Newly Emerging Cyber Threats and How They Work

Cyber attacks, hacking, and data breaches have seemingly taken over and derailed many business operations of fully functioning businesses and organizations. Despite the growing concerns, many organizations are not doing enough to prevent these attacks from occurring. As a leading team of IT professionals in Seattle WA, RHYNO Networks does everything in our power to stay the course when keeping up with the latest in cybersecurity threats. For today, let’s address the state of newly emerging cyber threats and how they work.

Emerging Cyber Threats: Info From The Forrester Report

A Forrester report showed that 94% of organizations suffered some type of cyber attack in 2020, alone. What makes matters worse is that three quarters of those attacks were due to weaknesses caused by technology put in place during the pandemic. On average, data breaches cost businesses about $4.24 million in 2021. Additionally, for breaches where remote work was at the epicenter of that organization, the average cost was $1.07 million higher. 

Newly Emerging Cyber Threats

Some of the newly emerging cyber threats keep our IT professionals in Seattle WA on our toes, but every issue is treated with a sense of urgency and immediacy. The only distinction to be made are the varying approaches for the various types of cyber threats that exist today. Some of these include the following:

Malware

A combination of the words malicious and software, malware is an umbrella term that denotes software that damages computers, websites, web servers, and networks. Even though malware is not a new threat, hackers are continually gaining traction from new tactics. This includes ransomware, viruses, spyware, and trojans. Once these are installed, malware can deny access to your network, retrieve sensitive data, and even destroy your system in the process. 

Cryptojacking

Cryptojacking uses your computer to secretly mine cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum. While it may not be an immediate threat, it can slow down your devices significantly. Hackers use phishing emails or other methods to get you to click a link that then downloads the cryptojacking malware to your device. 

Trojans

Named after the heralded trojan horse, this type of malware uses helpful software as a back entrance to gain access and exploit a computer or network. Trojans are used to steal credit card information. Users click on a link that hides the Trojan malware or they might download it along it with legit software. Once the file is clicked and opened, the download proceeds to install malware onto the device.

Worms

Worms are a prime example of self-contained malware that spread through other files and programs on their own. Unlike viruses which require a host, worms are standalone programs that can find their way into your network. They are often sent through email attachments, duplicating themselves and sending copies to all contacts in the hacked email list. Attackers are able to use worms to overload servers and achieve distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks.

Spyware

A type of malware installed to collect information about users, including their system or browsing habits, there are countless types of spyware to be aware of! Spyware is distributed in many ways, including phishing emails, pop-ups, infected ads, or even poisoned links on Google search. When a user clicks on the link, their data is sent remotely to an attacker. The information is then utilized for blackmailing the victim or for installing other malicious programs.

Targeting Newly Emerging Cyber Threats-RHYNO Networks

There are a myriad of cyber attacks that we did not cover today. However, if your business needs help in setting up prevention methods for emerging cyber threats, contact us today to learn more about setting up prevention strategies and employee training. Our IT professionals in Seattle WA are always ready to answer the call!