2020 Cyber Attack Predictions

According to some the prediction, hackers will use new technologies and a few old vulnerabilities to wreak havoc across the globe in the year ahead. 

Phishing, through short message service (SMS), will be among the main methods of obtaining sensitive and banking data. Hackers will mostly target people joining like-minded social media groups, to provide financial support to social causes or political candidates. Drones that operate across the sky may be fitted with “affordable mobile hacking devices”, that criminals could use to steal sensitive data from the people below. Experian says there are more than a million drones flying across the US at present.

As the 2020 budget meetings come and go, business teams are forced to assess their current defences by analysing their historical attacks in order to anticipate/predict future attack trends.  A difficult but worthwhile exercise for security leadership as they attempt to assess the adversaries' trajectory and work to remain several moves ahead. More often than not, adversaries stay true to their methods but only make slight variations to their attacks often the criminal thinks, why change what historically works? 

A Sharper Concentration Of Cloud Attacks 

Companies continue to flock to cloud deployments, both private and public, to regain budget and unburden their IT departments. Teams have slightly more control and oversight over private cloud deployments but the public multi-tenant cloud deployments are target rich for an attacker. No need for the adversary to enumerate their prey when they can infiltrate the 'entire herd'. By studying how a single cloud technology operates from infrastructure to defences, adversaries become more efficient and significantly decrease their attack costs.

Most adversaries are driven by financial gains and a significant operating metric for them revolves around their operational costs. Very similar to defensive budgets, adversaries must weigh their operating costs against their potential profits. Therefore, their motivation to gain access to cloud environments provide an exponential financial gain.

This is not saying "all" cloud deployments are doomed but security teams must absolutely have a voice at the table when deciding 'which' cloud environment. 

Security teams must evaluate and scrutinise cloud security practices to ensure due diligence is being performed by the vendor, for instance, ensuring the cloud vendor is undergoing routine penetration tests and not only resolving any weaknesses, but how quickly is their security team identifying the penetration test.

A Staggering Surge of Botnet Armies.

Botnet armies are nothing new, however, as endpoint devices in households become "connected" and schools provide each individual student with personal computing devices it opens the doors for widespread takeover. As with any botnet army the individual devices don't hold any real threat value but when controlled in the masses they provide a formidable attack mechanism for cyber criminals. Whether used for computation resources, like brute forcing passwords or used to launch denial of service attacks against a target, the volume of botnet armies will surely increase exponentially.

An Operational Technology Will Fall Victim To Ransomware 

Operational Technology (OT) networks are the primary life source for oil, gas and energy companies, as well as, massive manufacturing industries such as automotive and shipping. These environments typically rely heavily on older infrastructure and technology and are infrequently updated to the latest security levels. 

OT networks are often overlooked because they don't have the traditional weak points most organisations are defending for two primary reasons: 

  • They generally are not connected to the Internet. 
  • They do not have the high number of end users who are susceptible to crafty email spear phish attacks or 'click-happy' web-surfing.

But as manufacturers live and die by product branding, the importance for a company to comply with criminal demands warrants a lofty ransom threat. 

Corporate systems and data are already critical assets for many enterprises. As digitisation continues to transform the business landscape, their value will rise yet further, and protecting them from infiltration and attack will be a chief priority for leaders across all industries and sectors. 

Against that backdrop, exploring emerging security models such as zero trust, which may be able to reduce the risk of compromise more effectively than the legacy, perimeter-based arrangements of yesteryear, makes sound sense.
2020 will see at least one high-value OT network get infiltrated and held for ransom.

ITWeb Africa:         CSO Online:      ITProPortal

You Might Also Read:

Reduce Business Disruption - Make Cyber Security A Priority:

 

 

« Going To The Dark Web
Microsoft Warning: Avoid Reusing Passwords »

CyberSecurity Jobsite
Perimeter 81

Directory of Suppliers

XYPRO Technology

XYPRO Technology

XYPRO is the market leader in HPE Non-Stop Security, Risk Management and Compliance.

ZenGRC

ZenGRC

ZenGRC - the first, easy-to-use, enterprise-grade information security solution for compliance and risk management - offers businesses efficient control tracking, testing, and enforcement.

Cyber Security Supplier Directory

Cyber Security Supplier Directory

Our Supplier Directory lists 6,000+ specialist cyber security service providers in 128 countries worldwide. IS YOUR ORGANISATION LISTED?

Clayden Law

Clayden Law

Clayden Law advise global businesses that buy and sell technology products and services. We are experts in information technology, data privacy and cybersecurity law.

Authentic8

Authentic8

Authentic8 transforms how organizations secure and control the use of the web with Silo, its patented cloud browser.

Digital Shadows

Digital Shadows

Digital Shadows is a cyber threat intelligence company that helps clients discover sensitive data exposed through social media, cloud services and mobile devices

SecureWorks

SecureWorks

SecureWorks provides intelligence-driven security solutions for organizations to prevent, detect, rapidly respond and predict cyberattacks.

Internet Storm Center (ISC)

Internet Storm Center (ISC)

ISC provides a free analysis and warning service to thousands of Internet users and organizations, and is actively working with ISPs to fight back against the most malicious attackers.

PECB

PECB

PECB is a certification body for persons, management systems, and products on a wide range of international standards in a range of areas including Information Security and Risk Management.

SentryBay

SentryBay

SentryBay is a real-time data security company developing technology for PC, mobile, the cloud and IoT.

Trustlook

Trustlook

Trustlook's SECUREai engine delivers the performance and scalability needed to provide total threat protection against malware and other forms of attack.

Haventec

Haventec

Haventec’s internationally patented technologies reduce cyber risk and enable pervasive trust services with a decentralised approach to authentication.

Vilnius Tech Park

Vilnius Tech Park

The region‘s most complex and integrated ICT hub, Vilnius Tech Park aims to attract and unite innovative talent from big data, cyber security, smart solutions, fintech and digital design.

Cyber Command - Estonian Defence Forces

Cyber Command - Estonian Defence Forces

The main mission of the Cyber Command is to carry out operations in cyberspace in order to provide command support for Ministry of Defence’s area of responsibility.

CyberCube

CyberCube

CyberCube provide world-leading cyber risk analytics for the cyber insurance market.

Dynics

Dynics

The Dynics ICS-Defender is an Industrial Control System Security Appliance for OT or OT/IT convergent environments.

Constella Intelligence

Constella Intelligence

Constella Intelligence provides digital risk protection services to quickly and efficiently disrupt cyber attacks and data breaches before they occur.

CliftonLarsonAllen (CLA)

CliftonLarsonAllen (CLA)

CLA exists to create opportunities for our clients through industry-focused advisory, outsourcing, audit, tax, and consulting services.

Guidepost Solutions

Guidepost Solutions

Guidepost Solutions are a diverse, global team of investigators, experienced security and technology consultants, and compliance and monitoring experts.

Guardsman Cyber Intelligence (GCI)

Guardsman Cyber Intelligence (GCI)

GCI provides proven cyber intelligence solutions to protect your business against ever present physical and digital threats shadowing your online business.

KCS Group Europe

KCS Group Europe

KCS Group helps its clients to identify and deal with any risks, weaknesses and threats which could impact on the business financially or reputationally.