As we start a new year and a new decade, we have to consider what the top cyber security concerns of 2020 will be. New threats are always on the rise, and now they seem poised to take advantage of cutting-edge technological innovations. Let’s examine the emerging cyber security trends of 2020 and determine how cyber security professionals can combat these new and evolving threats.
Cyber Criminals Will Take Advantage of AI and Deepfakes
November 2019 came and went and none of Philip K. Dick’s sci-fi predictions about replicants running around the streets of American cities came to pass. However, even if the humanoid AI people of Blade Runner aren’t real, cyber attacks using artificial intelligence are becoming a reality. For example, cyber criminals used AI to mimic a CEO’s voice and defraud a corporation out of $243,000 in March 2019. This particular cyber crime is an example of a deepfake, a fake image or recording designed to look or sound very real using deep learning techniques.
As we move into 2020, cyber security professionals should begin putting measures in place to combat cyber attacks that exploit AI and deepfakes. At the very least, we need to start anticipating these types of cyber attacks and the damage they can cause.
Influences on Social Engineering
These AI cyber threats will no doubt influence social engineering attacks. Cyber criminals will leverage these techniques to access sensitive data, including financial information from business and personal information from users. Going forward, we need to train users to be aware that social engineering attacks will use AI and deepfakes to make them give up personal data. The more users know about these threats, the more prepared they will be to encounter them.
Pay Attention This Election Season
No matter what your political views are, you should be aware that many cyber security experts predict that cyber threats will play a role in the 2020 election cycle. These threats may include deepfakes and AI, but they could also become much broader. CTMS works with government offices and agencies in Ohio and Pennsylvania, and we don’t want nation-state attackers to gain access to voting terminals or anything else that may influence a free and fair election. Essentially, stay vigilant through November on this front.
Going forward, we need to train users to be aware that social engineering attacks will use AI and deepfakes to make them give up personal data. The more users know about these threats, the more prepared they will be to encounter them.
Mobile and IoT Devices Will Be Targeted
In recent years, companies have boosted their security measures for desktop and laptop networks, but they haven’t focused on mobile and IoT security as much. Now, cyber criminals will capitalize on that and expand their attack surface to include IoT and mobile devices. Since these networks have less protection, hackers will seize this opportunity to cause data breaches and access sensitive information this way, instead of aiming for laptops or desktops. They could even unleash ransomware and malware attacks on unprotected devices, which could compromise your data security. This could be one of the top IT security threats of 2020, so you’ll need to work with your managed service provider (MSP) to make sure all your mobile and IoT devices are properly protected.
Use CTMS for Your Cyber Security Going Forward
CTMS will do more than keep your security software up to date. We’re aware of the 2020 cybersecurity trends, and we offer comprehensive end-to-end network security services to keep your business safe. We have the knowledge and experience to protect your network from cyber threats ranging from ransomware attacks to malicious code to malicious software. We’ll also protect you from DDoS attacks as well as viruses and worms. None of these threats will get past us, and we’ll also keep machine learning from tricking your users from giving up sensitive data. If you want us to handle your network security and face these emerging threats head-on, reach out to us today. We’re prepared to take care of your network.
