Threats on the Internet

Threats on the Internet

It used to be that cybercrime mainly affected governments and major corporations. In pandemic times this has unfortunately changed, why unfortunately? Today, cybercrime is a problem that affects every Internet user-me, you, the gray Smith, people working remotely, parents, as well as large corporations and extended companies.

SonicWall’s estimates are surprising. This company observed that from January to September in 2021 there were as many as 500 million attacks! These were carried out using ransomware. This is highly malicious software. Shockingly, the average total of attempted attacks per organization is as high as 1,748. What does this mean? This is an increase of 48 percent in the number of attacks globally. On the other hand, if we look at some countries separately, we can get an even bigger shock. In the UK, the number increased by 233 percent, and the US by 127. Cybersecurity Ventures’ prediction is not very optimistic, as it assumes that by 2031 ransomware attacks will significantly burden the global economy. An amount pulling down as much as $265 billion a year is predicted.

Ransomware attacks are not the only threat on the Internet, it is just one of many dangers, and their frequency is increasing year after year. The coronavirus pandemic has contributed to an increase in the number of people who have started doing their work remotely. So this has forced many employers to expand their IT networks in a very short period of time. In their haste, they unfortunately paid little attention to security. This has created an almost ideal situation for cybercriminals. They profit from our dormant vigilance, exposing companies to heavy losses and restless sleep. This begs the question: what should we pay attention to first, and what online threats are becoming a real problem?

Dangers on the Internet-their evolution

The threats we may face on the Internet are constantly evolving. The constant, well-known ones are mainly viruses, and theft of personal data. Unfortunately, cybercriminals are constantly reaching for new tools. This is where the stumbling blocks come in, as even security specialists don’t have all the information about a given tool at the outset to be able to prevent an attack. Cybercriminals are increasingly attacking in increasingly sophisticated ways. This puts organizations, Internet users and governments at great and constant risk. The worrying thing is that with the growth of cybercriminals, there is no growth in the people who specialize in combating them. There are still very few of them, which leads to the fact that they are necessarily unable to secure everyone and everything – this creates an ideal situation for attacks on the Internet. Cybersecurity Ventures has therefore issued a warning that the losses associated with all the forms that cybercrime attaches could reach as much as $6 trillion worldwide.

In an annual study by the nonprofit organization Information Security Forum, we can read a warning that talks about the threat to the security, as well as the integrity of transmitted data on the Internet. It is important to be aware that attackers not only intercept data, but also decide to deliberately modify and manipulate it.

What are the dangers on the Internet?

CheckPoint Research is a company that studies cyber threats. In its 2021 summary, it stressed that the “cat-and-mouse game” that cybercriminals and defenders go to is becoming increasingly popular. Criminals are constantly finding new tools and ways to attack information systems. Defenders, therefore, are engaged in the constant development of techniques that make defense possible. This constant struggle has contributed to the emergence of the fifth generation of cyber threats. It is characterized by considerable sophistication and multi-vector attacks. They involve entire organizations as well as various industries. Increasingly, tools that were originally developed for government use are being used. The WannaCry worm is a prime example. In just a few hours, it took over hundreds of thousands of computers in located all over the world.

Remote work- The COVID-19 pandemic contributed to many organizations being forced to move to remote work mode. After the pandemic, many people did not return to desktop work. Unfortunately, experts believe that the networks used by people working remotely were created and selected in a hurry and contain many security vulnerabilities that allow cybercriminals to access corporate data. The security that is used by employees logging into company networks using VPNs has proven to be one of the biggest problems. Care should be taken to avoid password weaknesses and obviousness. If these are weak and obvious then it is even easier for criminals to gain access to a company’s network and infect computers with ransomware.

Vulnerability of end devices-people who work remotely most often use their own devices to do so, and often company devices, which unfortunately are not controlled on an ongoing basis by the company’s security department. Such devices often do not receive the software updates that are necessary.

Deploying cloud solutions without worrying about security – Cloud solutions give organizations flexibility that they have not encountered before. They have also given the opportunity to use all possible resources, as well as employees. Adequate security on the part of users is a must if cloud use is to be secure. Gartner has conducted research showing that as many as 99% of incidents that are related to cloud security are the result of security breaches that are right in the hands of users.

Advanced ransomware attacks-This software encrypts data and makes it impossible to use a device that is infected. Only after a ransom is paid can it be used. This software is thus becoming an increasing threat. This is not just because of the ever-increasing malware, but also because of business models that are increasingly aggressive.

The emphasis on mobile devices-it’s getting bigger every year. Smartphones, tablets or laptops are therefore popular. They have thus become exploited by cybercriminals. According to CheckPoint, 46% of companies admitted that at least one employee has installed malware on the hardware they use. At a time when more and more companies are embracing BYOD, or “bring your own device”-bring your own equipment policy, and allowing the use of private mobile devices in the performance of business duties, they pose a major threat.

Zero-day attacks and their growing number-these are attacks in which criminals exploit a vulnerability found in software security. They act quickly because they need to time the development of a binding that closes the security hole.

What are the types of threats on the Internet?

The number of targets of attacks is growing in proportion to their sophistication. Cybercriminals are not limited in their operations to stealing data.

Cryptojacking-is an attack whose target is not data, but its computing power. This attack involves placing malware on a computer that uses that power to mine cryptocurrencies. The result of this attack can be a large decrease in the power available to the user.

Cyber-physical attacks-The consequences of these attacks include the interruption of work or the complete stoppage of devices that are connected to the network.

Other attacks on the network include:

• loT attacks,
• attacks on health care,
• third party attacks

Dangers that are associated with communication on the Internet

Phishing is consistently one of the biggest threats on the Internet. What is it? It involves phishing using fake e-mails or SMS messages. Remote work is responsible for the increase in this threat. Exposed to attacks are employees who communicate internally via email. The effect of phishing can be primarily to starve passwords to the company’s network.

Dangers of the Internet for children

It is not only companies and adults who are exposed to online danger. It also affects the youngest. We are talking not only about cyberbullying, but also about other dangers that are directly related to social media. The youngest users are at high risk of phishing. This is done with the help of messages that are designed to take advantage of the ignorance and inexperience of young Internet users. It is therefore worthwhile to make children aware so that they are attentive and cautious even with messages that look like they were sent by parents or friends. It is not uncommon for children to fall prey to “lotteries” that offer them various prizes.
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