Top Cyber Security Threats & Trends for 2021

As the world continues to rely more and more on technology, the need to address cyber security threats becomes increasingly important.

With 64 percent of organizations already having experienced web-based attacks, here are seven cyber security threats to be aware of in 2021:

Phishing—Phishing occurs when a hacker tricks someone into providing sensitive information or accessing malware by using a false identity. This can happen through email, social media accounts, and more.
SMS-based phishing—This form of phishing, sometimes referred to as “smishing,” occurs through SMS text messages. The attack only happens after the link within the text message is opened. While emails are typically able to identify a phishing scam and filter it out, text messages with bad links can still come through.
PDF scams—These scams occur when a PDF attachment in an email or messaging platform contains a link to malware or ransomware. Scammers know people are more likely to open a PDF attachment than a website link, especially if it’s been labeled as a statement balance or press release.
Malware and ransomware—Malware and ransomware can lead to hijacked software, frozen systems, and lost and stolen data. Businesses often keep data on servers that are connected to the internet, and all it takes is one crack in a company’s cybersecurity for hackers to attack and access that data.
Database exposure—Customer contact information, financial records, and identity records are all susceptible to hacking and theft when servers aren’t properly protected.
Credential stuffing—Credential stuffing aims to gain private access through the utilization of stolen login credentials. The most common occurrence of credential stuffing happens when the same login information is used for multiple websites and accounts.
Accidental sharing—Accidents happen. But when accidents contain confidential and sensitive information, company cybersecurity can be at risk. This type of threat is usually the result of human error rather than a hacker or malware issue.

Experts predict that, by 2023, cybercriminals will be stealing nearly 33 billion records per year. Learn more about protecting your organization against these cybersecurity threats by contacting us today.

What Is the Internet of Behaviours and How Will It Be Prevalent Going Forward?

According to Axios, a financial technology incubation, the Internet of Things (IoT) is a network of interconnected physical objects that gather and exchange information and data over the internet. What the Internet of Behaviours (IoB) does is make sense of this data and attach it to specific human behaviors such as purchasing, or following a specific brand online.

Think of it as an amalgamation of technology, data analytics, and behavioral science. It is essentially trying to make sense of human behavior through data mining. Devices related to location, facial recognition, and more can essentially act as guides to mapping customer behavior.

Gartner predicts that by 2023, 40 percent of the global population will be tracked digitally in order to influence behavior.

However, IoB is already here and prevalent in many areas of daily life, including:

Facial recognition
Location tracking
Big data

And while IoB offers several benefits (e.g., the convenience of having synced digital devices), the collection of this behavior-focused data leaves sensitive data at risk for cyberattacks. Property access codes, delivery routes, bank access codes, and more are susceptible to cybercriminals.

Businesses should be vigilant and proactive in their cyber security efforts to ensure that data is secure and protected. Consider introducing cybersecurity training and awareness programs in your organization in order to stay ahead of cybercriminals.