Tag: cyber report
Advanced Persistent Threats Rise by 74% in 2024 Report – March 6th
The frequency of Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs) has surged, with Kaspersky's latest report revealing a 74% increase in such attacks compared to last year. APTs were detected in 25% of organizations, accounting for 43% of high-severity security incidents, highlighting a sharp rise in sophisticated cyber threats. Kaspersky's analysis suggests attackers are refining their tactics to bypass security measures, leveraging human-operated techniques rather than automated exploits. The report underscores the growing persistence of APT actors, emphasizing the need for proactive defense strategies across industries.
Ransomware attacks on industrial systems double in one year
Ransomware attacks on the operational technology (OT) and industrial control systems (ICS) that run industrial facilities almost doubled in 2024. According to Washington DC-based industrial cybersecurity company Dragos, ransomware attacks on industrial organizations in 2024 increased by a staggering 87 percent over the previous year. The main industries targeted were: electricity and water; industrial manufacturing; telecommunications; oil and gas; food and beverage; chemical manufacturing; mining, transportation, and logistics. Manufacturing, which accounted for 69 percent of all ransomware attacks targeting 1,171 manufacturing entities, was by far the worst hit.
US is top target for mobile cybercrime
The US is the top target for cyber-attacks focusing on mobile devices and those connected by the Internet of Things (IoT) plus the operational technology (OT) systems than run facilities such as power plants. According to cybersecurity firm Zscaler’s ThreatLabz 2024 Mobile, IoT, and OT Threat Report, mobile remains a top threat vector, with 111% growth in spyware and 29% growth in banking malware. Technology (18 percent), education (18 percent) and manufacturing (14 percent) continue to be the sectors most targeted by mobile malware. The education sector saw the most dramatic rise in blocked transactions, with a 136 percent increase on the previous year.
Insider attacks rise by over 50 percent
Insider attacks, where staff either deliberately or accidently compromise an organization’s security, are rising steeply. According to Cybersecurity firm, Gurucul, almost half of organizations, 48 percent, report that insider attacks have become increasingly common over the last 12 months. Just over half, 51 percent, experienced six or more such attacks in the past year. Gurucul’s 2024 Insider Threat report identifies the major causes for the sudden spike in insider attacks: “The top three drivers behind the surge in insider attacks are complex IT environments (39 percent), the adoption of new technologies (37 percent), and inadequate security measures (33 percent).”
Companies worldwide continue to sideline CISOs
Organizations worldwide are continuing to put cybersecurity on the back burner, with only two percent having implemented cyber-resilience in all areas surveyed, says business consulting giant PwC. According to the latest PwC report, Bridging the gaps to cyber resilience: The C-suite playbook: “Fewer than half of the executives say their CISOs are involved to a large extent in strategic planning, board reporting, and overseeing tech deployments.” C-suite executives and their CEOs are currently paying growing lip-service to cybersecurity in an effort ensure their compliance with the growing body of cyber legislation on both sides of the Atlantic. But, according to PwC, only 15 percent are actually measuring the potential financial impact of cyber risks to a significant extent.
Sharp rise in blindside cyber-attacks
More than one in five cybersecurity professionals report having had a cyber hit requiring immediate attention despite having threat-based detection and response security measures in place. According to a survey conducted by cybersecurity firm Criticalstart, 2024 Cyber Risk Landscape Peer Report, 2023’s figure of 83 percent represents a 21 percent increase from 2023. Criticalstart also reports a sharp rise in the cost of data breaches. The average cost of a data breach reached an all-time high of $4.45 million in 2023 - a 15 percent increase over the past three years. Organizations with under 500 employees reported an average breach-impact increase from $2.92 million to $3.31 million—a rise of 13.4%.
64% to Look for New Cybersecurity Jobs in the Next 12 Months – June 13th
According to a new Bitdefender survey, 64% of cybersecurity professionals are considering a shift to a new job in the sector within the next 12 months. The 2024 Cybersecurity Assessment Report also discovered that 57% of respondents experienced a data breach in the last 12 months, mainly in the UK, Germany, and Singapore.
62% of Top Ransomware Groups Activated Remote Attacks in 2023 – December 27th
According to Sophos' latest report, 62% of the most active ransomware groups in the world deliberately enable remote encryption for their attacks. Sophos' report entitled "CryptoGuard: An Asymmetric Approach to the Ransomware Battle," gathered the data based on Sophos' detected and halted ransomware attacks in 2023. The report further stated that remote encryption is used as a tactic for effective, widespread ransomware attacks within organizations, aiming to steal as much sensitive information as possible.
Three-quarters of SMBs hit by serious cyber-attacks
Roughly three-quarters of small-to-medium-sized businesses (SMBs) have experienced a cyber-attack, a breach, or both in the last year. According to non-profit organization the Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC)’s third annual ITRC Business Impact Report, 73 percent of owners or leaders of SMB’s reported being attacked or breached in the past 12 months, following a slight dip in the previous year.