With the countless incidents of cybersecurity attacks in 2021, many people have considered last year to be one of the must tumultuous periods for the cybersecurity world. Along with continued pandemic fatigue and recovery, the number of attacks, malicious actors and cyber-criminal incidents will continue to rise. And, the cyber-world continuing to grow, expand and advance will result in more incidents. Many are concerned and wondering on what to expect in 2022 for the cyber-security world. What kinds of attacks will happen? What will be the frequency of attacks? How do I embrace myself in case of an attack? How could a person with average tech knowledge improve their online security? Below, we will look at crucial highlights that we can expect in 2022, and how you can prepare for it.
Expect More and Frequenter Updates
One of the biggest factors of 2021 was the sheer number of cyber-attacks that happened. From large mega-corporations such as Microsoft, to critical infrastructure with the Colonial Pipeline incident, and various smaller attacks in between. However, a concerning part of this is the frequency of attacks. Not only are cyber-criminals becoming more advanced in their methods, but their attacks on companies and victims are at a faster rate then before. According to TechJury, some statistics to consider about the timing of attacks are that 30,000 websites are attacked every day, that a cyberattack happens every 39 seconds on the internet, and that around 24,000 malicious mobile applications are blocked daily. Looking at these statistics, it should be very clear that there is always an attack, at any given moment. There is a non-stop ‘war’ between cyber-criminals and their victims, with many hacks and breaches happening each second. And as the risk of being hacked has a constant presence on the internet, large tech and cyber-security companies have to catch-up with cyber criminals nonstop in order to protect themselves and their clients. As a result, be ready to receive more, frequenter updates for the software’s that you use. Particularity with security software, such as anti-viruses and computer cleaners. In addition, make sure to check your software companies’ websites on a regular basis. This will ensure your products are up to date, and has all the updated features to continue security and stability.
Continued Emphasis on Ransomware Protection and Prevention
Ransomware continues to be one of the most used and effective malwares that cyber-criminals utilize. To understand how impactful ransomware is and how often it is used, consider the following statistics. The amount of ransomware attacks in 2021 doubled over the amount in 2020. In addition, ransomware attacks were mainly focused on critical infrastructure such as health care services and infrastructure utilities. Furthermore, as a result of the increased attacks and the victims involved, ransomware attacks are becoming more expensive to prevent, defend and salvage from. According to the Unit 42 Security Consulting group, the average price of a ransomware attack costed around 50 million dollars in 2021, which is an increase of 5,800% from the amount of 847,000 dollars, the average cost in 2020. Moreover, the average cost of a ransomware payment is rising fast. The cost increased from 258,000 dollars to 570,000 dollars in 2021 over 312,000 dollars in 2020. From the information above, it is clear that a pattern of more frequent and severe ransomware attacks is forming. And, this will continue this way in the foreseeable future of the cyberworld. Large cyber-security companies will continue to invest heavily in research and development of security services, components, and software to protect companies, governments, and individual users from ransomware attacks. Despite this, the cyber-world is in nonstop catchup with criminals utilizing the ransomware software. Thus, it should be a priority for companies and individuals to do their best to protect themselves from ransomware attacks.
The Expansion of Cloud Data Storage
As the cyber-world continues to grow, with more people move online for work and entertainment, more people will continue to utilize remote cloud storage. Cloud Storage has become a major component in the cyberspace and provides an alternative solution for both your storage and data security. Along with the pandemic contributing to shifting workloads of companies to the cyber-sphere, the cloud storage cyber industry is bustling more then ever. As a result, large companies offering such services such as Microsoft Azure continue to expand their servers, storage, and services to meet the increase in demand for online cloud storage. Expect more companies to invest in research and development about cloud storage. Components such as storage size, security of your data, and convenience will continue to advance and improve over time.
Security Concerns Surrounding Cloud Data Storage
Nevertheless, security concerns for cloud storage have risen as well. Like all other cyber-companies, cloud storage is vulnerable to a plethora of attacks, such as ransomware and other malicious software. Additionally, having your files stored on a third party-owned remote storage immediately and inevitably puts your data at risk, as a new party being involved allows for an extra window that hackers can breach and steal your data and files. Though cloud storage companies fighting against direct threats from hackers, they are also fighting against vulnerabilities in their own system. Not only are there weak points in the cloud software that can be exploited, but there is a big risk of human error or malevolent intent by insiders that can lead to disaster. Situations can happen such as employees using the data to blackmail, illegally releasing, and selling user’s data, along with the added risk of outside cyber contractors that have access to the data, and other business partners. Despite the benefits that your privacy could gain when using cloud storage, you also introduce a new variable to your data storage. An added party leads to added risks. Depending on the circumstances and situations, make sure that the files you upload onto a third-party cloud service do not pose a significant threat to you, in case of a leak. Alternatively, store your sensitive and extremely important data on local storages, such as a separate device not connected 24/7 to the internet, or ideally, storing the files on an external hard drive.
Tips to Boost your Security in 2022
In conclusion, expect 2022 and the following years to be a roller coaster for the cybersecurity world. As the cyber-world continues to grow and expand, so will the risk of cyber-criminals attacking and stealing your data. In order to ensure your safety online is at its maximum, you should do your best to be vigilant. The cyberspace can be quite convenient and easy to use. However, this ‘cyber laziness’ should not let us create bad online habits. Such habits will only lead to loss of your sensitive data, money, time, and energy. The best time to create good safety habits and to be vigilant online is now. There are many simple and easy steps to take to boost your safety, such as installing a free antivirus, regularly changing your passwords, and not clicking on suspicious links. While simple and easy, these methods can boost your safety online by a lot and goes a long way in securing you when browsing the cyber-space. Thus, you can spare time, money and energy in the future. And, your data stays more secured then before!
