Top 3 Cyber Threats and IOT Trends to Look Out For in 2019.

As technology becomes more advanced, so do cybercriminals in their methodology. Chances are, you’ve heard a recent news report on data leaks compromising the private information of hundreds of thousands, if not millions of end-users. As a result, identities are compromised and reputations tarnished. If left unchecked, these trends will only continue to evolve and target unwitting consumers. Charter Global has helped companies big and small identify, prevent, and protect their most vulnerable assets from corruption. We’ve seen these three trends on the rise in 2019:

1) Increasingly Sophisticated Ransomware

Despite the decrease in overall ransomware attacks in 2018, enterprise networks may now be the most vulnerable subjects, as the idea of hacking a giant network is much more profitable than targeting individual computer systems. The actual raw data concerning the number of ransomware attacks can be difficult to calculate, but it is estimated that 2017 alone saw over $5 billion globallly in damages. What’s more, cybercrime trends are keeping up with ever-growing developments as technology becomes increasingly mobile, as is the instance with smart tablets, appliances, and phones.

2) Higher Frequency of Smart Device Usage Elevates Risk

Just about everything has evolved to include smart functions, making everyday necessities like a lightswitch or a thermostat obsolete. While the this lifestyle is convenient, it poses a dire risk due to a range of factors which create what tech experts have dubbed a security blackbox. Electronic personal assistants are ready to obey commands 24/7, constantly monitoring the airwaves for our voices and making sense of our language and “listening” to their surroundings. Our inability to understand exactly what information is being captured or transmitted at any time by our multitude of internet-connected devices is problematic for businesses and individuals alike. In the event of a breach or the violation of transparency laws, organizations will be held liable by both regulators and consumers due to the inadequacy of data protection and face punitive damages along with public scrutiny.

3) Legislation is Behind the Curve

More often than not, most legislators are not formally trained in technology, and most of the time, were born and raised in a far less advanced technological era. As a result, legislation is years behind the curve, and largely considered an impracticle application of justice given the capabilities and limitations inherent in technology. Statutory deadlines are difficult to meet as sweeping changes come and go with little forewarning. The struggle organizations face in keeping abreast of these changes may have a drastic impact on business models previously thought unsinkable. This is especially true of cloud implementations, where the actual location of cloud data, often an oversight, has been overlooked.