None of us like thinking about the possibility that we will get hacked at home or work, or elsewhere. Yet, the reality is that cybercriminals are out in force all the time, and it’s often just a matter of time until we get compromised unless we take numerous steps to protect ourselves.
We must utilize comprehensive security software and firewalls, for instance, download a secure VPN service, choose hard-to-crack passwords, and keep software updated. It’s also vital to back up our data to the cloud or another secure destination.
One other way to help stay safer and limit your risk of a hacker attack is to keep an eye on all the latest cybersecurity trends. After all, forewarned is forearmed, as the saying goes. Here are some trends worth knowing in 2023.
Synthetic Identities
One type of crime growing in America right now and elsewhere is synthetic identity fraud. This term refers to cases where scammers create new identities using a mixture of real and fake data. They then financially defraud people using this identity, particularly when there’s a need for their scam to involve opening digital accounts and completing credit card requests.
Fraudsters often use potentially valid social security numbers combined with false personally identifiable information to get their desired outcome. The synthetic identity may involve a real address that can be shipped to, and the social security numbers may seem correct, but the name and date of birth used with them don’t actually match with a single person.
To come up with a synthetic identity, hackers have to be able to access actual data on a system that contains identifying information. Thus, they might hack into networks to get the details they’re after or even get hired as employees at firms with access to valuable information to get what they want.
Offline Fraud
We all, understandably, associate cybersecurity with purely online activities. However, many fraudulent plans also involve offline tactics. For example, scammers steal people’s smartphones to access their financial or shopping apps and make transactions. They might also take a picture of someone’s password or other login details as they get typed into their phone or another device.
The growth in these kinds of techniques shows that all consumers must be vigilant not just with their digital browsing and buying but also with how they use their tech tools out in the world. We must pay attention to stopping those who want to commit cybercrimes from being able to gain access via physical, offline means.
Vulnerabilities Arising from the 5G Rollout
Many people are excited by the rollout of 5G and the super-fast transfer speeds that will come with it. However, while this provides a step forward for worldwide communications and helps the pace of business to quicken, this doesn’t mean there aren’t some downsides, too. Unfortunately, 5G is providing new opportunities for cybercriminals to go after.
The high speed of data transference, especially between often vulnerable internet of things (IoT) devices, will enable hackers to launch network assaults and other attacks faster than ever. They will be able to spread malware through IoT networks quickly, for instance, or use a connected group of routers as a botnet to launch DDoS (distributed denial of service) attacks.
Increased Use of Security-as-a-Service
Another 2023 cybersecurity trend worth knowing is the increased use of security-as-a-service. Many people realize that internal security measures aren’t enough to cope with the constant developments in the world of hacking and new threats that keep popping up. As such, they’re turning to businesses specializing in providing security assistance.
The benefit of going down this path is that clients can turn to teams of security-as-a-service providers instead of relying on one internal or contracted IT professional to do ad hoc fixes and complete reactive troubleshooting. These companies offer the services of a range of experts who focus specifically on cybersecurity and thus have broader and often more up-to-date knowledge and experience. Such businesses might help set up email protection, stop phishing attempts, shield content, and set up firewalls.
Increase in Targeted Mobile Attacks
Hackers are turning their attention a lot more to mobile devices in 2023. There has been a considerable increase in the number of mobile banking malware attacks in the last few years, but other avenues, such as emails, photographs, messages, etc., are also being capitalized on by cybercriminals.
The primary aim of many hackers is to use mobile malware to steal usernames and passwords that can be used to break into bank accounts, emails, and other systems and accounts from there. However, many attacks also give cybercriminals a chance to record audio and video through smartphones, track user locations, or even delete device data. These attacks will continue to get more sophisticated over the coming years.
Two other cybersecurity trends to be aware of are that the use of ransomware is rising again, and increasing numbers of cybercriminals are hacking vehicles, especially the Bluetooth and Wi-Fi technologies in them. Other trends are sure to arise as the year continues, too, so it’s vital to take multiple steps to keep hackers at bay and stay safer.