Cybercrime is criminal activity that either targets or uses a computer, a computer network or a networked device. Most cybercrime is committed by cybercriminals or hackers who want to make money.
In 2022, manufacturing had the highest share of cyber attacks among the leading industries worldwide. During the examined year, cyber attacks in manufacturing companies accounted for nearly 25 percent of the total cyber attacks. Finance and insurance followed with around 19 percent.
Those with higher social status are the most likely to be scammed, with 2.3% of victims being professionals and managers. This is followed by students (1.8%) who tend to be avid digital users.
Criminal organizations, state actors, and private persons can all launch cyberattacks. One way to classify threat actors is by categorizing them as outsider threats or insider threats.
The perpetrator of a digital crime is anyone who actively seeks to exploit weaknesses in technology for illegal purposes. We also learned about some of the categories that hackers can be classified as. This includes a blackhat, someone who actively hacks people or organizations for personal gain.
Fend Off Phishing : Learn how more than 90% of all cyber attacks begin with phishing. Find out how attackers leverage phishing attacks to gain access to protected systems, hosts, and networks.
In the ever-widening ocean of global cyberattacks, small businesses are now a big catch. As a 2022 Forbes article reveals, small businesses are three times more likely to be targeted by cybercriminals than larger organizations.
Small Businesses Account for 70% of All Attacks
The cyber-attacks you see hitting the headlines are those that have successfully targeted large and prominent businesses, such as Netflix, JP Morgan, and Target, but more than 70% of attacks are targeted towards small businesses.
Cyber criminals seek to exploit human or security vulnerabilities in order to steal passwords, data or money directly. The most common cyber threats include: Hacking - including of social media and email passwords. Phishing - bogus emails asking for security information and personal details.
Cybercriminals rarely choose their victims at random. The first stage of the cyber kill chain is reconnaissance, where an attacker narrows down a list of targets based on organization profile, security posture, and vulnerable individuals.
Hackers often go after financial institutions because of the opportunity to gain access to personal financial information. Additionally, they may try to gain access to accounts such as credit cards or investment portfolios. Common attacks in this industry include ransomware, server outages and data breaches.
Criminals research victim by gathering public information on websites and social media. They use creative methods, such as quizzes to entice victims into providing personal information.
Below are some of the most common types of cyber-attacks: Malware. Phishing. Man-in-the-middle attack (MITM)
Cyber attacks are much more likely to occur through mundane errors like a user choosing an easy-to-guess password or not changing the default password on something like a router. 'Phishing' is also a common way to gain access to a system, this involves extracting personal information under false pretences.
1. Insider threats. An insider threat occurs when individuals close to an organization who have authorized access to its network intentionally or unintentionally misuse that access to negatively affect the organization's critical data or systems.
Cybersecurity Skills Shortage: The evolving threat landscape is leading to a shortage of cybersecurity professionals, with an estimated gap of 3.5 million globally. This shortage will continue to be a concern in 2023, forcing companies to invest in training and retaining talent or outsourcing cybersecurity tasks.
Disclosure and discrimination are the common threats related to data capturing systems.
98% of attacks are based on social engineering principles. That means hackers get information about their target and use the data to deceive the victim. The goal of such attacks is usually financially motivated. Specifically – to steal valuable information or gain immediate financial benefit.
Despite the scale of the problem, more than 80% of all fraud offences are not reported to the police, meaning that many of those responsible can operate without fear of ever been caught. Cybercriminals are rarely caught and prosecuted because they are virtually invisible.
Stolen personal information is fuel for identity theft
Many online services require users to fill in personal details such as full name, home address and credit card number. Criminals steal this data from online accounts to commit identity theft, such as using the victim's credit card or taking loans in their name.
It found that Facebook accounts are most lost to hackers, with 67,940 hacking-related searches every month. Facebook has suffered several serious data breaches in recent years.
Small and medium business are the top target for cyberattacks. Unlike large corporations who have the money and resources to pay for cybersecurity and upgrade their network match the latest hacker tricks, small businesses do not have that same luxury" and hackers know it.
The biggest motivation is often financial gain. Hackers can make money by stealing your passwords, accessing your bank or credit card details, holding your information to ransom, or selling your data to other hackers or on the dark web.