Don’t Sleep on These 7 Cybersecurity Threats

As we covered in our recent PKI Survey results webcast, cybersecurity threats are causes for concern to most organizations around the world. This is because a company needs to have an online presence to be more productive. While hackers are known to be notoriously dynamic and are always churning out tactics to bypass the latest cybersecurity innovations, the good news is many organizations are becoming more well-informed and up to date with their countermeasures.

Since threats can come in different ways, there is no one solution to curbing your exposure. You need to have a comprehensive security strategy with many layers of protection and detection. For example, one way to protect your business is by partnering with an online company registration service that can register your company online and help you avoid cybersecurity threats by regularly monitoring it for you. Securing your email with S/MIME certificates can help you stay out of trouble too. You can read more about how secure emails help here.

Now, let us run through some of the major threats 2021 has brought to the surface.

Clever ransomware

This cybersecurity threat came alive in 2020 and is quickly becoming more popular by the minute. Just like abductors asking for some ransom before releasing their captives, ransomware encrypts files on your computers and asks you for a ransom in return for the original files (deciding whether or not to pay is another challenge altogether). The targets are usually the big leagues in terms of profitability. The protagonists behind this evil have been able to take a cue from the inventors of cryptocurrencies to appear anonymous. So, it is difficult to track who is behind this kind of attack.

Cloud-based threats

Most companies worldwide are in the process of undergoing major digital transformations, leveraging online collaboration tools and accelerating the migration to cloud computing. This became more prevalent because of the coronavirus pandemic, which forced most employees around the world to embrace remote working. According to IDC, global cloud services market spending is projected to reach an outrageous $1 trillion in 2024. This just shows how enormous cloud services have evolved. The rapid migration to this service has exposed businesses to several security challenges. Examples are deletion of incomplete data, cloud app susceptibility, diminished visibility, and misconfigurations in cloud storage.

Social Engineering attacks

Reports have estimated that most breaches in business data happen when employees unknowingly engage with a social engineering attack. This usually occurs when the perpetrators trick employees into giving them company information or access to their software. Since humans are prone to error, especially during the busiest periods of the day, social engineering attacks are one of the biggest cybersecurity threats in 2021. If you are considering being successful with your eCommerce Development Company you need to take measures beforehand and prevent these attacks.

Same passwords over multiple platforms

In an online survey by Google, it is estimated that about 52% of people reported reusing the same passwords over multiple sites. No surprise, this greatly increases the probability for a hacker to hit you hard if he can get his hands on one password. What is worse is that while a majority of people believe that updating security software is important, many of them don’t do it regularly. RiskBased Security’s “Data Breach” report in 2019 found 4.1 billion compromised records, 62% of which were caused by password recycling. This is still a major threat in 2021. Are you guilty of this but want to be fortified against cyber attacks? Think again!

Remote worker endpoint security

The year 2020 witnessed an over-the-roof surge in the number of employees turning to work-at-home. For many businesses, this working style – or a hybrid of in-person and remote work – will become permanent. Not surprisingly, this has opened up more opportunities for hackers. You’ve heard the phrase “stronger together”? Well, this is a perfect counter-example. Most remote workers operate without any network perimeter security leaving them exposed to cybersecurity threats. If you cannot keep some kind of coworking space to better control and manage security risks, your business should definitely invest in multi-factor authentication and other PKI security measures to ensure your data and systems stay safe.

Malware

When talking about cyber attacks, the word “malware” is sure to come up. This term refers to malicious software designed to harm a computer system. It steals, encrypts, and deletes sensitive company data. It also monitors the activities of a computer user and hijacks important computing functions without his or her knowledge. Malware can penetrate your cyberspace through USB external drives, physical hard drives, or when you do downloads on the internet. This free whitepaper has more tips on how to best monitor for and prevent dangerous malware attacks.

Phishing

Yet another cause for concern, phishing plays out with a digital message being sent to fool people into clicking a link that comes with it. Through this, harmful malware is installed and the company’s sensitive data is exposed. Sadly, hackers have used the coronavirus crisis as a means to deal this cruel blow in 2021. They set their attacks up in a way to direct victims to websites with fake information about the coronavirus. Through this, the hacker can use the victim’s system resources to earn income in the form of cryptocurrencies without the approval of the user. One of the best ways for companies to prevent phishing is to utilize S/MIME certificates that clearly indicate when an email has a legitimate source. Learn more about scalable email security solutions for 2021 and beyond.

Final Word

Cyber attacks have grown in sophistication in 2021 and there are many even more ways through which malicious actors can hack their way into company systems than what we’ve listed here. The only safe haven for businesses and organizations is to consistently reassess counter-measures put in place and make improvements where necessary. Better to dedicate time to that than lose a lot of energy, time, and company income controlling the after-effects of a cyber attack.

Note: This blog article was written by a guest contributor for the purpose of offering a wider variety of content for our readers. The opinions expressed in this guest author article are solely those of the contributor and do not necessarily reflect those of GlobalSign.