Stopping cyber crime is an ongoing game of cat and mouse. The cyber trends that will be most important to keep an eye on in 2023 have been analyzed. Think like a cat, not a mouse.
Unfortunately, cyber criminals never sleep.
It’s easier than ever for them to gain access to your company’s systems and data to steal or otherwise damage them.
Ransomware and other malicious software have become increasingly common in 2022. The art of social engineering has evolved to become more sophisticated. Cyber criminals are increasingly targeting hospitals and other essential services.
These tendencies will carry on and maybe intensify in 2023. Let’s delve further into them so you can stay one step ahead of the competition.
The cyber trends that will shape 2023
Malware
Malware, especially ransomware, has plagued the year 2022. The Ministry of Finance of Costa Rica was the target of a cyber attack originating in Russia.
It’s evident that no one is immune to ransomware attacks after a managed service provider (MSP) for the NHS fell prey to one.
One of your first lines of defense should be practicing safe internet habits.
Protecting yourself from the most frequent types of cyber attacks requires a combination of strong mail filtering, setting multi-factor authentication (MFA) at all susceptible access points, and swiftly applying security updates.
Nonetheless, it can’t be denied that a cultural shift toward zero-trust norms is urgently required. This is a trend that we’ll continue to observe.
Increasing attacks on critical infrastructure
The conflict in Ukraine is a glaring illustration of the rise of attacks on vital infrastructure.
For years, Russia has been trying to disrupt Ukraine’s financial institutions, electricity systems, and online networks. The confrontation has escalated to a physical level, with Russian cyber weapons being used against the Ukrainian government and military networks.
Any government should adopt a “zero trust” policy to make sure that important infrastructure is safe. They should recommit to basic security measures as well. Their network is even more secure if it is segmented or air gapped.
Also, remember the value of solid physical protection.
It’s great if your water company’s field office has more security measures in place than Fort Knox, but a physical site still exists.
Anyone who gains access to it will also have access to the systems it links to.
The increasing importance of identity and access
The security of any given organization begins and ends with its users’ identities.
The majority of attacks still use this method. Identity theft is the most common entry point. Instead of trying to break into a secure system by overwhelming it with numbers, why not just use an insider’s credentials instead?
There should be an identification verification process at every point of entry into the business.
So, it shouldn’t be a surprise that security, identification, and access controls based on the idea of “zero trust” are very important.
Social engineering
To put it simply, people are the weakest link in the identity security chain.
Multi-factor authentication (MFA) provides a high level of security, but it can be defeated if an attacker sends you a lot of fake MFA requests and waits for you to approve one of them.
You’ve successfully welcomed a villain into your body.
Companies should also be alert to the prevalence of social engineering in various forms. Phishing and other forms of spam email fall within this category. Be careful not to reveal too much about yourself on social media.
Social engineering education is a must for employees. This includes the ways they could be in danger and the ways that threat actors could force them to give up their identifying credentials.
For most social engineering schemes to fail, you need to have a “zero-trust” (there it is again) mindset.
Complex attacks
Increasingly sophisticated security measures only spur more ingenious countermeasures from cyber criminals.
These days, hacking can net you a fortune. Groups dedicated to hacking typically have extensive organizational structures and substantial research and development resources.
The complexity and sophistication of attacks have increased, with attackers employing increasingly sophisticated methods and technologies like AI, ML, and automation.
The same weapons that have protected us
Even worse, traditional online dangers such as malware and phishing still exist.
However, because of advancements in technology, they are now more nuanced and selective in their approach.
The lack of cyber experts in the labour force only makes matters worse. What good is management if you can’t find and hire competent workers?
Maintaining connections with local educational institutions is crucial. useful for both scouting new talent and helping educators make sure their online programs reflect current needs in the workforce. Discussions at lunch and learns and lectures allow groups to weigh in on issues.
While it’s concerning that the very tools, we relied on for security are now being used against us, the truth is that, when used properly, they remain our strongest line of defense.
As for the rest, it boils down to, you guessed it, zero-trust rules and practices.
Conclusion
The patterns we noticed in 2022 are likely to persist into 2023. Nonetheless, the intensity of those tendencies will grow. Malware is still a problem, and it’s gotten worse as time has gone on because of the increased sophistication of such programs. Actors who pose a threat are not above using it to attack once-sacred parts of the infrastructure of the physical world.
We can see that, as attacks become more complicated, there will be an ongoing arms race between machine learning and AI systems that aim to attack and repel each other.
Identity and social engineering attempt to break it or get around it completely will be the main battlegrounds for any organization that cares about security.
Everyone should take extra steps to make sure that their identity is not stolen at any point during a transaction. Since this is the most frequent vector of attack, it has received a lot of attention and resources in 2022.
