Tag: qr code
Cybersecurity has become an ongoing war
In our business, assessing risk is crucial. There is a constantly evolving threat landscape, and cybercriminals are constantly introducing new techniques and developing existing ones. And as online connectivity grows, so does every organization's overall attack surface. Unit 42 are constantly conducting research examining the full scope of the ever expanding attack surface and constantly testing existing defenses. They play the role of cybercriminals, acting as white-hat hackers, if you like, in order to detect potential weaknesses. This research is conducted across the board and also directed at each client specific attacks surface. And when there is a breach, Unit 42 is there to detect and control it. They effectively act as wartime consiglieres – remember that the ongoing Russia/Ukraine conflict started in cyberspace. They must also act immediately to mitigate any breach that does occur. Constant research and testing of defenses are vital. We have to be right every time, but the cybercriminal gangs only have to be right once to effect a breach and perform a successful attack.
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.
August vacations pose QR code nightmare
A new summer craze is hitting the world of cybercrime – weaponized Quick Response (QR) codes. According to cybersecurity firm Darktrace, last month saw a marked increase in “Quishing” attacks.