LIFE

Cybersecurity threats remain at home office

New research highlights cybersecurity threats as workforces go remote. (copyright SeventyFour/iStock via Getty Images Plus)

Cybersecurity threats remain at home office

(StatePoint) The business landscape changed significantly in 2020, and new research suggests that cyber criminals took note.

The latest threat intelligence from SonicWall Capture Labs, which reflects year-to-date findings through September 2020, shows that while overall malware volume declined for the third consecutive quarter, cybercriminals are increasingly using different means of attack.

“For most of us, 2020 has been the year where we’ve seen economies almost stop, morning commutes end and traditional offices disappear,” says SonicWall president and CEO Bill Conner. “Unfortunately, the overnight emergence of virtual offices has given cybercriminals new attractive vectors to exploit.”

What do businesses need to know? Consider these key findings from SonicWall:

Malware volume dipping
Global malware volume is steadily declining. In a year-over-year comparison through the third quarter, SonicWall researchers recorded a 39 percent drop worldwide. However, this doesn’t mean it’s going away. Conner warns this could represent a cyclical downturn that could shift course in short order. What’s more, malware authors and cybercriminals are still busy working to launch more sophisticated, targeted and diversified attacks.

Ransomware erupts
Ransomware attacks are making daily headlines as they wreak havoc on enterprises, municipalities, healthcare organizations and educational institutions. SonicWall researchers tracked a staggering 139 percent year-over-year increase in the U.S.

A relatively young ransomware family, Ryuk in particular gained popularity in 2020. Whereas there were just 5,123 recorded Ryuk attacks reported through the third quarter of 2019, there were 67.3 million through the third quarter of 2020. This represents one-third of all 2020 ransomware attacks.

“The increase of remote and mobile workforces appears to have increased the prevalence of Ryuk, resulting in financial losses and impacts on healthcare services,” said SonicWall vice president, Platform Architecture, Dmitriy Ayrapetov. “Ryuk is especially dangerous because it’s targeted, manual and often leveraged via a multi-stage attack preceded by Emotet and TrickBot malware. Therefore, if an organization has Ryuk, it’s a pretty good indication that it’s infested with several types of malware.”

So how can businesses protect against Ryuk? SonicWall Capture Advanced Threat Protection (ATP) with patent-pending Real-Time Deep Memory Inspection (RTDMI), protects against all Emotet, TrickBot and Ryuk ransomware variants.

IoT threats grow
COVID-19 led to an unexpected flood of devices on networks, resulting in an increase of potential threats to companies fighting to remain operational. SonicWall Capture Labs found a 30 percent increase in IoT malware attacks worldwide.

Most IoT devices, like voice-activated smart devices and door chimes, were not designed to prioritize security, making them susceptible to attack and supplying perpetrators with numerous entry points.

“Employees once relied upon the safety that office networks provided, but the growth of remote and mobile workforces has extended distributed networks that serve both the house and home office,” Conner said. “Consumers need to consider whether devices like AC controls and baby monitors are safely deployed. For optimum protection, professionals using home offices, especially those in the C-suite, should consider segmenting home networks.”

SonicWall threat intelligence data also concluded that cryptojacking, intrusion attempts and IoT malware remain sources of opportunity for cybercriminals.

“Our findings show a relentless pursuit by cybercriminals to obtain what’s not rightfully theirs for monetary gain, economic dominance and global recognition,” Conner said. “As changing times require organizations to evolve, they’ll need seamless protection to address emerging cybersecurity threats.”

To learn more about the latest threats and solutions, visit www.sonicwall.com.

17,408 thoughts on “Cybersecurity threats remain at home office”

  717. When some one searches for his essential thing, therefore he/she wants to be available that
    in detail, therefore that thing is maintained over here.

  720. you are really a just right webmaster. The web site loading
    pace is amazing. It kind of feels that you’re doing any distinctive trick.
    Also, The contents are masterwork. you have performed a fantastic process on this topic!

  723. After I initially commented I appear to have clicked on the -Notify me
    when new comments are added- checkbox and now each time a comment
    is added I get 4 emails with the exact same comment.

    Is there an easy method you can remove me from that service?
    Thanks!

  726. My relatives every time say that I am wasting my time
    here at web, however I know I am getting know-how every
    day by reading such nice content.

  727. Pretty great post. I simply stumbled upon your blog and wished to say
    that I’ve really enjoyed browsing your blog posts.
    After all I’ll be subscribing in your rss feed and I am
    hoping you write again soon!

  728. I think the admin of this website is genuinely working
    hard for his site, since here every material
    is quality based material.

  729. I don’t even know how I ended up right here,
    however I believed this publish was once good. I don’t know who you’re however certainly
    you are going to a well-known blogger in case you aren’t already.
    Cheers!

  732. Wow that was strange. I just wrote an really
    long comment but after I clicked submit my comment didn’t appear.
    Grrrr… well I’m not writing all that over again. Anyway, just wanted
    to say great blog!

  734. Hi there to every body, it’s my first pay a visit of this weblog; this website
    carries amazing and really excellent information for readers.

  738. Hi there, of course this paragraph is actually fastidious and I have learned lot of things from
    it concerning blogging. thanks.

  739. Spot on with this write-up, I absolutely believe that this amazing site needs much more attention. I’ll probably be returning to
    see more, thanks for the info!

  740. This design is wicked! You definitely know
    how to keep a reader entertained. Between your wit and your videos,
    I was almost moved to start my own blog (well, almost…HaHa!) Great job.
    I really loved what you had to say, and more than that, how you presented it.
    Too cool!

  750. I do believe all the ideas you’ve presented in your post.
    They are very convincing and can definitely work. Still, the posts are too brief for beginners.
    May just you please extend them a little from subsequent
    time? Thank you for the post.

  752. Great beat ! I would like to apprentice while you amend your site, how
    could i subscribe for a blog site? The account helped me a acceptable deal.
    I had been a little bit acquainted of this your broadcast provided bright clear idea

  765. Wow, marvelous blog layout! How long have you been blogging for?
    you make blogging look easy. The overall look of your web site
    is wonderful, as well as the content!

  767. Hey! This is kind of off topic but I need some guidance
    from an established blog. Is it very hard to set up your
    own blog? I’m not very techincal but I can figure things out pretty quick.
    I’m thinking about creating my own but I’m not sure where to begin. Do
    you have any points or suggestions? Appreciate it

  772. Why users still make use of to read news papers when in this technological world
    the whole thing is presented on net?

  774. Hi there, all is going fine here and ofcourse every one is sharing facts, that’s truly excellent, keep up writing.

  782. Everyone loves what you guys are usually up too. This type of clever
    work and exposure! Keep up the awesome works guys I’ve you guys to blogroll.

  850. I know this website provides quality based articles or reviews and extra stuff, is there any other web site which
    presents such data in quality?

  853. Heya i’m for the primary time here. I came across this board and I to find It truly
    useful & it helped me out much. I’m hoping to provide
    something again and help others such as you helped me.

  854. Hi there, of course this post is in fact nice and I have learned lot of
    things from it about blogging. thanks.

  855. What’s up to all, it’s genuinely a pleasant for me to visit this web site, it contains
    priceless Information.

  856. Thank you for any other informative site. Where else may
    I get that type of information written in such an ideal
    approach? I’ve a venture that I am just now running on, and I have been on the glance out for such info.

  857. Right now it looks like Movable Type is the preferred blogging platform available right
    now. (from what I’ve read) Is that what you’re using on your
    blog?

  862. Very rapidly this site will be famous amid all blogging people, due
    to it’s nice articles or reviews

  863. Hi, this weekend is pleasant in support of me, since
    this time i am reading this great educational article
    here at my home.

  864. If some one wants to be updated with most up-to-date technologies afterward he
    must be go to see this site and be up to date all the time.

  865. It’s really very complex in this active life to listen news
    on TV, thus I simply use the web for that purpose, and take the newest information.

  870. Greetings! Very useful advice within this article!
    It’s the little changes that will make the greatest changes.
    Thanks a lot for sharing!