executives to entry-level employees. While phishing has posed a threat to cybersecurity in recent years, the scams have gotten better at disguising themselves by using inside information that without a second thought, could trick anyone into downloading malicious software onto their company computer and exposing valuable information.
Bots rule the internet in the modern age of hacking and cyber security breaches. More often than not, a bot trained to initiate certain actions will facilitate what you may perceive as an attack physically performed by an insider. It is always recommended that you invest in a bot vigilance system that will enable your company to sniff out any bots attacking your IT infrastructure.
‘Photo of you scams’ are scams that will claim to have access to a photo of you and will try and leverage this to infiltrate your devices and steal data. People will receive messages in their Facebook inbox or Twitter messages saying something like “Have you seen this photo of you??” or “Is what this blog is saying about you true?” The message then links to a page that looks identical to the social media site and prompts you to log in, gaining access to your account and login credentials in the process.
Data hijacking. The biggest risk to cybersecurity is malware that can compromise your data servers and even be infected with ransomware. Sensitive data and passwords can be stolen, and important projects can be lost all because of phishing scams or lax security on open networks. In businesses, big and small, employees should only have specific access to data systems they require, and you should always be aware of potential scams or suspicious downloads on your personal computer. Protect yourself from losing important and sensitive information by keeping your computer secure.
Companies will increasingly turn to independent contractors to complete duties previously done by full-time workers, making third-party breaches an even greater concern in 2022. Hackers can circumvent security systems by infiltrating less-secure networks belonging to third parties with privileged access to the hacker's primary target. At the start of 2021, hackers exposed personal data from over 214 million Facebook, Instagram, and Linkedin accounts, which was a large example of a third-party breach. The hackers gained access to the information by hacking into a third-party contractor called Socialarks, which was hired by all three organizations and had privileged access to their networks.
A few years ago, one small town mayor in Arkansas awakened to the news that an unknown criminal had stolen more than $92,000 from his city. He did so undetected - inside a bank located hundreds of miles away. There are fewer than 1,500 people in that town, so a theft of that size took a huge chunk out of its annual budget. The U.S. Secret Service – as well as several other federal, state and local agencies – frequently field calls about this type of cyber swindling. It continues to be a serious problem – particularly for smaller jurisdictions, but for larger cities, too. That ugly trend hasn’t shown signs of abating. Law enforcement is keeping busy responding and investigating such calls.