By looking as past developments in the realm of internet security we can catch a glimpse of the future of the field. Major cybersecurity attacks and developments such as the OPM data breach, state interventions and ransomware attacks are indicators of an increasingly complex online landscape. Innovative technologies such as cloud services, enhanced Internet of Things (IoT) connectivity, social media expansion, mobile device development and vulnerable software present significant challenges for cybersecurity experts and consumers alike.
The Internet of Things
While increasing connectivity to the internet has been a positive in terms of enhancing the exchange of valuable information, home appliances and gadgets getting interconnectivity places your security at risk. Hackers are increasingly targeting interconnected devices as pathways to your devices in order to take sensitive information or take control of your devices for nefarious purposes. Based on current rates on implementation and current vulnerabilities, hacking techniques targeting interconnected devices will only get better as more devices become part of the IoT.
Privacy and Data Breaches
The last two years saw some huge data breaches with iCloud, Sony Pictures and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) all becoming targets. Two things you should note about these hacks are that the attacks are becoming more sophisticated and more data is getting leaked. Your private information stored by the government or large corporations is not safe from hackers. Considering the government’s inadequate mitigation efforts and the increasing sophistication of hackers, it is likely that there will be more attacks on the same scale to come.
Social Media
Social media use is on the increase all over the world. Considering this, the platforms will become more appealing to hackers as information gather tools. The focus of their hacking efforts will be in harvesting private information and authentication data from your accounts and those of your friends and followers. Hackers are also increasingly using phishing attacks to target social media users into revealing user authentication data.
Vulnerable Software
The internet increasingly has to deal with issues of software vulnerabilities that aren’t getting fixed. Some critical software that you need for everyday use such as Apple Quicktime, Adobe Flash Plugin/Player, Adobe Acrobat Reader and Oracle Java Runtime environment are highly vulnerable. You likely need these pieces of software, but hackers have been scouring them for vulnerabilities for years. Any security vulnerabilities in the widely used software will be a target for hackers. While the software companies will do their best to update their software regularly through patches, the total eradication of these vulnerabilities is almost impossible.
Mobile Risks
You use mobile devices to perform many regular yet important tasks online. This high level of dependency on mobile devices for running our private lives offers cybercriminals a chance to gain access to our financial and private user data relatively easily. Smartphone operating systems will increasingly come under attack in coming years. If a hacker were to get access to your mobile device through your online accounts, they could get access to your private communications and potentially your account details.
What Can You Do To Protect Yourself
The above are some of the areas we can expect to see major changes or developments in the cybersecurity landscape. Many risks to the safety and privacy of your data are ahead of you. You need to protect yourself and your devices from hackers by following recommended security protocols while online. While it is difficult to prevent hackers from attacking third parties that have access to your information, you can take measures to protect your devices. Updating your software with security patches, using a strong VPN and having strong passwords will protect you from most hacking attempts.
Written By: Cassie Phillips
@securethoughtsc