In my over 10 years working in the data extraction and web scraping industry, I‘ve seen firsthand how cyberattacks have evolved to become more sophisticated and frequent. As a cybersecurity expert, I aim to provide organizations with the information and tools needed to secure themselves in today‘s digital landscape.
In this article, we present 3 of the most dangerous cyber threats that organizations face in 2024—ransomware, phishing, and brute force attacks—as well as ways to minimize the risk of these prevalent attacks.
Ransomware Still Reigns as #1 Threat
Ransomware continues to plague organizations as the most costly and disruptive cyber threat. The number of ransomware attacks skyrocketed in 2021, with attacks more than doubling from the previous year. This explosion is likely to continue into 2023 as attackers become more sophisticated.
Some notable trends I‘ve observed with ransomware:
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High costs: Average ransom payment was $570,000 in 2021, up 82% from 2020. Total costs of ransomware, including business disruption, can exceed $1.85 million per incident.
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Double extortion: Many attackers now exfiltrate data before encrypting, threatening to publish sensitive data if ransom isn‘t paid.
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Supply chain targeting: High profile attacks crippled supply chains, including JBS Meats and Colonial Pipeline.
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sectors affected: Manufacturing (19% of attacks), finance (9%), healthcare (7%), as seen in Figure 2.
The potentially devastating impact of ransomware means organizations must make mitigation efforts a top priority. As your cybersecurity partner, I recommend a zero trust framework (more details below) as the most effective approach against ransomware and other advanced threats.
Phishing: Don‘t Take the Bait
Phishing remains one of the top cyberattack methods, often serving as the initial compromise in ransomware incidents. Attackers masquerade as trusted sources and use carefully crafted emails, texts, calls and websites to trick users into sharing login credentials or sensitive data.
Some phishing trends I‘m keeping a close eye on:
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Highly targeted attacks focusing on key roles like finance, HR, and executives
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Spear phishing with personalized content and spoofing internal email addresses
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Impersonation of vendors, recruiters, or current employees/contacts
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Business email compromise (BEC) cost over $43 billion between 2016-2021
Equipping employees with cybersecurity awareness is crucial for combating phishing. But technology controls are equally important as a layered defense. Tools like email security, web filtering, multi-factor authentication (MFA), and user behavior analytics can prevent phishing attacks from succeeding.
Don‘t Underestimate Brute Force
While not as sophisticated as ransomware or phishing, brute force attacks remain highly prevalent. These attacks involve using automated tools to guess login credentials through rapid trial-and-error.
Brute force attacks accounted for 40% of global breaches in 2021. Attacks against remote desktop protocols (RDP) have surged as remote work expanded the attack surface. Other common brute force targets include VPNs, online accounts, and web application logins.
Simple steps like enforcing strong, unique passwords across all systems and requiring MFA can significantly reduce brute force risks. Limiting login attempts per user through tools like CAPTCHA is also effective.
For all three threat types, zero trust represents the most advanced approach to reducing risk. Let‘s explore this framework in more detail.
Adopt a Zero Trust Approach
Zero trust is a security model based on maintaining rigorous control of access to corporate resources. No user or system is implicitly trusted. Verification is required every time access is requested.
This approach aligns perfectly with today‘s workforce where applications are cloud-based, users are mobile, and perimeters are blurred.
Specific zero trust measures I recommend include:
Microsegmentation and least privilege: Restrict user access and lateral movement through granular controls. This limits damage from malware or compromised accounts.
Continuous verification: Require contextual factors like user identity, device security posture, behavior patterns, and network locations before granting access.
Encryption: Protect data at rest and in motion. This reduces the impact if a breach does occur.
Monitoring and analytics: Detect threats early through user behavior analytics, network monitoring, and log analysis.
Other critical controls: Patching vulnerabilities quickly, maintaining backups, training employees, and testing response plans.
Zero trust architecture can be enabled through tools like:
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ZTNA: Verifies users and devices before application access
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SASE/SWG: Secures web gateways and filtering
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MFA: Requires an extra factor like biometrics or one-time codes during login
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NIST CSF: Provides cybersecurity standards, guidelines, and best practices
While zero trust entails significant technology and process changes, it is the most effective model I‘ve seen for securing the modern, boundaryless enterprise. As your security partner, I can guide your organization through this journey.
The key is gaining visibility across your environment in order to implement least privilege access and continuous verification. As threats become more relentless, zero trust represents the future of cybersecurity.
Let‘s Partner to Secure Your Organization
I hope this overview has provided valuable insights into the top cyber threats facing organizations as we head into 2023. As an expert in data extraction and web scraping, I understand how these threats exploit the digital connections essential to business today.
My goal is to enable your organization to operate securely and confidently in our increasingly treacherous digital landscape. I welcome the opportunity to discuss partnership opportunities and collaborate to implement solutions tailored to your unique environment and risks.
Please don‘t hesitate to reach out if you would like to strategize together on improving your cybersecurity posture against modern threats. I look forward to helping secure your organization and safeguarding your most critical assets.