ESET has released its annual security forecast for the upcoming year entitled – Trends 2017: Security held ransom. The report, assembled by ESET security experts, presents key cyber security topics of relevance for both businesses and consumers about the latest threats taking shape in the new year and identifies ransomware as a key threat to protect against.
Based on intelligence gathered by ESET’s research laboratories across the globe, the report suggests that the “year of ransomware” will continue into 2017 as ransomware attacks continue en masse. “We anticipate a new trend on the horizon: The Ransomware of Things or RoT, i.e. the possibility of cybercriminals “hijacking” devices such as home security cameras and then demanding a ransom payment in exchange for restoring control to the user,” reads the report.
Nick FitzGerald, Senior Research Fellow at ESET agrees that ransomware attacks will continue to increase in ANZ throughout 2017:
“Ransomware was a serious security problem throughout 2016. ESET takes no joy from having been on the right side of that prediction, nor in predicting that ongoing ransomware developments and ensuing success for the cybercriminals behind it seems likely to continue apace into 2017. As wealthy markets, Australia and New Zealand are often targeted in ransomware campaigns, and online users should continue to be especially wary of unsolicited email with attachments or URLs, and ‘too good to be true’ offers.”
With the cost of cybercrime rising more than 200% over the past five years alone, ESET assembled the report to not only help businesses and individuals understand the advanced tactics and techniques employed by criminal hackers, but to safeguard against threats in the coming year. Considering the adverse reputational as well as financial impacts which result from cybercrime, it is critical that all users are aware of the types of attacks that can affect them. The report also highlights the importance of continual education as one of the essential components for staying safe online and offers its readers simple steps for raising one’s level of awareness.
The Trends 2017: Security held ransom report, is divided into nine sections, each focusing on one important aspect of information security. Most of the sections deal with threats, either by type (Ransomware, Vulnerabilities, and Mobile) or by industry (Healthcare, Critical Infrastructure, and Gaming).
“Other concerning developments in 2016, were attacks against real-world infrastructure, such as electricity supplies and distribution networks, and internet infrastructure. The latter also exposed how much attack power could be rained down on a victim by harnessing multitudes of trivial internet-connected devices such as DVRs, webcams and other Internet of Things (IoT) gadgets. The possible convergence of increasing cybercriminal interest in IoT devices and the ongoing success of ransomware has led one of our senior security researchers to suggest the possibility of the development of the ‘Ransomware of Things’ – a key chapter in the Trends report.” concluded FitzGerald.
The report provides ESET’s perspective on wider developments in the security industry which are predicted to play a bigger role in 2017.
Download the entire ESET Trends 2017: Security held ransom report, read its digested version on WeLiveSecurity.com, find out more about ESET technologies or discover latest security news.
About ESET
Since 1987, ESET has been developing award-winning security software that now helps over 100 million users to Enjoy Safer Technology. Its broad security product portfolio covers all popular platforms and provides businesses and consumers around the world with the perfect balance of performance and proactive protection. The company has a global sales network covering more than 200 countries and territories, and regional offices in Bratislava, San Diego, Singapore and Buenos Aires. For more information visit www.eset.com or follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter.
