Website & Mobile Devices At Risk
In a recent report Symantec provides an overview and analysis 2016 in global internet threat activity. From the time a security exploit is found, until the time that a patch is available from software developers, the average time of exposure was 7 days in 2015. Once a patch is available, it generally take another day to distribute the patch. Hacker exploit these vulernabilities by loading malicious software (malware, keyloggers, worms, viruses, ransomware, etc.) on to hacked website. The hacked site then distributes the malcious software to unsuspecting site visitors' computers or mobile devices. In some cases, the web site itself is even turned into a 'spam zombie' sending out 10 of thousands of junk emails per hour, which distribute everything from porn to phishing schemes, to more malicious software.
Last year 429 million people had personal records stolen in security breaches. Everything from financial records, to credit card numbers, to address books, to medical records have become targets of hackers. What's worse, is that only the "reported" attacks that have been disclosed by those who's systems were compromised. The real numbers are likely much higher from undisclosed hacking incidents that have not been reported, or perhaps not even detected. Many website are vulnerable to attack due to out-dated software and business both large and small are being systematically targeted.
Ransomware attacks increased by 35 percent in 2015, with some recent attacks recently making the national news as hospitals and other companies paid out 10 of thousands of dollars to regain control of their computer networks and business critial systems. Unsuspecting consumers have even been taken in by fake technical support scheme where malware gets on their computer and pop-up messages urge them to call a technical support number to fix a problem by selling them a worthless service. Internet security companies like Symantec have blocked over 100 million such attacks.
Some of the future risks from cybercrime center around the connected mobile devices we are all become accustomed to having at our fingertips, from smartphones, to smart watches, to smart TV's,to smart cars. Currently in the USA there are 25 connected devices for every 100 people, and that number is rising fast. By 2020 it is estimated that there will be 20.8 billion connected devices in the world. Researched have already proven vulnerabilities in everything from insulin pumps and implated defibrillators, to Fiat Chrysler issuing a recall on 1.4 million vehicles when it was shown that hackers could take control of a car remotely. In the UK thieves are hacking keyless entry systems to steal cars.
The bottom line is that no business or individual is safe, we are all at risk. Keep your anti-virus software up to date, along with all operating system updates and patches. This include eveything from your desktop computers, the your smart devices, to your website and more. Sometimes it can be annoying when those update reminders keep poping up. But, the risk of not keeping up to date is far worse.
