The year 2021 has been an unprecedented year in terms of cyberattacks. Unfortunately, the predictions for 2022 are no better. The massive increase in remote work, the digital transformation and business transition to the cloud, offer new opportunities for hackers. They organize their activities and make their attacks more complex on this fertile ground. The international political climate favors an upsurge in attacks against Western sites and servers. Additionally, the rise of digital payments, cryptocurrency, and connected devices are significant factors in the rise of attacks. What are the current challenges and the means of anticipating certain attacks?

What this means for businesses

Larger corporations have already taken the step to strengthen their security and hackers know it well. Small and medium size businesses are now a new target, easier to reach since many companies have not optimized security of their online information. Increased e-commerce and data sharing in the cloud opens new doors for attacks. This new reality forces companies to think about how they manage threats.

The true cost of an attack

Some ransomware attacks demand a high ransom to decrypt stolen data. Other types of attacks can damage components, servers, and hard drives. Data loss or leaks can cost you dearly (legal fees). Added to this is the technical service time for repair and restoration. Moreover, loss of trust leads to loss of customers and revenue, etc. In short, given the astronomical costs resulting from a cyberattack, prevention is better than cure. Faced with the resurgence of cyberattacks, preventive measures are becoming a smart investment.

Threats loom

Hacking confidential data, phishing, malware, ransomware, computer viruses, denial of service (DDoS) attacks, automated cyberattacks, and spyware are popular types of attacks. Several techniques are not new and still fetch hackers millions of dollars. These hacking methods become more sophisticated and sophisticated over time, making them harder to detect and eradicate. Another aggravating factor is the organization of hacking groups. The hackers specialize and unite to form networks with well-defined departments as a kind of company, which extends their power of action as well as the complexity of the attacks perpetuated.

No need to panic

To prevent intrusions into a home, you need to monitor entry points. Well-targeted precautions will allow you to anticipate and even avoid certain attacks.

First gate: human beings. With the increase in the number of people connected online, it is imperative to encourage your employees to be vigilant. Educate them about the dangers of phishing. A fraudulent message, e-mail or SMS can subtly trick you into installing spyware. Preparing employees will reduce human error that sometimes leads to the exposure of sensitive data.

Second Gate: The Cloud. Cloud computing platforms are not immune, they are even targets of several attacks. Opt for a fully secure platform by ensuring that your provider isolates and encrypts your data while protecting access to it.

Third door: Your passwords. Implement best practices for managing your passwords, as well as multi-factor authentication.

Fourth door: your computers and smart devices. Install and configure an antivirus as well as a firewall to counter certain attacks. Regularly update your systems and browsers and secure access to your devices. Keep your sensitive data in a safe place.

Fifth gate: Your websites. Make sure you have a valid SSL certificate on your websites. If applicable, keep your CMS, themes, and add-ons up to date. Install and configure a defense module. If you have an online store, be sure to secure purchases and, if necessary, block access to potentially dangerous users. Make sure you have increased security in terms of authentication at entry points.

This is of course only an overview of the measures that can be put in place. It may be a good idea to get advice from someone who specializes in cybersecurity. Some companies even simulate cyberattacks to identify vulnerabilities. In summary, it is important to clearly identify your weak points and strengthen them.

To conclude

We can’t prevent hackers from claiming victims, but by being well-informed and taking the right precautions, we can lessen the chances of being among them.

At Appwapp, we are aware of security issues and we make it a priority. Security is indeed one of the important facets that we take into account when developing mobile applications, web applications or websites. You have a project in mind, tell us about it!