The rise in cyber incidents continues to be a growing concern, with a 32% increase in the first quarter of 2018 compared to the same period in 2017, according to the latest report from Positive Technologies. Hackers are increasingly motivated by data theft, leading to a 75% spike in malware attacks since Q1 2017.
Leigh-Anne Galloway, cyber security resilience lead at Positive Technologies, highlighted the importance of protecting credentials as attackers often use stolen information for future attacks or sell it on the black market. Individuals remain the primary targets of malware, with social engineering and web vulnerabilities often exploited in these attacks.
Government entities are also at high risk, accounting for 28% of targeted attacks, followed by healthcare at 8%, finance at 7%, and IT at 5%. Spyware, a type of malware that allows hackers access to sensitive information, was the most commonly used form of attack. Factors contributing to successful breaches include a lack of antivirus protection and end user errors such as clicking on malicious links.
Cryptocurrency miners like WannaMine and RubyMiner were used in nearly a quarter of malware attacks, highlighting the growing trend of attackers seeking financial gain through illicit means. Positive Technologies warns that cyber-attacks will only continue to rise, especially targeting government and finance sectors. Phishing campaigns using SANNY spyware have been detected targeting government infrastructure.
Despite efforts to improve cybersecurity measures, finance and banking industries remain frequent victims of cyber-attacks. It is crucial for organizations to remain vigilant and proactive in safeguarding their data and systems against evolving threats in the digital landscape.