The Evolution of Cyber Attacks in 2022
As we celebrate the arrival of another new year, we must also prepare for what lies in store for us the following 12 months. As time goes on, cybersecurity gets more and more advanced, leaving us to figure out and adapt to the new ways it changes. Here are a few ways that cyber security and all of its threats are projected to evolve in 2022 from security firm Palo Alto Network.
A rise in bitcoin-centered scams
Cryptocurrency, especially Bitcoin, will fuel the rise of the ransomware industry, with larger attacks on important infrastructure. The company said in its report that due to its decentralized character, it will be difficult for regulators to track down the hackers.
Bitcoin is a decentralized currency, which means it is not regulated by any government or organisation. Most often, threat actors demand ransomware payments in cryptocurrency because this form of payment provides anonymity for the destination address associated with the ransom demand. Unlike bank accounts, no personally identifiable information is required to obtain a crypto wallet.
Countries’ critical digital infastructure in the crosshairs
Increased usage of smart devices, will create tonnes of digital data that will double up in 2022. It should be noted the more data we produce, the problematic it becomes in terms of storing the data securely.
According to Palo Alto Networks, organizations need to draw up a strategic approach that will provide complete visibility into the security infrastructure. The company recommends a Zero Trust architecture combined with Artificial Intelligence (AI). A zero trust architecture (ZTA) is an cybersecurity solution designed to prevent data breaches and limit any internal data leakage.
Cyberattacks on essential infrastructure, with confidential and lucrative data, worldwide, are on rise. These attacks have revealed that the implementation of cybersecurity protocols is significantly slower than the rate of digitalization across countries.
Phishing will continue to dominate
Phishing emails and scams could evolve by next year. Cybercriminals have now switched their focus from targeting corporate offices to attacking individuals.
To contend with this new reality, enterprises will have to evolve beyond their corporate networks, deploy remote work solutions and bring unified security policy management to remote employees. “Combining security, networking, and digital experience management, SASE solutions will be critical in bringing about both security and operational efficiency,” the company said in a blog post.
Identity theft will rise
With the rise of open-banking and hyper growth of Fintech (financial technology), poor programming or security misconfigurations could provide cybercriminals with greater opportunities to carry out identity theft, fraud, and unauthorized data collection.
Palo Alto Networks suggests special focus to be elderly groups, who may be more susceptible to fraud as they are the new users of digital banking platforms.
“Mitigating tomorrow’s threats will require a greater leadership commitment, collaboration, and effective communication to drive a mindset shift to view cybersecurity as a team sport between governments, enterprises, and individuals,” the company added.
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