7 Ways That Emerging Technologies Are Affecting Cybersecurity

The ever-changing digital age has a tremendous impact on cybersecurity than most people know. Cybercrime has increased at an exponential rate, in lockstep with technological advancement. As technology advances, so do the types of cybercrime that are perpetrated. Fortunately, as technology has progressed, so can detect, and defend citizens from cybercrime before it occurs.

Here are 7 ways that technological advancements have impacted cybersecurity:

Corporate Security Breaches

Hackers use social engineering and scams to trick workers, which accounts for most corporate security breaches. Hackers are becoming more professional at finding gaps and loopholes that incorporate security systems and can access secure files and data as technology advances, posing a severe cybersecurity threat. Regrettably, 2012 may set a new high in terms of corporate security breaches.

Spear Phishing

Unlike standard phishing emails targeting random people, spear phishing scammers are looking for monetary benefits, such as business secrets or personal information. Spear phishing is when hackers send emails to employees that appear to be from colleagues inside their own company, enabling cybercriminals to steal personal information.

With today’s advanced technology, hackers can send emails to employees posing as other employees inside the organization, posing a significant cybersecurity danger.

Identity thieves are constantly using social media to entice people to download malicious code or expose passwords to steal their identities. Hackers with experience can easily access a user’s social media accounts and then use that information to access their email account, work email account, and banking information.

On social networking platforms, the average user discloses a lot of information; most reveal a person’s name, age, birthday, birthplace, and family members, while some will go as far as disclosing addresses, phone numbers, and even real-time location updates. Any of this data could expose just enough for a hacker to spot an opening and steal your identity over the internet.

Social Media Security Breaches

Not only do social media platforms provide hackers access to personal information, but certain sites also allow you to reveal your exact location at any time.

And if anyone asks where you are, they can also tell you where you aren’t. Foursquare, for example, allows users to “check-in” to locations they frequent, such as school, work, restaurants, and even the movie theatre.

By logging into the social network and looking at your profile, everyone can quickly figure out where you are and what time it is. Your valuables and wellbeing can be jeopardized if you are away from your home base.

Mobile cybersecurity risks are evolving at the same time as mobile technology. Smartphones, which carry more data than older alternative models, are now used by 45 per cent of mobile phone owners.

Any new phone, tablet, or portable computer provides a new way for a cybercriminal to access someone’s personal information. Since many mobile devices can be charged by plugging them into computers, sharing charging ports with others can result in malware issues for various devices.

Data has Gone Digital

Hard copy material is becoming increasingly rare; nowadays, almost everything is digital. The majority of information is stored on a shared network, which is also password protected. As a result, a hacker could gain access to the network and obtain sensitive data, putting people and businesses at risk.

If more companies adopt cloud computing and save documents and data to cloud networks, a new cybersecurity threat emerges. Many companies choose this approach because cloud computing and storage are compelling and cost-effective.

To secure information in the cloud, however, sophisticated security measures must be implemented. Although this technology is constantly evolving, businesses must take security measures to keep up with the changing trends.

Advanced Employee Training

As previously stated, people are becoming more technologically savvy as the smartphone market grows, and they will continue to be updated as technology advances.

Education should be provided to ensure that the company’s employees are aware of cybersecurity risks and prevent them. Employees can then use this knowledge to obtain information from their employers through databases, the cloud, or company-owned servers.

Hacktivism

There have been a few incidents of hacktivism in 2012, which is described as hacking for a political or social cause. Hackers are taking the trend a step further by trying to gain access to websites with many users accessing information to impact as many people as possible. These types of attacks are more likely to target large websites and businesses.

Botnets

A botnet is a collection of computers set up to send data (such as spam and viruses) to other computers. Botnets were once used to collect email and password credentials, which were extremely useful to spammers. Botnets are now gathering more data from computers, such as name, address, age, financial details, online activity, and more, thanks to technological advances.

They will then collect the facts and sell them to third parties. Many corporations and businesses can buy and sell personal data, which is how spammers acquire so many email addresses. These sophisticated botnets pose a significant security danger, putting personal information at risk.

With the advancement in technology, the number of hackers and other cybersecurity threats has increased. The threats of cyber fraud are increasing as customers and hackers alike gain a better understanding of technology.

Individuals and businesses must take security measures to secure their information online to avoid cybersecurity breaches. Utica College’s online Master of Cybersecurity program provides students with specialized expertise and hands-on training in intelligence, critical infrastructure, and investigative concepts as they apply to cybercrime in today’s digital era.