The Top 5 Cyber Threats For 2020

The demand for cyber security expertise is at an all-time high

Cyber security, or the lack of it, has gone mainstream. A day doesn’t seem to go by where the general public doesn’t hear of some new data breach, ransomware attack, company network compromise, or state-sponsored cyber-attack. Meanwhile, consumers have also become intimately aware of how their own personal data privacy contributes to their own security (thanks Facebook). As a result, it’s no surprise that the demand for cyber security expertise is at an all-time high.

Ransomware Targets the Cloud: Ransomware is now a billion-dollar industry for hackers, and over the last decade we’ve seen extremely virulent strains of this malware wreak havoc across all types of businesses. As with any big-money industry, ransomware will continue to evolve in order to maximise profits. In 2020, we believe ransomware will focus on the cloud.

Multi-factor authentication (MFA): Whether it’s due to billions of emails and passwords having leaked onto the dark web, or the many database and password compromises online businesses suffer each year, or the fact that users still use silly and insecure passwords, the industry has finally realised that it is terrible at validating online identities. Enterprise-wide MFA will become a de facto standard among all midsized companies next year.

Breaches Will Happen Outside the Perimeter: Mobile employees often work without any network perimeter security, missing out on an important part of a layered security defence. Additionally, mobile devices can often mask tell-tale signs of phishing attacks and other security threats. Prediction: one quarter of all data breaches will involve telecommuters, mobile devices, and off-premises assets.

The Cyber Security Skills Gap Widens: Demand for skilled cyber security professionals keeps growing, yet we haven’t seen any recruiting and educational changes that will increase the supply. Whether it be from a lack of proper formal education courses on cyber security or an aversion to the often-thankless job of working on the front lines. Prediction: the cyber security skills gap to increase an additional 15% next year.

New Vulnerabilies in the 5G/Wi-Fi Handover to Access the Voice and/or Data of 5G Mobile Phones: 5G is rolling out across the world and promises big improvements in speed and reliability. Unknown to most people, in large public areas like hotels, shopping centres, and airports, your voice and data information of your cellular-enabled device is communicated to both cell towers and to Wi-Fi access points located throughout these public areas. Large mobile carriers do this to save network bandwidth in high-density areas. Your devices have intelligence built into them to automatically and silently switch between cellular and Wi-Fi. Security researches have exposed some flaws in this cellular to Wi-Fi handover process and it’s very likely that we will see a large 5G to Wi-Fi security vulnerability be exposed in 2020 that could allow attackers to access the voice and/or data of 5G mobile phones.

Barringtons security risk management and assessment team has decades of experience working with clients of all shapes and sizes across a broad range of industries. Their arsenal of Risk Assessment Management Services includes Cyber Security Risk Assessments and Cyber Penetration Testing and they are able to provide a quick turnaround on any enquires and develop valuable solutions in addition to reporting on any weaknesses in an organisation.

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Source: https://australiancybersecuritymagazine.com.au/watchguards-top-five-cyber-threats-for-2020-ransomware-targeting-the-cloud-new-wi-fi-vulnerabilities-ongoing-cyber-security-skills-shortages-and-breaches-beyond-the-perimeter/