In this article, we will discuss major cybersecurity challenges that may arise in 2023.
Cybersecurity is practices and methods used to protect servers, networks, devices, and cloud storage from malicious attacks.
In a report by RiskBased Security, the extent of the increasing cyber crimes can be seen, which states that data breaches have accessed over 7.9 billion records in the starting nine months of 2019.
Cybercriminals exploit the vulnerabilities in a system and use them in their favor which can be a cyber-attack or cyberterrorism.
Moreover, it can be estimated that the coming years will be difficult and will demand pioneer methods of defending against these cyber-attacks.
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What are the Challenges of Cybersecurity
With the rapid growth in technology and its influence in all sectors, the risk related to the Internet world has also increased immensely.
Cybercrimes have taken new advanced methods to affect the population in the contemporary world.
cyber threats have extended their reach to malware attacks, data stealing, decryption of codes, hacking payment gateways, etc.
Due to the drastic development in technologies, consistent growth is also required for cyber safety. The world has already seen various forms of cyberattacks.
Still, there are many potential fields where Cybercrime has been initiated, and it has become a major cybersecurity challenge for developers and cybercrime experts to be prepared.
9 Biggest Cybersecurity Challenges & Solutions in 2023
The major cybersecurity challenges that can potentially threaten the world in 2023 are:
1. Espionage
The method of spying using the Internet is not very new. Cybercriminals have used different ways of Espionage to access valuable information. Cyber Mercenary is a popular term that will gain great recognition in 2023.
One such example is the Pegasus affair. This method is complex and difficult to predict because of the wide range of possibilities that can be used.
Malware applications demand permission from your phone or computer to access your camera and microphone, and the access can be used to steal information and various activities of that system.
Apart from personal level secrecy, big companies have to worry about keeping their trade secrets safe from such attacks. The utility of tools like Z- Stealer, and DroidWatcher will grow to new extents in 2023.
New defensive methods of securing systems and collaboration between private and public sectors will be critical to increasing security concerns and obtaining immunity from this kind of Cybercrime.
2. Supply Chain Attack
Solarwinds and Kaseya are the biggest cases of supply chain attacks in 2021. In this, cyber-attackers seek to damage an organization by focusing on the supply chain’s vulnerable and less secure elements.
This kind of attack is possible in any industry or sector like financial, educational, government, etc. Cybercriminals install a rootkit or hardware-based-spying component of the manufacturing process.
Supply chain attacks can have multiple forms and have no set definition for threat analysis. The supply chain is a large network of affiliated organizations or people governed by supply and demand.
The greater challenge that will lie in government and private sectors regarding supply chain attacks will be to be more aware and responsive towards the security of chosen partners and validate that good security hygiene is in place.
Big industries and business sectors need to primarily take care of these attacks.
Cybercriminals also aim for e-commerce websites and divert the traffic or hack the server to take advantage of the small-time window allotted for the sale or any other purposes. These attacks can result in great financial losses and loss of credibility.
3. Phishing attack
These attacks use false names of reputed sources for sending fraudulent communications—the major methods used in this attack email. Mainly, the purpose is to extract useful information under a fake reputation.
These emails can ask for your credit card information or login credentials. They are also used to export malware on the victim’s machine. Phishing is one of the oldest and most common forms of cyberattacks.
It can lead to financial loss or result in a hacked account. Cybercrime attacks like Advanced persistent threats (ATPs) and ransomware primarily start with phishing attacks.
User education is the primary method of protection against such forms of attacks. Users can also look up to security technologies and implement a layered approach to reduce the number of attacks.
The network security for email and web security shall be maintained and enhanced to avoid phishing attacks. These attacks are very simple and yet very lucrative.
In 2022, these attacks will get advanced and more personalized in the coming year. More precise techniques are expected to come up, which are very difficult to detect and majorly in business email compromise attacks(BEC).
4. Cloud under Surveillance
With the increasing applications of remote work, Cloud has gained immense popularity in the last few years.
After the COVID outbreak, major companies and organizations started operating their complete services and functionality on cloud platforms.
Different companies like Amazon, Google, and Microsoft’s Cloud Services have greatly focused on shifting the functionality to the cloud platforms, so that remote working is feasible and profitable.
Almost 60% of companies in the present world are working on cloud computing. The major problem is that data storage is a gateway to attacks. Kubernetes targets are defined as those that stay in the fire of these cybercriminals.
Another serious problem that makes it a vulnerable target to be breached by advanced professionals is the lack of encryption, authentication, and auditing in many Cloud spaces.
All the data is clustered into one same network, and CloudCloud shares the same space, which is a concern.
There are no multi-security layers or prioritizing data in using the cloud services of most platforms. It is a major challenge for the IT industries to strengthen their data security level and use cloud services in the safest.
5. The uncertainties of 5G
5G is currently a developing technology with many vulnerabilities in networking and bandwidth.
The encryption of the 5G network is still in the testing phase, and it can be a major challenge to avoid cybercrimes with the 5G technology.
Cybercriminals tend to compromise with the glitches in the networking system and breach the network layers to access classified protocols that are unauthorized by a general user.
In 2022, the revolution in 5G will lead to a whole new opening in a wider area of attack exposure. After implementing 5G, more digital payments and data will be available over these servers, which the cybercriminals will look to exploit.
With the increase in modes of payments and digital banking services, a less secure network can be a great potential threat to all users.
Strong security measures must be taken before launching 5G so that ordinary users do not fall prey to the system’s imperfections and offer chances of attack to professional cyber-attackers.
There are many methods through which vulnerabilities can be exploited to make more money.
Multiple tests and Surveillance must be placed over the usage of 5G networking to ensure that the system is secure and highly encrypted.
With the enhanced speed and smooth response of smartphones, it is equally important to ensure the safeguarding of data and servers over the new network.
6. Internet of Things Attacks (IoT)
IoT has been developing in recent years and has reached a point where multiple devices and accessories are connected over a large network.
Home automation, security systems, surveillance systems, and many more technologies have integrated IoT as a major component.
Lights, vehicles, sensors, robots, phones, and TVs can all be connected under one wide network and can work together, creating a bigger network of potential threats.
The access of multiple devices can be hacked using the glitches in the IoT network. There are two types of vulnerabilities that are majorly into consideration.
First is hacking the hardware components through ports or using different data transporters to gain information about the connecting services and owner. The second is the security of the server.
Since all the devices work over a single server establishing a connection, it is vital to ensure that the server is protected using multiple security layers.
A breach in the server can lead to great amounts of diverse data loss. IoT services must be tested for all possible risks, and the users must be aware of the connection and permission of the data provided on the IoT platforms.
Lack of awareness can lead to major loss as cybercriminals can dive into the IoT platforms to extract personal details, access devices, and sensors, monitor and manipulate security services, etc.
In 2021, a report from Honeywell revealed that 35% of malware programs are designed to exploit USBs. With time, more devices being connected on the same servers increase the risk offered and requires a higher level of security.
7. Cryptocurrencies
The emerging and popular form of investment, cryptocurrencies, can also be a major field of concern in 2023.
The cyber-attackers lay traps to get the credentials of digital wallets from crypto owners. An example of this case is PolyNetwork which lost $600 million in Ethereum, Binancechain, and OxPolygon.
There are a lot of false crypto mining apps on the Internet. Around 170 applications for cryptocurrency mining were found for Android in 2021, which affected more than 90,000 people and caused a loss of $350,000.
The evolving use of digital wallets and high-value cryptocurrencies makes them a tempting target for cybercriminals.
There are tests and investigations on the authenticity of these digital wallets and whether it is safe to store huge amounts of money in digital coins knowing that there are possible chances of cyber-attacks.
Mining should be done securely and only by using reliable and certified applications.
It is a time-consuming process and should be checked at all stages.
The credentials should not be stored over overcloud or other services accessible by cybercriminals because that will add a great danger of losing wealth and your cryptocurrency investment.
Cryptocurrency exchange applications must be verified for authentic sale and purchase. User profiles should be precisely monitored to restrict suspicious activities or manipulate the market with fraudulent currencies.
8. Deep Fakes
The battle of digital dangers is also extending on the disinformation front. Social networks act as vectors of deep fake attacks of multiple kinds. The deep fake campaign will continue until 2023, which started in 2021.
The power of information is very useful in manipulating crowds and behavior, changing decisions, and causing chaos.
There are many fake videos, misguiding speeches, and edited photos that are used to influence the public about false facts and beliefs.
The rise in Artificial Intelligence is proving to be a blessing in monitoring such fake programs and agendas. These fake presentations and manipulated information are also major weapons are cause cyber terrorism.
Complexities regarding Deep Fakes arise from several directions. Handling the attack surface will be a major task for authorities on digital grounds. The major requirements for taking such attacks will be:
- Providing real-time transparency.
- Monitor the major and common entry points.
- Monitoring attack vectors for prediction of such attacks and reduction in such activities.
- Identify the vulnerability of the system through active threat intelligence.
- Develop more advanced methods and algorithms into the primary security tools.
These can be the major threat in the world of Cybercrimes in 2023. The potential causes and effects can already be observed.
With the growing scope of causing defects in the system, the points mentioned earlier must be monitored stringently to avoid any such cyber-attack.
The user’s awareness of the basics of any new technology is essential to prevent any cyber threat lurking over.
Awareness programs and campaigns regarding multiple hazards are run to educate the users about the fraudulent practices currently under use.
Growth in Cybercrime requires the development of defense mechanisms and security protocols to ensure technology’s healthy and positive use.
The Internet world can never be peaceful and less chaotic unless some proper methods and programs restrict and eliminate cybercriminals.
Many companies have taken responsibility for minimizing the threat caused by these cyber criminals.
Different areas of cybersecurity have been keenly worked upon by various departments so that the security mechanisms can cover the horizon of potential risks.
Understanding the risk factors before indulging in online activities is important for a safer and happier experience.
9. ChatGPT Risks
Researchers found that cybercriminals are using AI-powered ChatGPT to create harmful codes that can be used in sophisticated ransomware attacks. Using OpenAI’s GPT-3 family of large language models, created malicious code and phishing emails.
Hackers are making use of the chatbot to create python scripts that enable attackers the backdoor entry to execute the code on the target devices for malware attacks.
Cybersecurity firm Blackberry has said that among 1500 IT experts surveyed, 74% think that ChatGPT is already being used in recent cybercrimes.
The study also found that 71% of IT respondents also believe that ChatGPT is already assisting in state-sponsored attacks on other countries through phishing and hacking.
However, professionals from the cybersecurity field can now get quick answers and retrieve highly complex programming codes with the help of ChatGPT to identify security threats more quickly.
