Cybercrime in Portugal and around the world shows no signs of slowing down, quite the opposite in fact.
The truth is that cyber-attacks have reached record levels in recent years, with 2022 being the standout year, especially in terms of the volume of phishing scams, cyber-attacks, data breaches and cryptographic heists.
In fact, hackers have taken advantage of people’s lack of digital literacy to steal more and more personal data and, above all, money.
According to reports by Europol and the British Security Services Agency (NCA), it is possible to understand the current threat landscape that is most prevalent in Europe, and there are several reasons to be vigilant and protected.
Staying one step ahead of cybercrime trends is a key part of combating cyber threats.
Therefore, as we are active in disseminating information to prevent these attacks, while at the same time advocating organizational awareness, we share the 7 most recent cybercrime trends:
States associated with cybercriminal groups
For many years, state-sponsored activities and cybercrime were quite separate areas, until they ceased to be.
Data theft fuelling a fraud epidemic
In the UK, fraud currently accounts for 40 percent of all crime. By 2022, the figures point to ¾ of adults being targeted, either by phone, in person or online. The main reason for this frightening data is the continuous flow of compromised data reaching the dark web. Europol goes even further, saying that data is the fodder of extortion and social engineering.
Phishing continues to be extremely effective
Phishing has long been one of the world’s main threats and continues to be a favored way of obtaining logins and personal information, as well as implementing malware covertly, especially when combined with social engineering techniques that allow the attack to be better manipulated, increasing its success rate. This attack continues to work because humans remain the weakest link in the security chain. Europol also warns that generative AI tools are already being used to create deepfake videos and write more realistic phishing messages.
Criminal behaviour is increasingly normalised among young people
Beyond its dark side, the dark web is a source of knowledge. According to Europol, users are increasingly seeking advice on how to avoid detection and how to make attacks more effective. The most worrying thing is that clandestine sites and forums, some of which operate on the normal Internet, recruit young people.
Ransomware attacks
Ransomware attacks continue to be a major cyber threat, where hackers use malicious software to encrypt data and then demand a ransom for its release.
IoT (Internet of Things) vulnerabilities
The attack surface for cybercriminals is growing every day. IoT devices usually have weak security, and hackers exploit these vulnerabilities.
The same victims are often the object of several attacks
Today, hackers sell access to the same organizations to several threat actors. This means that the same set of compromised corporate credentials could be circulating among an endless number of threat actors.
Since the threat landscape is constantly evolving, it is essential to keep up to date with the latest developments in the field of cybersecurity.
To further improve levels, the ideal is to add a cybersecurity service provider with the capacity, experience and holistic approach to ensure the necessary stabilization.
ActiveSys is the ideal partner in this regard, as it has the necessary tools to help you on this digital journey. Don’t hesitate to contact us.
Prevention is always better than cure.