Key statistics about the ever-increasing threat cyber-attack/landscape that should matter to everyone
As technology and innovation in programming get better and more advanced, so do the techniques of cyber-criminals. They, too leverage enhancements in technology to make leveling attacks easier and more prevalent.
Such advancements, like HaaS (Hacking-as-a-Service) have led to significant and eye-popping statistics that everyone should be aware of, and concerned about. These statistics are the result of hackers keeping up with, and leveraging the advancements in technology:
Half of all cyber-attacks target small businesses
In spite of or, more accurately because of the headlines that decry new cyber attacks every day against large companies, small business owners tend not to believe it can happen to them. Not because the think they are protected, but because they think they’re not worth being attacked; they’re too small. Unfortunately, this is what makes them the perfect target.
And this “I’m too small” mindset leads small businesses to invest less than $500 on cybersecurity, according to Juniper Research.
By 2021 damages from cyber-attacks will reach $6 trillion dollars
According to Cybersecurity Ventures, damages will hit $6,000,000,000,000 (that’s a LOT of zeroes!) by 2021. According to their press release “Cybercriminal activity is one of the biggest challenges that humanity will face in the next two decade.” And I couldn’t agree more.
When you consider the other alarming statistics here re: IoT devices, we are, quite literally inviting hackers into our home, into the nurseries where our children sleep!
There is a ransomware attack every 14 seconds
Because people do today what they did yesterday and, will most likely do tomorrow, social engineering continues to be the dominate means to launch an attack. And the most effective, from a financial standpoint, attack is ransomware.Because of this, ransomware has become a global epidemic.
This year (2019), ransomware attacks are being launched every 14 seconds, according to 2019 Official Annual Cybercrime Report. By 2021, that is expected to increase by more than 30% to an attack every 11 seconds, and reach $20 billion according to Cybersecurity Ventures.
Hacking-as-a-Service commoditizes the cyber-criminal market
Yesterday’s hacker is today crime-boss. As technology tools have evolved, skilled, tenured hackers and automated their tools, creating kits and software that anyone can download and use to launch n attack – no hacking skills required!
And these tools are available for as little a $1; or free and the creators then take a piece of every bitcoin transaction like a processor processing credit cards..
The convenience of IoT creates a front door into every business
Companies, an individuals within them put internet-enabled devices to work to make their businesses more efficient; these include devices that monitor air conditioning and elevators, to candy and coffee machines. Unfortunately, they rarely bring in IT security when making decisions about their use.
These devices become front-doors to the company’s network; putting out a Welcome mats for hackers. Netscout reports that IoT devices take less then 5 minutes to hack! Once inside, hackers move laterally to find and infect the network.
Cyber crime is rising faster that any cybersecurity company can keep pace with, no matter how good they are. This is because hackers and cyber-criminals use the very technologies these vanguards use to to create ways around them. Ultimately, the only true defense is multi-layered and evolving. Fortunately, where companies employ this approach, they are the least likely to be attacked; not because they can’t be but becuase it takes more time. Any why woudl hacker spend time on one company when, in that same amount of time they can hack hundreds.